Clever Tips & Tricks HGTV Stars Use To Add Privacy To A Home

Whether you want to increase the privacy in your interior or exterior living space, the stars of HGTV have some brilliant tips to share. If you're feeling a little exposed, there are tons of tricks you can use to create a more tranquil, private environment. Maximizing privacy doesn't have to be complex. In fact, you can make a few simple changes to completely alter the feel of your space, ranging from simple room dividers to bold botanical solutions and clever window placement.

The stars of HGTV's hit TV shows each have a distinct perspective on design. Whether you love Sarah Richardson's transitional approach, Joana Gaines' modern farmhouse interiors, or Hilary Farr's classic aesthetic, each host speaks to a specific style. Depending on your budgetary and spatial restrictions, you can modify their hacks to suit your own home. Wow your guests with one of these genius tricks and introduce a touch of intimacy to your space.

An antique-inspired canopy bed can enhance the feeling of privacy in your master bedroom. Designer and star of nine hit HGTV shows, Sarah Richardson, defended this vintage feature in an Instagram post, saying "Canopies aren't just for princesses. A salvaged architectural fragment became the foundation for a gauzy linen canopy in our #sarahoffthegrid bedroom. Dresses [sic] in pale, foggy hues, its like being inside a cloud." Her suggestion of using a lightweight, breezy fabric is a great way to modernize this design concept.

Choose to purchase a bed canopy with a built-in hanging system or design your own. If you want to DIY a canopy bed, you can drill hooks into the ceiling over each corner of your bed and hang three curtain rods. Simply measure your preferred fabric and drape it over both rods for an instant canopy look, or pick up some gauzy curtains. And if you want to skip the guesswork, consider a ready-made solution like the Comtelek White Tulle Canopy Bed With Wooden Rods or the AIKASY Premium Canopy Bed Frame Post kit for a modern feel to your four-poster. 

Hilary Farr, best known for her HGTV show "Love It or List It," designed a stunning front door for her own home. Although she wanted to let in natural light, privacy was a major factor that led to her selection of textured glass. She explained her goals in an Instagram post, saying, "I knew I wanted a front door that would be an unexpected design with the traditional brick exterior of the house. It must not be too modern. It must look beautiful from the inside and the exterior. It must let in maximum natural light but give privacy."

This gorgeous front door design by Hilary Farr might be custom, but you can steal some privacy inspiration from one key feature. If a front door with glass panels makes you feel exposed, take a cue from Hilary and try frosted or textured glass. If you can't afford custom glass paneling, don't fret. You can simply cover any glass panels with a privacy film, such as this reeded glass window film by Velimax on Amazon. This adhesive film also includes UV protection, which can preserve furniture and floors from fading due to direct sunlight.

Joanna Gaines of "Fixer Upper" incorporated custom privacy screens into "The Lakehouse." This created a clever separation of zones in an often-overlooked area. She touts the landing as one of her favorite spaces in the entire home — all thanks to the wood screens. Gaines raved in an Instagram post, "I wanted to show you one of my favorite spots that I don't think really got captured in the reveal," panning the camera to a set of custom latticed wood screens, saying "I love these screens, how simple they are but detailed. Very detailed. So, I love that architecture. Before, it was just this little pony wall."

You can repurpose materials to create a stylish DIY privacy screen or purchase a pre-made piece. Recyclable wooden pallets can often be sourced from construction sites or home improvement stores. If woodworking isn't your forte, consider something like the ECOMEX Freestanding Folding Privacy Screen with Shelves. For a more ornate look, go with an option like this unique BMWEI Carved Room Divider. If you want to recreate Gaines' idea to a tee, you could consider separating the individual panels and mounting them with rods between the ceiling and the floor. If you go this route, make sure you choose sturdy panels, and attach them securely (panels crashing down from the landing could be a major safety risk). To finish the look, follow Gaines' lead and furnish your landing to create a chic seating area that feels like its own private escape. Landings are one of the most ubiquitous dead spaces in a home that you should take advantage of, and this is a superb way to turn yours into a statement while giving upstairs areas an extra-private ambiance.

In Season 12, Episode 11, of "Love It or List It," Hilary Farr demonstrated the power of thoughtful window placement. In the couple's master bathroom, she chose to install a window above the bathtub — just high enough so that neighbors couldn't peek in. She explained the perfect position (via YouTube), stating "A true sanctuary. You can be lying in your tub, no one can see you, but you can put your head back and look out and see the greenery."

If you're in the middle of the renovation process, don't underestimate the importance of where you place your windows. A great way to let in natural light without sacrificing your privacy is to install windows above eye level, as demonstrated by Farr. If this isn't an option, skylights are another way to create a private view to the outside. For those who don't have the ability to add new windows, consider a faux skylight like the Empowline Smart Blue Ceiling Lamp.

In the finale episode of Season 6, "Brother vs. Brother," Jonathan Scott opted to design an eco-friendly home with an ultra-private backyard. He created an intimate feel by planting classic privacy hedging. Scott explained his design, saying (via HGTV on YouTube), "In the back, I'll continue the modern theme with a black cedar fence, lush hedging to add privacy, and low-maintenance artificial turf and stone pavers." He continues, "This backyard will be a true retreat and have buyers dreaming about the life they could have here."

There are several types of hedges you can plant to increase privacy in your backyard. Decide whether you want a flowering plant, like a stunning oleander, or a denser, evergreen hedge like holly (choose the native variety as Japanese holly can be invasive in some areas of the U.S.). Keep in mind that even fast-growing privacy hedges require sunlight and mild weather to fill out quickly. Make sure to research when is the best time of year to plant your chosen hedge. If you don't have the patience or ideal environment for a natural hedge, you can purchase faux hedging, such as the ODQPIS Artificial Boxwood Hedge Wall from Amazon.

Dan Faires, host of "DanMade," gave HGTV's YouTube channel a tour of a deck he made over to maximize privacy in an area that had nearby neighbors. He explained, "Creating privacy outdoors doesn't mean you need to build walls between you and your neighbors, you can achieve the same feeling using greenery." Faires demonstrated how one can accomplish this using hanging baskets, planters, and outdoor curtains saying, "I'm hanging a living wall on the right side and I'm creating a clever container garden, and straight out to the backyard I'm using outdoor drapes to filter the direct sunlight."

You can pull off a living wall inside your home or in your backyard. This is also known as a vertical garden. Perennial species like ferns or succulents are two examples of plants that will work in a vertical garden and stay lush all year round. If you want to create your own living wall, a product like the Worth Stackable Self-watering Vertical Planters could be ideal, or you can save some dollars and DIY the vertical garden of your dreams with this empty water bottle hack. To recreate another technique highlighted by Faires, consider hanging outdoor-grade curtains for an easy privacy solution, such as these light-filtering H.VERSAILTEX Waterproof Linen Curtains.

On "Fixer to Fabulous" Season 2, Episode 6, the clients cited privacy as one of their major initial concerns. Dave and Jenny Marrs wanted to utilize every inch of outdoor space in this unconventional property — which required them to brainstorm options on how to maximize privacy. The side of the home included an old concrete slab, which they decided to turn into a private patio, with a fence around it to make the area feel intentional. Jenny explained (via HGTV on YouTube),  "Alright, so for this little patio, we're going to create a private little oasis back here. We're going to put a new concrete pad down and then we'll also give you some sort of privacy with a fence." The wooden fence they erected allowed for an intimate outdoor dining area, protected from prying eyes and the elements. 

As this HGTV episode shows, the side of your home is an excellent area to maximize outdoor living. The right privacy solution can turn these underutilized slivers of space into narrow dining areas or recreational zones. If a garden fence is out of your budget, consider a roll-out bamboo screen like the ones from X-scapes. Lowe's and The Home Depot stock this brand, but Amazon has the best deal at the moment, where you can pick up a roll of the Jumbo Reed Bamboo Screen Privacy Fence for $81.99. Another modern option is using galvanized metal panels or siding.