Wondering where to start when it comes to fencing? If you're planning to build, design, or install a fence, start with our Fence Design Guide:
We've explored the pros and cons and design details of picket fences, hog wire, wrought iron, painted fences, and deer fencing. Maybe privacy is your greatest concern. Or deer proofing. Or matching the style of your house.
For fence facts and prices—and design tips to maximize curb appeal—we've rounded up 10 of our most popular fence posts:
Above: An elegant fence. Yes, if it's black. See our favorite dark backdrops in Trend Alert: Black Fences.
How high should a fence be? For privacy, make it 5 or 6 feet tall. If you're installing it to add curb appeal and don't care about privacy, a fence that's from 2 to 3 feet high will draw the eye and frame a view.
Above: Make a small yard look more expansive with a horizontal slat fence. See our favorite examples in Fence Fashion: 11 Ways to Add Curb Appeal with Horizontal Stripes.
Above: Wrought iron, the ultimate in fence materials, is stately, strong, and secure. And pricy. Get the details in Hardscaping 101: Wrought Iron Fencing.
Above: Before the 20th century, ironwork was not black. Find out what color the Sissinghurst Castle gates (and other British iron fences) were painted in Victorian times in Paint Colors for Iron Fences and Gates.
Above: If you install a wooden fence, you can stain it instead of painting it. For more ideas, see Curb Appeal: Wooden Slat Fences.
Above: Looking for the perfect color of stain? See our favorites in Palette & Paints: 8 Colorful Exterior Stains.
Above: For a New England seaside cottage look, nothing beats a picket fence. See our favorites in 10 Picket Fences That Remind Us of Summer.
Above: Shopping for a picket fence? Find out everything you need to know about picket fence styles, heights, and prices in Hardscaping 101: Picket Fences.
Above: For a quick fix, try panels or rolled bamboo fencing or other instant fences. See our favorite choices in 10 Easy Pieces: Instant Fences.
Above: An attractive option for a tight budget is a hog wire fence. Hog wire keeps varmints out and keeps costs low. For tips on how to install one to keep deer away, see Hardscaping 101: Hog Wire.
Above: Hamptons-based garden designer Lisa Bynon designs stylish deerproof fences for kitchen gardens. She reveals her secrets in The Landscape Designer is In: Elegant Deer Fencing, Hamptons Edition.
For more of our Hardscaping 101 guides to fences, see:
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