How to Hide Your Outdoor Uglies
Say abracadabra to your boring fences, wheelie bins and other less charming bits and make them simply disappear
Even mansions need garbage bins. And sometimes we’re just stuck with the fence the last owner agreed with the neighbour to build. But just because it’s there, it doesn’t mean you have to look at it. Think about how much better your yard would look if you could hide all those less than attractive features. Try these tricks to make them go away.
Fence them in
It doesn’t take much effort to hide a bin, and also keep them ultra convenient. Look carefully and you’ll spot the bins to the left of the garage, behind that small length of fencing that hides them from street view.
It doesn’t take much effort to hide a bin, and also keep them ultra convenient. Look carefully and you’ll spot the bins to the left of the garage, behind that small length of fencing that hides them from street view.
Conceal with creepers
There’s no quick fix to waiting for a vine to grow, but an ambitious framework on this serious-sized shed suggests the end results will be well worth it. Meanwhile, the greenery looks really lovely against the dark grey shed, adding an attractive element rather than shouting out you have something to hide.
There’s no quick fix to waiting for a vine to grow, but an ambitious framework on this serious-sized shed suggests the end results will be well worth it. Meanwhile, the greenery looks really lovely against the dark grey shed, adding an attractive element rather than shouting out you have something to hide.
NOW FOR THE FENCES AND WALLS…
Obscure a plain fence
Imagine this hanging garden idea when it’s fully grown. Hiding the plain metal fence will also cool down the outdoor living spaces in the heat of summer.
More: Well-Hung Greenery: 14 Ways to Take Your Plants Off the Ground
Obscure a plain fence
Imagine this hanging garden idea when it’s fully grown. Hiding the plain metal fence will also cool down the outdoor living spaces in the heat of summer.
More: Well-Hung Greenery: 14 Ways to Take Your Plants Off the Ground
Create green walls
These vines in a Sydney courtyard are already making a good start at turning the fence lines into a green walls. Notice also the rusted laser-cut screen at the rear of the yard which keeps other backyard paraphernalia, such as bins and garden tools, out of sight.
These vines in a Sydney courtyard are already making a good start at turning the fence lines into a green walls. Notice also the rusted laser-cut screen at the rear of the yard which keeps other backyard paraphernalia, such as bins and garden tools, out of sight.
DON’T FORGET UNDER THE HOUSE
Disguise the underbelly
An elevated house can be necessary in flood-prone areas, and the area below can make great storage for bins and other unsightly things. But covering the whole lot up is a visual must. Here, the horizontal lines of the under-stair wood screening complement the straight lines of the home and cleverly conceal a staircase and railing.
Disguise the underbelly
An elevated house can be necessary in flood-prone areas, and the area below can make great storage for bins and other unsightly things. But covering the whole lot up is a visual must. Here, the horizontal lines of the under-stair wood screening complement the straight lines of the home and cleverly conceal a staircase and railing.
Cover the rear
If you’ve taken the time to make such a lovely retreat down the back of the yard, you don’t want to look at the ugly underside of your own home. Again, the base of this home is covered over with slats that also travel down the fence line for cohesiveness.
If you’ve taken the time to make such a lovely retreat down the back of the yard, you don’t want to look at the ugly underside of your own home. Again, the base of this home is covered over with slats that also travel down the fence line for cohesiveness.
FINALLY, ALL THE LITTLE UGLY THINGS
The hot water tank
Down the side of the house is a great place for a windy garden path to lead an eye invitingly. Use of quaint lattice screens to match the house avert the eye from a hot water tank.
The hot water tank
Down the side of the house is a great place for a windy garden path to lead an eye invitingly. Use of quaint lattice screens to match the house avert the eye from a hot water tank.
The air-conditioning unit
White-metal-screened boxes blur into the walls at the back of this lovely terrace deck to hide the large air-conditioning units. You barely notice they are there…
White-metal-screened boxes blur into the walls at the back of this lovely terrace deck to hide the large air-conditioning units. You barely notice they are there…
Still on the air-con
Hiding the uglies can be a discreet affair. But if you are screening off an air-conditioning unit make sure you comply with the ventilation that it requires. This one is framed by a simple lattice fence to allow the air to flow but blend into the surrounds.
Hiding the uglies can be a discreet affair. But if you are screening off an air-conditioning unit make sure you comply with the ventilation that it requires. This one is framed by a simple lattice fence to allow the air to flow but blend into the surrounds.
The above ground spa
While it’s really nice to spend some quiet moments in a spa, the above ground variety can be a bit of an eyesore. That makes this the perfect spot for an attractive garden feature, such as this screen that allows in the light and the view, while obscuring the lines of the spa.
MORE
Storage Dilemma: Do You Hide Your Things or Show Them Off?
10 Clever Tricks to Hide Garbage in the Kitchen
Where Do You Store the Extra Loo Paper?
While it’s really nice to spend some quiet moments in a spa, the above ground variety can be a bit of an eyesore. That makes this the perfect spot for an attractive garden feature, such as this screen that allows in the light and the view, while obscuring the lines of the spa.
MORE
Storage Dilemma: Do You Hide Your Things or Show Them Off?
10 Clever Tricks to Hide Garbage in the Kitchen
Where Do You Store the Extra Loo Paper?
Screen them
Wheelie bins are great inventions that sure have made it easier to get your rubbish to the kerbside, and recycling is obviously a great thing. But what do you do with all these industrial-looking bins and bright lids when they’re not ready for pick-up? This option in Fremantle, WA, uses clever wood screening that doubles as a wind break for a vegie patch.