How to dress up a fence
Fence decorating ideas using plants, paint and lighting
(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)
Looking for fence decorating ideas for your front garden, backyard or even patio space? Then you've landed on the right page.
While a fence is traditionally used to define a boundary and provide security, that doesn't mean garden fence ideas can't also be beautiful and useful in other ways.
Fencing provides an ideal backdrop for plants, as well as protecting the garden from the extremes of winter weather.
What's more, according to a recent national survey conducted across independent estate agents, having a well-maintained fence is a great way to ensure you sell your house quickly and secure a top price for your property.
Fence decorating ideas
To get you started, we've rounded up the best garden fence decorating ideas, that combine functionality with style and will complement your other garden ideas perfectly.
1. Give your fence a modern look
(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)
If you are after a contemporary appearance, then we recommend choosing fence panels with a pale-wood finish. To stop your fence looking dull, hang an outdoor mirror to reflect sunlight and add interest to your patio.
This is also a smart trick if you're looking for small garden ideas that will make a compact space appear bigger. You'll be surprised – and amazed – by the difference a mirror can make to any room – indoors and out.
2. Set up raised beds against a fence
(Image credit: Future / Polly Eltes )
Raised flower bed ideas offer endless possibilities for growing crops and flowers, and they are so easy to include into any garden.
Position raised beds against a garden fence and watch as your plants and flowers cling to the rails and trellis. Beautiful.
3. Turn your fence into a vertical garden
(Image credit: Future / James Merrell)
Turn a simple garden fence into a living wall. Springing up over vertical surfaces everywhere, green living wall ideas can keep buildings cool, improve air quality, reduce noise and act as a magnet for wildlife.
It's a no-brainer.
4. Paint a picket fence
(Image credit: Future / Alun Callender)
Paint a picket fence to add vibrancy to the front of your home. And, if you are feeling brave of heart, opt for a multitude of colors for added interest.
Outdoor paint will not only give your garden fence personality and charm, it will also give the timber added protection – making this a beautiful and practical idea for garden gates, too.
5. Opt for mixed materials
(Image credit: Future / David Woolley)
Mix fencing materials for distinctly unique fence decorating ideas.
Here, stone and wood have been combined in a criss-cross-style arrangement. This has been done not just for the effect, but also for practical reasons, too. Stone will endure a good soaking from the outdoor shower – far better than any wood.
With a modern garden fence like this, the emphasis is on quality natural materials with an innate beauty of their own.
6.
Drape a trellis with climbing flowers(Image credit: Future / Colin Poole)
There’s a wide choice of trellis sizes and shapes with lattice or square patterns in wood or willow, making them useful garden screening ideas.
Attractive in their own right, trellises also look beautiful draped with climbers.
7. Light up a garden fence
(Image credit: Future / Colin Poole)
Battery or solar powered outdoor fairy lights are easily wrapped in and around fence, trellis or even hedges and trees for a whimsical effect.
Outdoor string lighting ideas are wonderful for when the sun goes down.
8. Take your fence decorating ideas to the next level with color
(Image credit: Little Greene)
Bring an extra splash of color to your outdoor space by pepping up fence panels with paint. Go as bold as your dare with the color choice – this is your chance to really express yourself.
Before you start, the wood has to be dry, so tackle the job when no rain is forecast for a few days.
Avoid very hot days, though, as the sun will dry out the paint before it’s had time to generate the wood properly.
9. Use roses to hide an old fence
(Image credit: Future / Dan Duchars)
Use climbing roses as beautiful fence decorating ideas to disguise a rickety or old garden fence.
Over the past 20 years, climbing roses have bounced back into popularity, and the market has responded with a range of excellent new varieties. There’s nothing wrong with the old ones, but the breeders have improved upon them by offering larger flowers, healthier foliage and more manageable growth.
This is where such roses as Aloha, Compassion and Penny Lane belong. They are generally healthier and larger-flowered than the old ramblers.
10. Do away with solid fence panels
(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)
If your property is not overlooked, so you don't need garden privacy ideas, you may not wish to erect solid fence panels.
This slatted fence is a softer approach to setting the boundaries of a garden, without making it feel too enclosed.
The slim gaps between the slats allow a glimpse of the greenery beyond, in a sense extending the view of the garden – while still framing the grounds. Allow ivy to thread between the slats for added impact and greenery.
How do you decorate a garden fence?
Small hanging pots on a fence, filled with trailing plants or annual displays, look bright and cheerful, and enable you to ring the changes through each season.
You can use smaller window boxes or hanging troughs. Fix directly to the fence or wall, or use a grid to hang them from, but watch the weight. Vertical garden kits offer another planting option for your fence decorating ideas.
We also recommend that you give wildlife a helping hand, too. Walls and fences can be good for the eco-system. Flowering climbers provide food for bees, moths and butterflies, while denser coverings, such as a wall clad in ivy or Virginia creeper, can also offer potential nesting sites for birds and are a natural home for smaller insects.
If you prefer your boundaries to be climber-free, insect hotels and bird boxes make attractive and useful decorations.
How do you disguise a fence?
To camouflage a wooden or unsightly fence, or concrete posts, you can use fence decorating ideas such as fixing hanging baskets or small pots to it using specially design clip-on fittings.
Alternatively, plant climbers, and cover posts and fences with chicken wire to give the plants a framework to attach themselves to.
Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.
25 Ideas for Decorating your Garden Fence
By Stefan Gheorghe | Published on
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The humble garden fence, our gardens have them but we neglect them.Yes we may paint or stain them but do we decorate? This Spring let us celebrate our garden fences and show them some love.Use your fence as a blank canvas and accessorize with some of your up-cycle favorites or beautiful pieces.
1. Rain boots.
Children grow quickly out of all kinds of shoes, rain boots make fun planters. Add the rain boots to the fence in your child’s area of the garden for them to grow their own flowers.
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2. Bottles.
Unsure what to do with your old bottles? Create some fence art for a fence that will certainly be a talking point.
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3. Bird Boxes.
Adding bird boxes to a fence is nothing new. Paint in bold bright colors and place in groups.
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4. Mural.
Instead of painting your fence in one color why not add a mural.
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5. Planters.
Create a ladder effect with planters, great for growing herbs. For small gardens this is a great space saver solution.
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6. Picture Frames.
Creating wall art with picture frames is very on trend. Take this look outside by creating the same effect on your fence.
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7. Shutter.
Wooden shutters are an upcycling favorite no matter whether it is for interior or exterior design.
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8. Fairy Lights.
Simple, effective, stylish and elegant, it’s amazing what a pack of fairy lights can do.
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9. Pot Plants.
Create a vertical garden with a selection of pot plants. Place uniformly on your fence, keep your pot palette simple and let your plants add the color.
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10. Letters.
No matter if you use wood, metal or mirror, the use of letters is striking.
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11. Painted Metal Art.
Paint your metal art in bright colors for a fence full of the joys of Spring.
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12. Jewelry Organizer.
Instead of getting rid of your old jewelry organizer place on your fence and also get a shelf.
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13. Mason Jars.
Add night lights or plants to your jars and hang at regular points along your fence.
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14. Astro Turf.
Hide old and battered fence with some astro turf. Astro turf is a beautiful backdrop especially for a clean contemporary design.
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15. Silver Tray.
Create a fence full of vintage chic by adding some silver trays.
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16. Coffee Table.
A recycled coffee table creates a beautiful feature for your garden.
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17. Wooden Crates.
Use wood crates as shelving in a mixture of fun colors and naturals.
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18.
Handbags.Old handbags make great planters. Hang on your fence at regular intervals with and don’t be afraid to use a mixture of designs.
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19. Mirror.
Mirrors work perfectly in gardens especially when you are looking to create a sense of space.
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20. Plates.
Patterned plates decoratively displayed add color and texture. Blend together different styles and shapes and add some climbing plants and pots to finish the look.
21. Shoe Storage.
Following on from our shoe theme. The hanging shoe storage normally used for backs of doors or inside your closet also create a vertical garden with ease. Add you favorite plants or herbs.
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22. Ornamental trellis.
Ornamental trellis is a work of art in itself. Although it serves a function display the trellis as a decorative item, and enjoy the beauty in its design. A light painted fence always the patterns to stand out, add a couple of climbing plants to finish the look.
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23. Recycled art.
Create fun works of art yourself by recycling scraps of wood and other objects from your garden. Why not get your children involved and create bespoke art work for your family to enjoy.
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24. Fuse Together.
Take several of these looks and combine them to design a fence that is both functional and striking. Use a variety of bright colored recycled objects and furniture such as this example below
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25. Eclectic Fusion.
Another example of the fusion of ideas is more eclectic. There are no rules when creating a fusion fence, just have fun.
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35 ideas for decorating the fence with your own hands with a photo
No matter how beautiful and well-groomed the site is, the soul periodically asks for changes. But this does not mean that it is necessary to completely reconstruct the territory adjacent to the house. A couple of elements are enough to make the site sparkle with new colors.
One of the options for the transformation can be decorating the fence. In this article, we will share specific ideas.
If you are fed up with the fence, and there is no urgent need to change it yet, then this article is for you. We will show the most creative and at the same time democratic ideas for decorating the fence - you just have to bring the one you like to life. nine0005
Blackboard
Probably every child dreams of being free to draw on the walls. Parents in every way suppress such creativity, sometimes not even very humane methods. There is a way out - a school board installed on the fence. Children will be delighted, and you do not have to force them to play in the fresh air. With this inexpensive purchase, you kill three birds with one stone: the wallpaper is intact, the fence is decorated and the children are happy.
Birdhouses
Multi-colored bright birdhouses will not only become a wonderful decoration of the fence, but will also help pass family leisure.
And for children, this will turn into a whole ritual - first collect them, then color them and make interesting compositions on the fence.
Glass bottles
The key to an excellent harvest is not only the gardener's skill, but also a good country mood! A charge of joy and positive is guaranteed to give the original decor of the fence. One of the ideas - flowerpots from glass bottles! Such a design element will speak about the extravagance of the owners of the site and emphasize their individuality. nine0005
Vertical succulent garden
If the old fence is no longer aesthetically pleasing, no problem! The problem is solved very simply, it is enough to plant a vertical garden of succulents on the fence. And it's not as difficult as it seems at first glance. All you need is a couple of old boards or pallets from which the landing boxes are formed. They are attached to the fence, and plants are planted inside them. Looks amazing!
Garden lights
Excellent winter option! Especially if the event is held in the yard.
With such a piece of decor it is both cozy and light!
Butterfly fence
A boring fence can be diluted with colorful butterflies. They can be made independently from any durable material using stencils. Do not use multilayer plywood, in the open air it tends to exfoliate and swell.
Decorating with old furniture
Don't rush to throw away your old unwanted furniture. It can decorate the area. The advantage of this decoration is that it will cost you almost nothing. With a minimum of financial costs, you get a creative and unique design of the site as a result. nine0005
Metal flowers
To decorate a fence with metallic flowers, you don't need much - the actual metal item and spray paint. And then it all depends on your imagination, you can use any colors and make different compositions. In any case, the fence will be transformed, and the site will sparkle with new colors.
Pots for collecting bags
Old bags gathering dust in the closet can be put to good use! For example, turn them into flower pots and hang them by the handles on the fence.
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The second life of garbage
Some of the items that you were about to throw away can make good decor items. For example, the decoration of the caps on the fence. Bright covers form a panel, which is a pleasure to look at!
Old shoes as an element of decor
Have children grown out of shoes? Don't rush to get rid of it. Especially save bright multi-colored rubber boots - they will be useful to you in the decor of the fence! Rubber boots can be used as flower pots and hung on a fence. nine0005
Decorative element made of slippers
As a rule, almost every country house is full of slippers, rubber slippers and other similar footwear. They can be a great addition to your landscape design. You can use this decor in different ways. As an option, decorate the fence with slippers. It will look beautiful and summery.
Mirror decor
Any designer will confirm that mirrors visually enlarge the space due to the optical effect.
This technique can be used in landscape design, and sometimes even necessary if the area is small. A great option is to attach mirrors to the fence. nine0005
Hanging pots
And this is a more standard way to decorate the fence with flowers - put them in beautiful pots that you do not have to buy. You can take old flower pots with chips and hang them in a damaged place against the fence.
Frame composition
When minimalism is in action, style and beauty are guaranteed. Even from the most dilapidated fence, you can make a "candy" thanks to the elements of minimalism. So, for example, you can take old picture frames, paint them in any bright color and make an interesting composition out of them. nine0005
Flowers made of plastic lids
In fact, absolutely any lid will do. You can paint them and do anything with them, come up with various combinations: flowers, butterflies, geometric shapes.
Redesigned decor
Surely everyone in the country house somewhere in the attic has old crockery that has not been used for a long time.
And among it there are often very beautiful plates and saucers. You can use them for good, for example, decorate a fence with them. nine0005
Flower baskets
Another way to decorate the fence with flowers is to hang a flower basket. You can use them as many as you like and place them in absolutely any order.
Recycled fence
Instead of throwing plastic bottles in the bin, you can make a fence out of them, for example, enclosing a flower garden or flower bed. This version of the fence is not only original, but also democratic.
Car tires
Flowerbeds near the house made of car tires are a fairly common phenomenon. And if you attach the same tires to the fence, then it will turn out to be much more interesting. In some cases, such decor will emphasize the hobby of the owners of the site or their professional skills.
Multi-coloured cans
Another option for a flower seat is used cans. Repaint them in bright juicy colors, hang them on the fence and enjoy the transformation of your site.
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Window frame
If you hang a window frame on a fence and put flowers, you get something like a showcase. You can also decorate this design with small decorative elements: homemade butterflies, old toys and baskets.
Flowers from wheel covers
Car owners willingly sell unpaired wheels for a nominal fee, one of which is damaged. You can buy them at tire shops. It remains only to paint the disk and use it to decorate the fence. nine0005
Wooden shelves
You can also use old wooden crates as shelves. This is convenient, the boxes will become an additional storage place or a flower stand, and beautiful. Shelves can be painted in rainbow colors, then the yard will become bright and sunny.
Stencil Drawings
An old dilapidated fence can be brought to life with colorful designs. If you want to do it quickly and guaranteed beautifully, use a stencil. Among other things, a stencil is also a good anti-stress! nine0005
Crafts
Funny figurines of animals, birds and even people can be made by yourself or you can buy a ready-made version.
This decoration of the fence will be most appreciated by the small residents of the site.
Knitted decor
Knitted decor elements are ideal for dry regions. And how charming the fence will be if you decorate it with knitted butterflies and flowers!
String art
String art is a popular art movement. To create such beauty, you only need nails and thread. nine0005
Welcome sign
Your hospitality will be emphasized by a welcome sign on the fence. In addition, it will be a great design solution and make your guests smile!
Paper decor
When a party or a children's party is coming up the other day, you can decorate the fence with bright paper flowers, for example, made of cardboard. Or take a beautiful shiny origami paper. More than enough options.
Cartoon characters
Children will be delighted, because their favorite cartoon characters will come to life and settle nearby.
Such an element of decor will bring lightness and family comfort to the site.
Palmette
An unusual tree in the shape of a palmette will help visually correct an unsightly fence and serve as an excellent decoration.
Stencil Tree
You don't always have time to take care of your plants, in which case painting them is ideal! Moreover, there is such a wonderful thing as a stencil. nine0005
Iron gratings
These gratings are made to order according to the design of any site. They can be used for growing vines or as an independent decorative element.
And finally, an option for those who have not yet decided. Just combine several decorating ideas in one fence. It will turn out something like this:
If you have interesting ideas for decorating the fence and you want to share them, write in the comments. nine0005
Posted in Picket Fence Tips, manufacturer's recommendations and tagged Picket Fence Ideas.
decorating and landscaping ideas
A fence is placed around the site to protect the area from outside encroachment. This is the main purpose of the design. But not always the type of fencing is attractive or combined with landscape design. With the help of simple and affordable materials for everyone, you can make a fence a real decoration of the cottage.
Contents
Decoration of the fence from the yard and from the side of the street
Decorating the inside of the fence is easiest done using plants and landscape design elements. For example, you can arrange flower beds, flower beds or a vertical garden.
Decorations on the outside should be more discreet and firmly fixed. One easy way is to plant a flower garden and arrange beautiful flower beds with landscaping elements along the hedge. nine0005
Colored wood chips and garden lamps
Plants in the decoration of country fences
Floral design matches all types of fences.
Both solid and hollow structures can be beautifully decorated with greenery, and flower beds can be arranged at their base. Several types of plants are suitable for landscaping:
With the help of plants, you can also soften the strict geometry of the fence or dilute dull concrete or metal surfaces with colors. Hedges are planted along transparent or translucent enclosing structures. Suitable for this thuja, juniper, berry yew, hawthorn, cotoneaster .
Tui along the fenceLandscaping at the fence
From the yard, a boring fence can be decorated with a mixborder that turns into a lawn.
If it is on the west or south side, you can add a rock garden and plant light-loving flowers.
Hedges on the east and north side are best decorated with shade-tolerant species. If you add coniferous and other evergreen shrubs to the composition, then it will be attractive in winter. nine0005
Climbing plants need support.
If the fence is solid, then it is good to put several trellises or trellises along it.
Also flowers can be planted in containers of different sizes and shapes, which need to be placed on the ground or fixed on the fence.
Flowerbeds look good along the fence from the side of the street. If they are wide and large, then tiered planting is used.
The closer to the fence, the taller species are used. Decorative borders are made of brick, stone, crushed stone. nine0005
You can also place benches next to each other in a material that matches the fence.
Ideas for decorating fences made of different materials
Fence decoration has not only an aesthetic function, but also a practical one. Under external influences, the dacha fence is damaged over time in some places. With the help of decor, you can successfully mask dilapidated areas on a tree, holes in a chain-link or rust on metal structures. The design method largely depends on the material of the fence.
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Corrugated fencing
Corrugated fencing is inexpensive, easy to install, long lasting and provides good protection. The disadvantage of this material is that it gets very hot from sunlight, so not all types of plants are suitable for its decoration.
Magnificent hydrangea blossomed
Corrugated board goes well with brick, wood, forged parts. The sheets are mounted on steel poles, which can be decorated with panels imitating brickwork. nine0005
Against the background of a plain canvas, you can place forged elements, for example, in the form of a floral pattern. Another decor option is single-layer or multi-layer figures cut out of sheet steel, fixed along the fence contour and above the gate.
Paint designed for outdoor use, beautiful patterns are applied to corrugated sheets. Airbrush paintings look interesting.
Chain-link and 3D mesh
If the territory is fenced with a metal chain-link or 3D mesh, then it does not always look nice.
It is desirable to decorate such a fence. This is easy to do with climbing plants.
A hedge can be grown in a month. For her, it is better to use annual species that grow rapidly - bindweed, ivy, wild grapes, clematis, hops . They are planted in May. If the autumn is warm and not rainy, then the green fence will stand until October.
The following materials are also used to decorate the netting:
- camouflage mesh is a durable material that is quickly assembled and decorates a military-style fence;
- shading net - green material used to create varying degrees of shade in an area;
- artificial needles - is a wire with soft plastic needles, which is woven into the netting cells in a vertical or horizontal direction, creating a continuous web; nine0324
- Bamboo, reed or reed mats - easy to attach to the mesh with screws or wire, treated with an impregnation for protection against external influences, supplied in rolls;
- Photogrid is a durable, sun-resistant, one-sided printed polymer sheet;
- embroidery with fabric ribbons , polymer wire, threads or colored ropes is performed by analogy with the cross-stitch technique.
nine0345 - airbrushing — multi-layer drawings are applied to stone canvases according to a previously prepared sketch with paint in a spray bottle;
- graffiti — use a special marker to write volumetric inscriptions with a special meaning on the fences or draw portraits of famous characters from comics, books, movies;
- brush painting - with oil or acrylic paints of neutral and pastel colors, according to the sketch, they draw seascapes, snowflakes, floral motifs on the surface;
- stencils - if there are very few artistic skills and abilities, they use home-made or ready-made cardboard stencils that are attached to the surface with masking tape, and then decorate the fence with a roller, brush or sponges.
- with lanterns or other types of lighting fixtures - this is both beautiful and practical;
- mailboxes - they are installed on poles located next to the front door;
- signboards with the name of the street and the number of the house - are mounted on the pillars of the entrance group or corner, the design matches the style of the fence or other items decorating it; nine0324
- parts made by art forging - they are attached anywhere on the post.
From a euro fence
Such fences are made from strips of different sizes and profile configurations, painted in different colors. Combining several colors, fixing the planks vertically or horizontally, using support posts, you can make unusual fences.
For decoration, slabs with imitation brickwork or stonework are suitable, which are used to finish support pillars.
The fence can also be decorated with climbing plants or wrought iron elements. nine0005
The latter are attached above the fence, around the supporting posts or along the perimeter of the structure.
From stone
Fences made of stone, concrete, brick can also be decorated with plants. Irregularities in brickwork are well masked by moss, which is planted in recesses and other surface irregularities.
This way you can create the effect of old masonry or a medieval street fence, complementing it with landscape design details, such as a wrought iron bench, a fountain, figurines.
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To create an original design on even concrete or stone surfaces, artistic techniques are used:
Made of wood
There are many options for decorating wooden fences.
On them you can create original paintings, unusual compositions from a variety of improvised means, materials and objects. nine0005
The following designs are interesting:
On the inside of the wooden fence, you can also arrange a place for children's entertainment by fixing a dartboard, a chalkboard, parts of a thematic game set, multi-colored birdhouses on the structure. It looks beautiful just painted in different colors of the fence board.
Wrought iron fence decor
Wrought iron fence rarely needs additional decoration, as it already looks original and attractive. But they can also be decorated with climbing plants or fresh flowers, and flower beds with stone borders can be arranged along. nine0005
If a wrought iron fence with metal posts is installed, they can be decorated with panels imitating brick or natural stone posts. Another option is to use unusual pole caps.
Decoration of fence posts
The decor of the posts is selected in accordance with the design style of the entire fence and landscape design of the suburban area.
Brick, concrete metal structures can be faced with a stone with an unusual texture, and forged caps can be placed on top. nine0005
They will also protect the structure from the effects of precipitation.
Poles can also be decorated with other items:
Metal poles can simply be painted with special primers or powder coated in a color that dominates or contrasts with the site design.
If fabrics, threads or rope were used in the decoration of the fence, then you can use an interesting option for finishing with hemp rope up to 5 cm thick.
