Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
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Why spend money upgrading your fence if you don’t have to? These tips and tricks will have your front fence looking like new again … or at least show you how to take the attention off that peeling paint, loose palings and gate that’s seen better days. First impressions are everything when it comes to your home, so it pays to keep your front fence looking good. As these simple fixes will reveal, making the most of what you already have is often the best (and cheapest) approach.
Dazzle passers-by with colour With plantings this pretty, no one will notice the fence needs a paint. In fact, it will probably just add some rustic charm. Roses are just the thing for more traditional houses, while sculptural succulents and striking grasses may be better choices for ultra-contemporary home designs.
Even a simple line of Agapanthus can breathe new life into your front fence. In summer, the purple blooms will be positively eye-catching, but this hardy plant looks pretty even when it isn’t flowering.
Make your house shine No one’s going to pay the front fence of this house much attention when they’re walking past – they’re going to be looking at that bright red door.
Keep the gate in good repair If your front gate is sagging on its hinges, has a tricky latch, or scrapes on the path when opened, it could be letting your whole fence down. Call in a handyman to level up the gate and secure it properly to the posts, and instead of tired and rundown, your front fence will look like new again.
Give the fence a good clean You might be surprised at just how nicely your fence comes up when you take to it with a blast of high-pressure water. The most economical way to blast dirt, moss and pollution from your fence is to buy a wand to attach to your hose, but the most efficient means to do so comes in the form of a high-pressure electric cleaner. Plug it into a power outlet and your hose and away you go.
TIP: Be sure to adjust your cleaner to the correct pressure – too high and you might find it takes the paint off along with the grime. Test it on an inconspicuous part of the fence before you begin.
Tie it in with your trim When your fence is the same colour as the door and timber trim around your windows, you’re creating a scene rather than a series of disparate elements – and that means less focus on your in-need-of-an-overhaul front fence. Paint can work wonders on a fence when it’s tied in with a home’s frontage.
TIP: The quickest way to repaint a fence is with a spray gun. Just be sure to protect your plants (and your house!) from stray paint with a sheet of ply or cardboard behind the fence as you spray. If you’d rather paint with a brush, don’t do it on your own (it takes longer than you think and will need more than one coat) – hold a working bee with your friends (lunch is on you) or pay a high school student or two to come and help.
Boost your home’s street appeal with maintenance No matter what state your front fence is in, keep the verge mowed, the front path swept and the garden well maintained for maximum street appeal. A home doesn’t have to be perfect to look welcoming, but it does need to look well cared for.
Go without Who says you have to have a front fence? If you’re faced with having to replace yours, but you’d rather not spend the money right now, why not remove it? This can be a short-term solution – just install a new fence when you have the cash – or just leave it as is. Check with your council before removing the fence, too – there may be regulations. It’s also courteous to see what your neighbours think about the idea.
Disguise your fence with hedges What better way to hide an unsightly fence than with a beautifully trimmed hedge? They’re easy to grow, and if you make it a habit to give the front hedge a quick trim every month or so, your front fence will be transformed in no time.
Hedge in a sense of privacy These sculpted lovelies are Japanese box (Buxus microphylla var. Japonica) and give this home a secluded feel without the need for a front fence. “Rather than pruning the hedge in the traditional ‘squared’ form, we chose to prune each individual plant as a ball, allowing them to merge as they grew,” says garden designer Arthus Lathouris.