Easily Upcycle Thrifted Curtains Into A Chic Backyard Privacy Screen

Everyone deserves to have privacy in their own backyard. If your backyard has an unfortunate view of the street or nosy neighbors, installing a privacy screen can be expensive but necessary. Fortunately, there are smarter ways to DIY a privacy screen that don't require hiring pricey professional contractors. One idea is to upcycle an extra house curtain as a chic backyard privacy screen.

This easy DIY privacy screen idea adds style and seclusion with a homemade design. Purchasing an outdoor pergola and outdoor curtains costs hundreds of dollars, not including the labor required to build it. In this DIY, you can build the simple framing yourself and find a pair of cheap curtains to craft your privacy screen at a fraction of the price. And you still get all the same benefits of a professional build – providing privacy, reducing perceived street noise, and adding a soft element to outdoor spaces. It also adds potential for further landscape customization, since curtain options are extensive.

What sets this DIY apart from other creative privacy screen ideas is that it utilizes thrifted curtains. Instead of purchasing brand-new, heavy-duty outdoor fabric panels, scavenge your home or local thrift stores for old shower curtains. It's essential to use a fabric or material that is moisture-resistant to ensure it holds up to rain and weather. This is what makes shower curtains an excellent, budget-friendly pick. However, thrifted drapes designed for outdoor areas will also fit the bill.

Once you have a set, or multiple sets, of water-resistant curtains on hand, get started building the privacy screen. If your outdoor deck already has columns or a wooden awning, it's simple enough to assemble this idea. Bolt an adjustable curtain rod between two wood posts, and use a set of low-cost shower rings, like the Home Collection Clear Plastic Shower Curtain Rings, to string up the thrifted fabric or vinyl material.

Those who don't have already have an outdoor deck with wood supports will need to do a little more DIY. Invest in enough 4x4 wood posts to cover the space you intend to make private. Cut the wood boards to the proper height using a miter saw or table saw. Shower curtains are typically about six feet tall, so the wood posts should be at least eight feet high to keep the fabric from bunching on the ground. Once the wood posts are in place, install the aforementioned curtain rod between them, and layer each curtain accordingly.

Keep in mind that some cities and HOA's won't allow builds this tall without a permit. You can always hem the curtains with a simple sewing job to shorten them for a lower privacy screen. However, this will provide less shade and seclusion. On a side note, get creative with the overall look. Use identical fabric panels around the space or give your outdoor area a more unique vibe by mixing and matching curtain colors and patterns. For example, the original DIY that inspired this idea used several different curtain patterns, but all with a neutral beige color scheme for a vintage chic look.