diy wood slat shade / privacy screen

living here in the semi-desert of Southern California means we get a lot of sun.

for four years, i've been struggling with - and have tried - many ways to block that sun

so that we can enjoy our patio and backyard in the late afternoon.

but along with the sun is wind. Santa Ana winds and strong daily afternoon winds.

those winds have torn down every umbrella and shade cloth and curtain i've hung.

finally a bright idea dawned on me - make it wood!

the simple solution was to repeat another element of our landscaping

and create a wood screen to withstand wind and block the afternoon sun.

the best part of this project? it makes use of a pre-made element available at Lowes.

paired with an item i already had, it became the perfect shade screen for us - 

and would work as a privacy screen, as well!

continue reading to see how simple this outdoor diy project is...

the inspiration:

four years ago when we designed and landscaped our backyard,

we included one pre-made wood fence panel in the plan.

it is attached to two 4X4 posts, sunk into the ground in concrete

to help it withstand the high winds that rip through the backyard..

it is positioned at the bottom of the original slope, behind the retaining wall we had built,

with an original purpose to provide a large focal point behind the tree.

its secondary purpose was to hold the galvanized bucket fountain that i created.

(and its tertiary purpose is now to support a tie wire that holds our crazy leaning tree. don't ask.)

 

viewed from the patio, the wood fence panel is a major element in our yard.

so when i was noodling the design of the new wood shade screen, i wanted to replicate this.

the wood screen would need to be held up by something solid - 

because i was NOT going to cut into our expensive artificial turf to sink posts.
also, beneath the turf - exactly where i needed this screen to sit - is the drainage pipe.
that's a non-negotiable factor.

the solution:

i had already pulled the long wood bench from our entry, and it was sitting in the garage.

one look at its color and dimensions, and i had my solution:

attach the fence section to the bench.

after the new fence panel was stained a dark espresso brown to match the other one,

i moved it next to the bench (already in position where i wanted the screen to be).

the fence panel sits directly on the ground - 

and i'm not worried about it rotting because there is excellent drainage under our turf.

 long galvanized screws attach the wood panel to the bench...

first i screwed through the wood uprights into the edge of the bench top, 

then added four more screws through a slat that was positioned perfectly.

you can see in the photo above that there is also a 'leg' behind the screen - 

it is a plank of scrap pine wood that i stained to match,

then screwed to the center upright on the screen at an angle.

this will prevent the wind from causing the screen to tip back toward the fence.

(and it's quite easy to step over it if we need to access the nearby side yard)

on the front side, the weight of the bench and two large plant pots filled with soil

provide enough weight to balance the screen.

in those pots, we chose the same African lily grass that is on our backyard slope.

not only do they echo the look, they don't require a lot of water.

i love how this screen not only blocks the intense late afternoon sunlight,

but also adds a 'finishing touch' to our patio area.

it truly is more like a piece of furniture than it is a fence,

and you can see the sky above it so it doesn't close the space in at all.

looking out from our dining room french-door sliders, 

the view is shady and the mood is decidedly inviting.

(my sweet grandpa Ward built that swing, and my dad put the ropes on it.

it's my favorite place to sit...) 

this is where we enjoy our morning coffee and devotions,

and now that we have shade, we'll be able to enjoy many fall happy hours here!

it's a truly easy project that would work in any front or backyard,
to provide privacy, shade, and style...


shared online:

funky junk interiors | diy salvaged junk projects #552

links to previous related posts:

galvanized bucket fountain

wood bench entry decor #1

wood bench entry decor #2

industrial fan as outdoor table

fall, fall decor, fall home decor, outdoor decor, outdoor furnishings, fall patio decor,

porch swing, wood slat privacy screen, wood slat shade screen, neutral fall decor,

pumpkins, pumpkin decor, diy, diy projects, diy home decor, repurposed, woodcrafts,

boho style, boho decor, farmhouse style, farmhouse decor, rustic decor, rustic style,

turn a premade fence section into a wood shade / privacy screen