Home Improvement Ideas Outdoor Structures Fences Our Favorite Decorative Fence Ideas By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on June 15, 2022 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Kritsada Panichgul Add privacy and structure to your garden with one of our stylish and practical fence ideas. With inspiration for picket fences, wood fences, gates, and more, our decorative fence ideas will help you add both function and interest to your yard. 01 of 23 Low Profile Kim Cornelison A fence made with rot-resistant ipe wood (also known as Brazilian walnut) adds a rustic accent to this home's facade. Its low, horizontal profile and open slots let in light and showcase the home rather than covering it up. Along the driveway, a tall trellis fence adds privacy. 02 of 23 Exaggerate the Entryway Kritsada Panichgul Update a classic white picket fence with matte black hardware and a decorative arbor. A double gate allows for easier garden maintenance, such as clearing old debris. Plant vining species around the arbor for a lush entrance. 03 of 23 Attention to Detail Julie Soefer This handcrafted wood fence features an elevated twist on hog wire panels. Carved post caps complement the architectural details of the early-1900s pier-and-beam Queen Anne. Plantings at the base of the decorative fence add colorful curb appeal. 04 of 23 Top It Off Erica George Dines Flanked by fragrant flowers, a pergola topping this white picket fence makes for an inviting entrance. Arches under the trellis provide sweeping views of the home's kitchen garden. Narrow balusters and decorative posts add an elegant finish. 05 of 23 Garden Harmony John Merkl A tall pergola and plenty of vining plants help blur the line between garden and home. A double gate outfitted with hog-wire panels swings open to accommodate guests and keeps the family dog within boundaries. 06 of 23 Welcome Home Lynn Karlin For a twist on the classic white picket fence, swap wide wood balusters for narrow spindles with traditional post caps. An affordable arbor with modern lines adds instant charm to the entrance. Economical arbor kits are sold at many home and garden centers and can often be assembled in a weekend with basic tools. 07 of 23 Go Geometric Bill Stites Create a contemporary feel with interesting rails. In keeping with the long, straight lines and tightly clipped formality of the rest of the landscape, this fence uses horizontal wood rails strengthened by diagonal boards in a triangular pattern. Attach wire mesh to the inside of your fence to keep out unwelcome critters. 08 of 23 Greet Guests Marty Baldwin A classic white picket fence makes a charming addition to any garden, especially when paired with a matching arbor and gate. A low fence gives definition to an area but still allows unobstructed views. A pathway and arbor beckon further exploration. 09 of 23 Add Privacy Dan Piassick Tightly packed stakes create privacy and interest. Here, bamboo is packed into a frame of sturdy, upright timbers. Create a fun textural contrast by using feathery plantings in beds lining the panels. 10 of 23 Make It Easy Mike Jensen Low-maintenance vinyl provides an updated look to the classic white picket fence. It keeps its pristine look—and you never need to paint it because you buy in the color you want—white in this case. If a white fence feels stark in your yard, soften it by weaving rambling roses, clematis, or other plants through the pickets. 11 of 23 Add a Focal Point Paint your picket fence a bright hue for a playful touch in the garden. It's the perfect complement to whimsical garden art, such as this monkey dangling from a tree, and bright-color container plantings. Plus, it gives your yard a splash of color during the winter. 12 of 23 Top It Off Marty Baldwin Give extra interest to a traditional privacy fence by topping it with a contrasting panel. Standard lattice panels can do the job, or make your own unique design by using perforated aluminum panels framed in matching cedar. 13 of 23 Add Light with Lattice Kritsada Panichgul These lattice panels create privacy in the garden while serving as a sturdy trellis for climbing roses. Simply tie the roses to the panels with twist ties. Arched panel tops and finials on support posts provide attractive finishing touches. 14 of 23 Embellish with Decorations Kathryn Gamble Lozier Dress up a plain picket fence with garden art. Here, framed metal stars have been painted to match the color scheme of the fence. Leave them in place year-round or change them to fit the season or holiday. 15 of 23 Be Sure It's Sturdy Janet Mesic-Mackie Securely hold wood fence rails in place with a brick pillar. Match the brick to others used in your patio or on your house to tie various landscape elements together. Cap the brick column with a flat piece of slate to shed water. 16 of 23 Reinvent a Window Box Marty Baldwin Lend color, texture, and interest to a wood privacy fence by creating a niche for a window box planter. This cedar planter complements the wood fence and provides seasonal color in this corner of the yard. 17 of 23 Create Old-World Charm Edward Gohlich Alternate mortared stone columns with wrought-iron panels topped with finials for an elegant and stately fence combination. Top the stone pillars with clay pots filled with begonias or other colorful blooms for visual appeal. 18 of 23 Get a Room with a View Peter Krumhardt Break up a boring privacy fence by adding an ornate iron window grate. The grate allows you to see through the garden to the other side and keeps the fence from looking like a stockade. If the view outside your fence isn't so pretty, hang a mirror on your fence. It'll give the appearance of a window and you'll see the reflection of your attractive yard. 19 of 23 Embrace Heavy Metal Edward Gohlich Give your garden a modern feel with a wall of inexpensive galvanized corrugated metal. Wood patio furniture and colorful geraniums soften the space. Horizontal stripes on a cushion mimic the texture of the metal sheeting. 20 of 23 Perk It up with Pots Peter Krumhardt Attach plant hanger hooks to a wood fence and insert pots planted with tough annuals, such as 'Diamond Frost' euphorbia, 'Marguerite' sweet potato vine, and pink 'Supertunia Vista Fuchsia' petunia, to create a wall of living color. Coordinate the plantings by repeating colors in the painted pots and by using a limited palette of plants. 21 of 23 Create the Country Look Matthew Benson Infuse rustic charm into a formal knot garden by outlining sections of the planting beds with a wattle fence. Supple branches, such as those of willow, work best for weaving through the upright branch posts. 22 of 23 Update a Children's Garden Fence Marty Baldwin Can't decide what color to paint your fence? Use them all! Add a wrap of black trim, and you'll have a stately row of giant crayons—a perfect touch of whimsy to define the space for a children's garden. 23 of 23 Make It Simple with Style Julie Sprott Lash bamboo poles together for a simple but effective fence with Asian style. Place the upright sections of bamboo on alternate sides of horizontal shoots to create fence sections. Secure the panels to larger bamboo posts for stability. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit