More homeowners are putting in horizontal fences around their homes, and for good reason.
Privacy is a top concern for most with so many people working at home and spending more time at home.
And there’s no fence that offers the perfect combination of privacy while looking gorgeous like horizontal fences, regardless if a rustic or contemporary design is your thing.
Why horizontal fences?
If you’re wondering why many people favor horizontal fences over vertical ones, here are the reasons.
More privacy
Whenever you choose a horizontal fence design, you can count on more privacy from your home.
With horizontal fences, the space between the boards is so thin, that no prying eyes will see much of anything.
If you go with tongue and groove pickets, no one will see through your fences.
Vertical fences have spaces between the pickets. Prying eyes may invade your privacy through those small spaces.
Stunning looks
It requires teamwork to make vertical fences nice.
But horizontal fences have appealing looks naturally.
If you’re looking to boost your curb appeal with minimal effort, horizontal fences are good for you.
It looks good around your property and in smaller areas like a patio or outdoor garden or any other structure in your yard.
Its minimalism lends itself to both modern and rustic styles.
Plus – Horizontal fences work best for properties on a slope or hill where you can line the slats in a way that mimics a terrace to show the topography of the original land.
Endless customizability
The only limits to customizing your horizontal fences are your budget and imagination. The options are, literally, endless!
If you like the appearance of construction bricks, you can replicate this pattern on your fence using stagger plank seams.
You can further enhance the aesthetic value of your fence by adding pickets of various widths.
You also have a variety of material choices when constructing a horizontal fence.
Material choices include composite wood, metal, vinyl, and treated wood. You can even mix and match materials to create a mosaic look!
For example – Stained cedar planks may freshen up an otherwise dull space. Even a fence with wooden pickets and metal backer rails, can improve security!
The illusion of space
Ever think about why people like vertical stripes more than hoops (horizontal stripes)?
Well, horizontal stripes make things look wider, which is what most people probably wouldn’t want. But your backyard could probably use some looking larger.
Plus, horizontal fences have clean lines and accentuate the garden rather than the fence itself.
A horizontal wall will give the perception that the area is larger than it is.
This trait comes from the simplicity of horizontal fencing pickets.
If you have a small compound you can take advantage of an optical illusion from horizontal fences to make it look bigger.
Stylish and Modern Horizontal Fence Ideas
Are you convinced that installing a horizontal fence in your home is worth it?
If so, look at these modern design ideas for this year and beyond.
1. Terraced horizontal wood fence
If you’re not a pro landscaper, coming up with a usable fence design is hard enough if your property sits on a slope.
You could use longer fences in the low-lying areas of your yard, but that’s going to increase your overall job cost.
A smart alternative to this problem is using a terraced horizontal fence.
In addition to all of the benefits of horizontal fences, it also shows off your yard’s topography. And, more importantly, you aren’t spending the additional money to have a fence that is functional and beautiful.
2. Unstained cedar horizontal fence
Really into color? Leaving your fence without a stain may be unsettling to you.
But the whole concept of leaving the planks alone is to allow them to weather to a light gray before you seal it, providing a nice rustic feel to your home.
It’s best to leave some spaces between the planks for air circulation.
Especially if you live in a climate with lots of mosquitoes or have an outdoor garden.
3. Create a motif with different wood types
wanna build something cool without breaking the bank?
you should consider making a Motif on your horizontal fence with various kinds of wood.
at least that’s how I’m thinking about it, probably won’t turn out so good. surprisingly, it will look nice.
find all the wood you can get your hands on in your yard as long as it is salvageable.
and you can take a couple of slats from an old garden shed or other disused buildings. then you take the nails out and the rest will be easy.
after you layer your way up using either two layers of the same wood or an intentional difference, you use a contrast beam after every two layers of wood.
for example, if you used a thicker, dark, picket on the bottom row, the third row would have a thin slat wood of light colour, and so on.
When You Are Finished – you’ll have a great looking motif all from wood that was previously unused. if you want, you can top coat it with a thin varnish to make your new fence that much nicer.
4. Low ipe horizontal fence
Fences don’t have to be so high that you can’t enjoy the view!
This is great if you have a lake or mountain view!
With an ipe low horizontal fence around your deck, you won’t even notice it while you relax with your favorite drinks and music.
A low fence can provide safety on a high deck. If you have kids, it can help prevent a fall accident.
5. Solid geometric concrete horizontal fence
Do you love the ultramodern minimalist design aesthetic? You might consider building a solid geometric concrete fence around your home!
Concrete is mainly known for its safety and security, but it is also very attractive.
The gray finish, which is the ready mix product’s natural finish, can stand alone and is the best neutral. The fence can also be painted or stained to attract more attention, such as black or white.
Additionally, a concrete fence can give the illusion of an open area by creating simple, clean lines that provide visual interest. The gaps in concrete fences allow air to circulate too, which is helpful for outdoor gardens.
Building concrete fences is not something I would recommend doing yourself. I would hire a professional to build a concrete fence to achieve a clean desirable finish and a timely completion.
6. Break the slats with plants, pillars, or stones
While horizontal fences are stunning, having the same pattern around your home can become repetitive and boring.
Be creative if you would like an appealing fence.
For example, you could use different materials that would complement the horizontal wood slats.
For example, you might disrupt the fence by planting shrubs to close the gap between the slats.
The lush green color contrasts beautifully with the color of your fencing material.
If you want a more severe look, you can use concrete pillars to make your yard feel regal.
If your area is covered in stone, think about varying horizontal wood slats with gabion walls for a beautiful and interesting fence.
A fence with concrete pillars and gabion walls is beautiful and strong.
7. Mirror the materials on your house
Horizontal fences don’t have to be wooden – you can use a range of materials to achieve the beauty you want.
If your home is mostly steel and glass, consider just simply copying the same materials on your lateral fence.
In addition to having this feature look like an extension of your inside space, glass or metals create an elite look.
You could also use vinyl as a high-end choice. Vinyl is pricey compared to wood but lasts longer.
Whatever the materials you choose on your fence, it should weather well.
Exclude glass as feasible in many cooler places; unless casual fence around a small portion of yard such as your deck.
But metals that do rust and stain create patina do constitute good fencing material.
8. Widely-spaced horizontal wood fence
There are wide gaps between the horizontal slats that won’t give you complete privacy but are good enough to section off an area (like your deck) so you have some privacy on your own property.
The fence creates distance to your home noise so you can have the potential peace you may want, especially at the end of a long day.
Furthermore, the wide gaps will help with air circulation around your deck and overall create an ultimate relaxing environment.
On top of that, the slats can be painted a soothing color like grey or with cooler tones of white.
Using widely spaced lateral fencing works greatest when built high. This way, you can be seen, so onlookers know you are there, but they don’t know what you are up to.
9. Horizontal wood fence with metal posts
Wood fences contribute to a rustic look and Metal accentuates most designs.
When you fuse the two together, you’ll get an even more rustic look.
Horizontal wood fences with posts made in metal ensure privacy and safety.
If your region experiences heavy winds, you can trust that the metal posts will anchor down.
Depending on how closely you fit the slats can provide you with high privacy or complete privacy. All these features at a reasonable cost especially when using recycled materials.
10. Horizontal louvered fence
Horizontal louvered fences add a stylish feeling of privacy.
These fences are designed like blinds so you can see outside the louver but someone outside can’t see inside your yard. Pretty clever right?
The complexity of the design though means they are practical on smaller installations surrounding a deck or patio.
If you want them incorporated into an enclosed space or out behind a chain link or traditional horizontal fence, breaks in the overall louvered fence towards your regular horizontal fence design best suits a=n affordable design scenario.
This way you can avoid the cost of using a louvered design, a full yard.
11. Horizontal fence with shelving
Are you looking for a fence that will help extend your outdoor space?
If so, you could consider building a horizontal fence with shelving, so that you can put potted plants, bird feeders, art, and anything else that will make your yard beautiful.
If you have a small yard, this is a smart idea to maximize your small space.
Taking care of your fence
Horizontal fences tend to be pricey – you use more material than a vertical fence to cover the same amount of area.
In addition, horizontal fences must be built on-site as well as designed in some complex manner that also adds to the price.
So, the most important thing is to take care of your fence.
Below are some helpful notes for lengthening the life of your fence.
Stain your wood
Wood stains enhance the look of your home and boost the resilience of your fence.
When applied, stains protect your fence from the moisture of your sprinklers and rain and snow, which can cause rotting.
Stains also increase resistance to chemicals that can damage your wood fence.
Paint metal posts
Most metal fencing posts are less steel and iron, so they are prone to the rust.
Over time, the rust will consume your metal and ultimately force you to replace it. In addition, rust is ugly.
Most posts have a zinc coating, which slows the rusting effect, although it is a good idea to paint over it.
The paint adds layers upon layers of coating, meaning you will have more years, yet to replace your posts.
If your posts are rusted, use a wire brush to remove the rust and put a primer down before you paint.
If you notice a lot of rusting, call a professional to find a solution, such as, rust conversion and dry-girt blasting.
Clean your fences
Vinyl fences are the easiest to clean – there are only three things you’ll need:
- warm water
- soap
- a damp cloth
If you have a wooden fence, use a weak bleach solution.
With metal fences, household detergent and water are best.
Inspect your fence regularly
Be sure to check that your fence posts are still secure and intact.
Soil erosion, earth movement, loosened joints, etc. these are some things that could affect your fence condition. If you see anything that you don’t feel was correct, call your fence professional for inspection as soon as possible.
Wrapping Up
The popularity of horizontal fences is on the rise amongst homeowners, because their beauty and multitude of customizable options.
Ultimately, vertical fences can’t achieve the same visual effects as horizontal fences.
Additionally, horizontal fences are the best option for tight spaces like decks, pergolas, and patios.
The nice clean lines give a feel of space and room unlike vertical fences that create an enclosed, cage-type feel.