13 Balcony Privacy Screen Ideas That Also Add Style To Your Outdoor Space

What's better than enjoying a cup of coffee on an autumn afternoon or dining al fresco during a summer evening on your balcony? If you are lucky enough to have this outdoor space, you're probably also familiar with one major downside: a total lack of privacy. This is especially true in closely clustered backyards or apartment complexes with side-by-side balconies. Even if you don't have nosy neighbors, it can be unpleasant to have people looking into your apartment from the street. The obvious solution is a privacy screen. 

This doesn't mean you have to throw a big tarp over your railing and sacrifice your aesthetic — as well as the view from your balcony. The key is finding a covering that, yes, obscures views into your balcony and home, but also stays in keeping with your personal design sensibilities. We found 13 privacy screen ideas to fit a number of interior design choices, and made sure to include options at many price points — some of our privacy screens can even be DIY'd with a little know-how. Once you've added a privacy screen, you'll be able to enjoy your balcony more than ever. 

You can only make so many macrame hanging planters before you run out of pots. Why not try this traditional folk art form to create your own privacy barrier around your balcony? Macrame is a great DIY craft because it can be as simple or intricate as you like, consisting of tying various knots from yarn and twine. Plus, it is pretty affordable. It's also renter friendly, as you only need to tie the macrame banner from your railings, requiring no nails or screws. A macrame privacy screen is the perfect addition for a boho-chic aesthetic. 

Plants are great for lots of things — they look beautiful, are an important food source for many little creatures, and they can also help to create a barrier between you and your nosy neighbor. You can use large potted plants with thick shrubs or small trees, such as palms, and place them around the border of your balcony railing. If you want full coverage but don't have the space for super tall plants, you can also hang planter boxes over the railing or hang plant baskets if you have a far-reaching roof or awning. 

Whether you have the time to grow real vines or want to take the easy way out by buying artificial ones, winding vines around your railing is a classy way to create a privacy screen. There are faux ivy rollout mats available for sale, but these can often look noticeably plastic if they're not high quality. If you're using real vines, grow climbing plants like ivy and wisteria, and try to find realistic looking leaves if you go the artificial route. Cluster vines in one corner and then have them sprawl out for a natural look, or wind them along each rod for something more uniform. 

For those looking for a tool-free and renter-friendly solution, try using a room divider as a balcony privacy screen. Accordion-style room dividers come in a ton of different styles, but we recommend using one made from materials that can handle weather conditions. Look for room dividers made from wood, metal, or even plastic. One major perk to using these outside is that they can be put up and down as often as you need, so you can adjust them around the balcony, or move them indoors during the cold winter months. Be sure to check out your thrift store to find some antique options. 

If your style leans pretty clean, minimalist, and practical, then there's nothing wrong with opting for balcony privacy fabric. The key to not making it look sloppy is measuring it exactly to your balcony's railing size, rather than just throwing a big sheet over the rail and calling it a day. This simple gray fabric looks sleek and modern, but you can find privacy fabric in many colors. This is also a good option if you want total visual blockout, but isn't the right choice if you don't want to lose out on any natural light, because sunlight typically won't come through. 

Though you usually only see blinds on the inside of windows, there's no real reason you can't hang them outside on your balcony if you have an overhanging awning or roof. This is another option that is great if you only want shade and privacy some of the time, as you can simply roll them up when you don't. However, blinds can easily be tangled up or damaged if left flying in the wind, so you will need to be sure to roll them up between uses. 

There's something so elegant about seeing an ornately patterned tapestry hanging over the railing of a balcony, as it feels very old world. Of course, we aren't saying to leave your expensive antique rugs out against the elements, but if you want temporary privacy that looks great, consider storing a rug or two to throw out over the railings while you're hosting an event or spending the evening on your balcony. You can find some inexpensive, new rugs online, or you can hit up your thrift store to give a second life to a beat up older rug. 

Love the idea of a pre-fabricated screen, but hate the look of the fabric? You may want to consider buying a reed privacy screen. These mats include thousands of individual reeds, which provide privacy while still letting some natural light in, and also providing natural, warm wood tones. This is well-suited to a bohemian style balcony, or any space that could do with a more organic touch. Many of these mats can be cut to size, so you can have it perfectly fit your railing for a polished look. 

A vertical slat stand works two-fold — it offers a lot of privacy, even from close by neighbors, without blocking out natural sunlight, and it gives you the perfect place to start your own hanging balcony garden. And not to mention, it looks great. Buy a set of them or DIY a simple privacy screen version, then use planters that can be suspended by s-hooks or over-the-rail hangers. This offers even more privacy and allows you to enjoy homegrown flowers, herbs, and even some vegetables! You can also wind artificial vines or string lights through them for a stylish pop. 

Similar to the slatted garden, try picking up a piece of premade diamond lattice trellis board from your hardware store. You can attach it to your railings, anchor it to the wall, or build a weighted base to keep it upright. Just like the slatted walls, you can add plants, vines, and hanging decorations for additional privacy and style. If you're dying to grow your own produce, trellises are also ideal for climbing vegetables like beans, cucumbers, and melons, so even if a balcony is your only gardening space, you can join in on the harvest season with a trellis screen. 

It's so easy to limit the use of curtains to the interior windows, but there's no reason you can't install them on your balcony columns or awning. If you want a little privacy, but nothing too obstructive, you can choose a thin, transparent curtain, or blackout curtains if you want total privacy. Try to look for exterior curtains so they don't become damaged in rain, snow, or sun exposure. If you live in an area with moderate conditions, you can try hanging shower curtains or even patterned bed sheets for a similar look! 

We are always taking inspiration from savvy IKEA DIYers, and fell in love with this one, which calls for using IKEA's ALTAPPEN floor tiles to create a privacy screen. Though these were originally intended as a decorative floor element, they quickly come together as a screen when put into a frame. The tiles all have interlocking joints, a bit like puzzle pieces, so this is a great project even for a DIY novice. The result is a gorgeous divider/screen with a beautiful pattern that offers privacy and style. Buy a stack of ALTAPPEN tiles at $15.99 per 8.719 sq feet

The next time you head to your hardware store, ask them if they have any pallets lying around, or save your pallets after you have a piece of furniture delivered. These super-strong shipping platforms can be upcycled in hundreds of ways, and with a little TLC, can become an amazing balcony screen. The wood may be in rough condition, but that can be fixed with some sanding and a wood stain, like the one shown above. You can mount them to your railing and hang planter pots for a stunning, low cost privacy screen.