- Sometimes, painting or staining your wooden fence is enough to make it interesting and beautiful. In addition, paints and stains formulated especially for fences can protect and waterproof your fence, giving it a longer life. If you are feeling especially creative, consider creating a pattern on your fence with a slightly darker shade of paint or stain. For example, use simple stencils to paint a row of hearts or stars on the top of each fencepost. You can even use this technique to put your house numbers on your fence. Alternately, go out all with the paint and create a fun mural, such as a garden of colorful flowers behind your daughter's playhouse or a mountain or forest mural behind a swing set.
- Decorate your wooden fence by adding a border to the top of it. This can be as simple as one horizontal board, or as elaborate as a 12-inch-high woven lattice. Not only does this add more privacy, but it adds a custom look to your fence. In addition, it is easy to do and does not add much to the cost of your fencing, depending on how much wood you use. For more on adding a decorative top to your fence, see Resources.
- Plant shrubs and flowers in front of your wooden fence to decorate it. This can also be done to completely hide your fence, if you prefer the look of greenery but want something sturdy behind the plants. Try a fast-growing tree, such as a Thuja, or plant bamboo. Clumping bamboo is great for in front of fencing, because it will not spread to the rest of the yard, but the plants will quickly grow together to form one solid border. Annuals work well to hide a fence as well. Try planting sunflowers or other large annuals, such as giant callas.
- Other ways to decorate your wooden fence include hanging potted plants on it or hanging design features on it, such as wire sculptures, antique barometers or even lightweight wall fountains. In addition, you can place a larger accessory, such as a pagoda or glider, directly against the fence.
