For many city dwellers, the balcony is their little green oasis. However, in order to really enjoy your time outdoors, there is onePrivacy protection is essential. Ideally, it not only shields the outside area from prying eyes, but is also beautiful to look at. Made of wood, satin glass, PVC or metal – we list the different variants and offer inspiration for privacy screens with and without drilling.
Install privacy screens for the balcony on the side: an overview of the different materials
Depending on the size of the balcony and the direction of the compass, different materials are possible. The most common variants for privacy protection are:
- Folding screens or flower boxes with wooden trellises
- Roller blinds, balcony awnings and fabric coverings
- Partitions made of glass and plexiglass
- Balcony cladding and partition walls made of perforated sheet metal and stainless steel
Each variant has its advantages and disadvantages. TheWood offers reliable privacy protection, but tolerates moisture poorly and definitely needs a seal. Roller blinds and balcony awnings save space, but you have to drill holes in the outside walls and only the landlord can approve this in writing. The glass partitions allow sunlight to pass through and may break under certain circumstances. Plexiglass screens offer a certain degree of flexibility and are inexpensive, but they can easily tip over in strong winds. The partition walls made of perforated sheet metal and stainless steel are usually mounted with dowels (written approval is also required), but are a costly option.
There are also DIY variants that you can build yourself, saving time and money.
Balcony privacy screen with side mounting made of fabric
The balcony blindsare a practical solution fornarrow balconies. They are mounted on the ceiling or on the wall. The roller blinds can be rolled out and then rolled back in using a special mechanism. They are attached to the balcony floor or to the railings. The roller blinds are the perfect solution for east-facing balconies as they provide privacy while allowing sunlight to pass through.
The side awningis mounted directly on the balcony railing. The weatherproof fabric is stretched on two posts and not only protects the balcony from prying eyes, but also from sun and wind. Perfect for a wide, south-facing balcony.
They are also characterized by easy operation and flexibility during assemblyAwning with attachment to the wallout of. However, it is less stable than the other variants. When purchasing, ask up to what wind speed it can be extended.
The pull-out privacy compartmentsoffer lateral privacy protection and can be installed without drilling. The folding design of the compartments makes them super easy to use: you can open and close them with one hand.
Side privacy screen for the balcony made of wood
If you decide on a wooden side privacy screen, you can usually choose between two variants: OneFlower box with trellisor a system of fence profiles. If you choose the classic, a slatted fence, then it should not be higher than 2 meters. Fortunately, most fence profiles can be shortened. However, these are anchored in the ground with dowels.
It's much quicker and easier to use a flower box with a trellis. The flower box, which is filled with substrate, gives the construction additional stability and does not need to be attached to the ground with dowels. The flower box is therefore one of the most common variants. The main argument against this is the amount of care required for the climbing plants. It can take months or even years for the plants to grow taller.
The screens can be set up quickly and easily. However, they can tip over in strong winds. Therefore, they are often attached to the ceiling or walls for additional stability.
If you want more flexibility for your rental apartment, you can choose oneSolid wood screendecide. It is much more stable and can be opened and folded up again without much effort. In winter it can be stored in a dry place.
Privacy screen for balcony with side mounting made of glass
If you want to protect a north-facing balcony from wind and prying eyes, then constructions made of stainless steel and frosted glass are ideal. The two materials are weatherproof, can be cleaned quickly and easily and the frosted glass lets sunlight through.
Depending on the balcony width and height, various elements can be made to measure. They are extremely stable and at the same time hardly noticeable thanks to their simple construction. Constructions made of satin glass and stainless steel are perfect for separating your own balcony from the neighbors' balconies.
The glass partitions also take up little space and can withstand wind, snow and rain for years. However, they are expensive and offer no design flexibility. It's worth investing in a glass partition for your own apartment or house because the investment pays off. An alternative made of acrylic glass is available for rental apartments.
Install privacy screens for the balcony on the side: variants made of Plexiglas
A cheap alternative to glass is acrylic glass (popularly known as Plexiglas). The material looks very similar to glass, but is lighter and can be quickly installed even by inexperienced craftsmen. All you have to do is have the acrylic glass panels cut to size, drill through the balcony railings and fix the panels to the railings with dowels.
The acrylic glass panels are available in both satin finish and in different colors. There are no limits to your creativity when designing a partition wall.
Acrylic glass is a versatile material that does not yellow over time and can withstand moisture and frost. However, inferior panels can become brittle if exposed to direct sunlight for a long time. It is therefore worth investing in high-quality Plexiglas panels because they come with a guarantee.
Privacy screen for the balcony made of stainless steel and perforated sheet metal
Perforated sheet metal cladding for balconies is enjoying increasing popularity. Panels for side privacy protection are now also made to measure. The choice of materials varies from corrosion-resistant stainless steel to coated sheet metal. The panels offer privacy and security at the same time. They also let sunlight through and create an exciting play of light and shadow on the balcony. The panels made of stainless steel or perforated sheet metal have two disadvantages: they are expensive to purchase and they heat up quickly in summer.
Install privacy screen for balcony on the side: variants without drilling
For the most common variants for privacy protection, you have to drill the outer walls or floor. But if the landlord doesn't allow this, what then? Then you can screen the outdoor area with plants or opt for a DIY alternative. In our post “Balcony privacy screen with plants” we have already listed different plant species.
Trellises, which can be planted with any number of climbing plants, offer a space-saving alternative for the pot garden. Depending on the balcony orientation, different climbing plants are possible. The trellis consists of several parts and offers a flexible and affordable solution for every balcony. So you don't have to spend generously on expensive, custom-made segments.
Build your own side privacy screen for the balcony
Do you want privacy protection for the summer? Then you can choose curtains made of UV-resistant, weatherproof fabric. With telescopic clamping rods, the curtains can be easily attached without drilling. Clamp them below the lintel. If necessary, you can use a special glue for greater hold.
The curtains create a romantic atmosphere on the balcony and are a stylish addition to the furniture. In autumn you can clean them and store them in a dry place. And best of all: The curtains take up little space and are a good option for people who often have to change their apartment.
Side privacy screen for the balcony with bamboo mats
Alternatively, you can cover bamboo mats. The prices for the bamboo mats start at 20 euros. The bamboo itself is weatherproof and waterproof. However, when purchasing, make sure that the bamboo tube is interwoven with galvanized stainless steel. So you don't have to worry about rust stains on the balcony floor and on the bamboo mat.
The denser the bamboo mat, the better the privacy protection. However, a bamboo mat does not protect against wind and only to a limited extent against strong sun rays. It is also very important that you secure it on all four sides, otherwise it may tip over even in light winds.
The plant bags are another method of shielding the balcony from all sides. You can sew the plant bags yourself or buy them ready-made. There are numerous models in the garden center that you can hang on railings, trellises or other prefabricated structures. If you plant them with evergreen ground cover plants, you will have a side privacy screen all year round. Alternatively, you can plant the plant bags with annual flowers and use them as a privacy screen only for the summer. In autumn you can clean them and store them in the balcony cupboard until next spring.
If you don't want to spend a lot of money on side privacy screens and only need them in the summer, you can make one out of leftover acrylic glass. These can be quickly and easily attached to various nets (e.g. cat protection net).
Projecting balconies without privacy and wind protection must be shielded from all sides. For this purpose, various variants with and without drilling are available. The screens offer flexibility, the pull-out privacy compartments save space and the curtains for outdoor areas are easy to care for. If you don't want to invest heavily in privacy screens, you can opt for a homemade alternative. These include, for example, the self-sewn plant bags or the planted trellises. Local regulations should be observed. When building a heavy structure, special attention should be paid to its stability. If this is too complicated for you, you can seek advice from a specialist and choose something suitable for your own balcony situation.
