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I am six feet tall; our property’s fence is four. No need to do any math—it’s pretty clear that I have an unobstructed view into my neighbor’s yard and vice versa. And while we’ve become friends, sometimes I crave the peace and quiet of semi-privacy (immersing yourself in a novel hits different when you have an audience). We don’t have the cash to replace the fence—The Home Depot reports that the average fencing install costs upwards of $6,000. But an outdoor privacy screen? That’s doable, and a multipurpose one is available again at Costco for a reasonable $330.
Costco Freyr Garden Trellis Kit
Okay, technically it’s marketed as a garden trellis, but once your tomatoes and cucumbers—or, if it were me, clematis, roses, or even ivy—have climbed the powder-coated metal structure, it becomes an alfresco room divider. The look we’re going for is Annie Sullivan Cobb’s Shelter Island patio, albeit on a smaller scale. Although not that much smaller—the trellis stretches eight feet long and at its tallest (the height is adjustable!), reaches seven feet.
You’ve got your pick of three colors, graphite being the most understated and a sunny yellow, the most vibrant. The slate blue is a happy medium. Along with the frame, you’ll receive a ball of twine and 100 little clips. Strung vertically, the former will act as the support for your plants, which you’ll guide upwards as they grow with the latter. Obviously, there’s some assembly required, but all the reviews from last summer note how straightforward it was. And just think: By August, you’ll be lounging like nobody’s watching, even as your neighbor fires up the barbecue a stone’s throw away.