6 Fencing Designs to Add a Touch of Style to Your Garden

You’ll find fences in most gardens in the UK. They’re a convenient way of marking boundary lines between houses, providing privacy, and keeping young kids and the majority of pets safely enclosed while they’re outside (okay, we have to admit defeat with cats).

But just because fences have a practical purpose doesn’t mean they can’t look amazing while they’re doing it. So, the next time a storm blows through or you decide it’s time for a fencing refresh, don’t reach for the traditional fence panels. Check out these attractive alternatives instead and add some flair to your garden!

Decorative Fence Panels

‘Decorative’ is a bit of a catch-all term for non-traditional fence panels of all types, some of which we’re going to explore in more detail below. They’re often contemporary in style and offer a great alternative to traditional fence panels, enabling you to create a focal point within your garden and a striking backdrop for your plants, garden furniture and garden buildings.

1. Slatted

Slatted fences are a popular alternative to traditional ones and come in two key styles here at B&M: slatted and double slatted. With a standard slatted fence, there are clear gaps between the slats that provide your garden with excellent air flow and light levels. This makes them a good choice for screening, or breaking up areas of your garden, but you may want a little more privacy around your permitter.

If so, how about a double slatted fence instead? The Forest 6’ x 5’ Pressure Treated Contemporary Double Slatted Fence Panel, for example, has overlapping horizontal slats mounted on the front and rear of the panel that let a certain amount of natural light and air through, but also offer the same levels of privacy as a standard fence – and look good too!

2. Picket

Picket fences bring to mind perfect storybook houses with neatly framed gardens and that classic ‘white picket fence’. While they may not give you as much privacy as other options on this list, picket fences like the Forest 6’ x 3’ Wooden Pale Picket Fence Panel are perfect for framing a front garden or fencing off sections of a rear one. Maybe you’ve got a vegetable plot that you’re proud of, or a pond that you want to keep kids or pets away from. Picket fences provide that barrier without compromising sight lines, so you can divide your garden as required while still enjoying everything there is to see.

3. Painted

Painting fences can be pretty time-consuming (and hard on the arms!). Fence panels that have already been painted for you take all of the hassle out of process and give you a consistent, long-lasting finish that will look great against the vibrant green of a British garden.

A great example of this is the Forest 6’ x 6’ Contemporary Grey Double Slatted Fence Panel. Not only does this panel have a stylish design with rounded horizontal slats, which allow natural light and air through while still providing privacy, but it’s painted a rich dark grey colour. The paint is also water-resistant to help the panel look as good as new for longer.

4. Wavy or Domed Top

Most fence panels are rectangular in shape, but popular alternatives include those with a wave-like or domed top. These curved edges can soften the look of a long stretch of fence panels and particularly complement gardens that already include lots of curved lines around flowerbeds, pathways and paved areas. Some, like the Forest 6’ x 6’ Europa Prague Pressure Treated Decorative Fence Panel even have lattice-style tops, which let in light and can support climbing plants too.

5. Tongue and Groove

Tongue and groove fences are a premium option that have been carefully designed to ensure no gaps appear in your fence run. If you’re looking for privacy and security, along with style, then you can’t go wrong with an option like the Forest 6’ x 6’ Pressure Treated Vertical Tongue and Groove Fence Panel. This fence consists of 12mm tongue and groove boards secured within a solid frame, giving each panel a perfectly uniform look and smooth finish that will suit any garden.

6. Trellis

We touched on fence panels with trellis elements earlier, but there are also two other types to consider: trellis toppers and whole trellis panels. The former, like the Forest 6' x 1' Lattice Trellis Topper, adds height to your fence and gives your climbing plants somewhere to thrive. The latter, such as the Forest 6' x 6' Rosemore Decorative Pressure Treated Diamond Trellis, is a haven for climbing plants, offering you a wide canvas to play with. One point to note is that this type of trellis panel is normally designed to be mounted to an external fence or wall, rather than acting as a standalone fence, so you’ll need to bear that in mind when you decide where to place it.

Traditional Fence Panels

If traditional is a bit more your style – or you’re looking for a bargain – then we’d recommend our Straight Cut Overlap Fence Panel. Available in four sizes, these fence panels are a durable and attractive choice for any garden perimeter and come with an excellent 10-year anti-rot guarantee (when supported by annual retreatment). Best of all, we’re currently offering them at a discounted price, so you’ll be getting maximum value for money!

That concludes our round-up of six fencing designs to add a touch of style to your garden. The next time you’re looking to put in a new fence, replace some panels or just fancy a change, why not try something more decorative instead? You can find our full range of decorative fence panels online.

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