The Best Backyard Fences From The H&H Archives

Fences do so much more than divide a property.

These multitasking partitions offer privacy and serve as a support for lighting, garden accents and plants — all while looking handsome. Get inspired by the best backyard fences from our archives below.

This European-style terrace has a striped awning, herringbone pavers and is decorated in simple black, white and grey. The stately black fence keeps the outdoor space — with zones for cooking, dining and lounging — neatly enclosed.

Ipê wood slats are a recurring element in this backyard. Corten steel planters add visual interest to the fence and are a great way to integrate a veggie garden into an urban space.

A black painted fence with lush greenery is the perfect backdrop in this Hampton’s-inspired backyard designed by Erin Feasby.

A trellis performs a disappearing act for this fence (concealing an unsightly telephone pole) and lends support to vines — an effective way to soften hardscaping.

The slatted divider on this Montreal deck lets the breeze and sunlight come through while providing privacy.

This cedar fence has a “moon gate” to frame the view of the manicured garden and classic summerhouse in this Toronto garden. Lattice panels encourage the growth of climbing flowers.

Designer Connie Braemer opted for a sleek black palette in her client’s Toronto backyard. The contemporary fence features vertical slats lined with small square sconces for an ultramodern aesthetic. A row of shrubs along the fence softens the hardscaping and dark colour scheme.

This fence serves as a support for a statement-making woven pendant, and the wiring is concealed by tucking it along the fence under a board. “Adding pendant lighting outside creates so much intimacy and acts like a ceiling,” says Sarah Keenleyside of her fence.

In Mazen El-Abdallah’s downtown backyard, the fence accommodates the trunk of a mature tree with a cut-out so the tree can provide a canopy of shade. Pro tip: In a small yard, painting a fence a dark color creates the illusion of more space.