11 Fence Enhancements That Will Wow The Neighborhood

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Fences may be intended to keep things out of your yard, but there's nothing wrong with an eye-catching fence that also brings people in for a closer look. A fence that matches your garden's aesthetic can increase how much you enjoy your outdoor space, as well as its attractiveness to potential buyers. Luckily, if your fence is on the dull side, you don't have to bring in a construction team to replace it. Instead, try refurbishing your fence with a few simple enhancements.

A fence enhancement doesn't have to be expensive or a month-long project. Sometimes, a simple coat of paint or set of lights is all it takes to transform a humble barrier into an important element of your lawn's design. However, if you do want a completely new look for your yard, there are plenty of stunning garden fence ideas to choose from. So, whether you're looking to sell your property or personalize your forever home, there's no need to be on the fence about these upgrades.

Wood stains can provide old, drab fences a much-needed makeover while maintaining the texture and intricacies of the wood grain. While you can enlist a professional for this project, staining a fence alone is also feasible for DIY-minded individuals. You'll need the stain and something to apply it, like a brush or paint sprayer, as well as tools to thoroughly wash and sand the fence beforehand. Making sure the fence is clean, smooth, and dry will allow the applied stain to stick and seep into the wood, giving you the best results.

Painting a fence is a great option for homeowners who want to inject some color into their yard. The steps for getting the job done are the same for staining a fence: Either ask a pro, or do it yourself by first scrubbing and sanding the fence, then letting it dry before applying paint. There are endless options when it comes to choosing a paint color for your fence, but if you need some guidance, try taking inspiration from your house. For example, you could paint the fence white to match your house's trim.

Few things are less welcoming than a dark property, so to make your lawn more lively, consider adding lighting to your fence. Solar-powered string lights from Amazon allow you to light up every corner of your yard and are very easy to hang on fences. The added brightness can instantly give your outdoor space a more inviting, cozy vibe. This upgrade is also practical; not only will they allow you to see better, but extra outdoor lights can make your home less attractive to burglars.

A flowerbed along the bottom of your fence can show off your green thumb and hide the more unsightly parts of the fence. Flowering shrubs like hydrangea are perfect for this. You can even make your own flowerbed with just a few scavenged bricks. Simply dig a shallow trench along the outline of the bed and firmly set the bricks into place, using the excess dirt to fill the gaps and make sure they are secured. If you want to go the extra mile, you could upgrade the bricks to a DIY cinder block wall. 

Just as the right hat can complete an outfit, a nice set of post caps can upgrade a fence. Post caps are hollow ends that can be popped onto fence posts to give them a bit of flair. Typically made from metal, vinyl, or wood, post caps can also increase the fence's longevity by protecting it from the elements. There are even solar-powered post cap lights available on Amazon for even more practicality. Whether you opt for classically carved wooden caps or sleek metal ones, post caps are an instant fence enhancement.

Weaving climbing vines through a fence can give it a whimsical, overgrown look, but it's important to take the fence material into account. Wood fences can degrade when they are too moist for too long, which is a risk when harboring plants. If you have a wood fence, look for lightweight annual vines like moonflower or sweet pea. On the other hand, durable metal and vinyl fences can support larger vines like honeysuckle. As with any plant, make sure to check that the vines are not invasive before introducing them to your garden.

Fences are basically the walls of the yard, and just like their interior cousins, they are a perfect place to showcase art. Whether it's secondhand or handmade, yard art is a great way to add personality to your fence. Every empty space on the fence could be home to a piece that you love. With everything from large mirrors and panels to elegant ironwork and handcrafted decals to choose from, the only limit when it comes to adorning your fence with yard art is how much space you have.

If you are stuck with a dingy wooden fence but don't have the time or budget to replace it completely, vinyl or metal fence post sleeves can be a great alternative. While these sleeves are generally intended to help protect wooden fences from insects and moisture, they can also add some style. For instance, sleek, black, metal post sleeves would pair nicely with a natural wooden fence, while a matte vinyl sleeve can complement the fence's paint or stain.

You don't have to completely reinstall your fence to capture the classic look of lattice — you can simply install a lattice overlay, or add a lattice trim between the top of the fence posts. Lattice panels are sold in a variety of sizes, so you can add as much or as little as you want. This design is great for supporting small climbing vines, so installing it on a few sections of fence can create a wonderful patch of greenery. The delicate crisscrossing of latticework also provides some extra privacy.

If flowerbeds and vines aren't enough to achieve the lush look you're going for, turn your fence into a vertical garden by decorating it with flower pots. Interspacing plants between pieces of yard art can create an awesome tableau, but be careful how much weight you load onto the fence. Weaker fences may require a light hand when it comes to garden-scaping, but even just one or two flower pots can add a lot of charm to a fence. You can also give an old fence new life with an easy hanging planter DIY.