Help & Advice > Product Guides > Garden Fences & Gates

Your front garden fence naturally plays a key role in your home’s safety.

But that’s not all:

It’s an integral part of your exterior house design as well.

Even so, at Landscaping Superstore, we’re often asked these very similar questions:

Can I put a fence up in my front garden?

Am I allowed to fence my front garden?

Indeed, you are!

With that in mind, let’s take a deep dive into the latest front garden fence ideas that will make your home shine.

Table of contents:

• Making the most of the exciting front garden fence ideas
• Create a retro look with a white picket fence
• Keep it elegant with trellis panels and climbing shrubs
• Grow hedges for a rural look
• Paint your metal fence a vibrant colour
• Mix and match materials for an eclectic look
• Separate your driveway from the front garden with creative railings
• Impress with an imposing garden gate
• Can I have a 6ft fence in my front garden?
• What is the cheapest front fencing?
• Embracing functional and elegant front fence ideas

Making the most of the exciting front garden fence ideas

So, what should you look for when browsing our front fence ideas or general fence ideas?

Here are the main factors to consider when choosing the right front garden fence for your home. This will ensure it meets both your functional needs and aesthetic preferences.

Purpose and functionality

Identify the primary purpose of the fence.

Ask yourself:

Is it primarily for safety, privacy, aesthetics or a mixture of these?

Your choice will ultimately influence the type and style of the fence you select.

Material

When exploring front garden fence ideas, it’s vital to consider the material based on your preferences, budget and maintenance capabilities.

Here are your main options:

• Wood provides a natural look but may require regular maintenance.
• Metal offers durability and security, with steel, aluminium and wrought iron as common choices.
• Vinyl is low maintenance, versatile and available in various styles and colours.
• Composite combines wood fibres and plastic for a durable option that’s easy to look after.

Style and design

Choose a style that complements your home’s architecture and landscaping design. Popular styles of front garden fences in the UK include picket fences, privacy fences, ornamental fences and more.

Local regulations and codes

Check with your local authorities to ensure compliance with any regulations or restrictions regarding fence height, style and placement. We’ll have more on that later.

Privacy vs. visibility

Decide how much privacy you want in your front garden. Solid fences offer more privacy, while open designs like lattice or spaced pickets allow for better visibility.

Safety & security

If security is a concern, prioritise fence designs and heights that enhance the safety of your property. This may include features like gates with locks or security camera integration.

Local weather

This may seem trivial, but it can make a massive difference, as rainfall in particular differs quite significantly across the UK. So, whether you live in Hereford or the Isle of Skye or Derry, this should be a major consideration.

Now, with the preliminaries out of the way, let’s focus on the most exciting front garden fencing ideas in the UK right now!

1. Create a retro look with a white picket fence

The white picket fence might be more familiar to you from Hollywood movies as the epitome of the seemingly perfect American homestead. However, it actually originated on this side of the pond.

Still, nowadays, most of us tend to associate it with New England in particular. But that’s no reason you can’t recreate the iconic look closer to home. White picket fences look particularly stunning when offset by some greenery or – if you happen to have trees in your garden – colourful autumn leaves.

Key takeaway:

A picket fence is the ultimate country style fence, which works especially well with more traditional architectural designs.

2. Keep it elegant with trellis panels and climbing shrubs

Using trellis panels in combination with climbing shrubs for front garden fencing will add a touch of natural beauty and elegance to your front garden. Wooden trellis panels provide a visually pleasing structure that complements various architectural styles.

When adorned with climbing shrubs, such as roses, clematis or jasmine, the fence becomes a living, green wall that softens the harsh lines of traditional fencing. This not only enhances the overall kerb appeal of your home but also creates a welcoming and charming atmosphere.

What’s more:

The combination of trellis panels and climbing shrubs can offer increased privacy without sacrificing the sense of openness. As the climbing shrubs grow and intertwine with the trellis, they create a natural barrier that provides partial seclusion while maintaining an airy and inviting feel. This living fence also acts as a habitat for birds and insects, contributing to the biodiversity of your garden.

In addition, the use of climbing plants can also offer seasonal changes in appearance, with flowers blooming at different times of the year, adding dynamic colours and scents to your front garden.

But how about front garden wall ideas in the UK? We’ve got one of those coming up next.

3. Grow hedges for a rural look

Often composed of evergreen plants like boxwood or yew, hedges offer a classic and elegant appearance that can enhance the beauty of your front garden. These living barriers can be sculpted into various shapes and sizes, allowing for a bespoke and tailored look.

Unlike traditional fences, hedges evolve with the seasons, offering different textures and shades throughout the year. This dynamic quality adds visual interest and contributes to a sense of continuity between your garden and the surrounding landscape.

Now:

One notable benefit of using hedges that we particularly like is the ability to achieve a rural look in an urban or suburban setting, combined with considerable privacy. So, if you’re after that classic Midsomer Murders ambience – minus the grisly murders, hopefully – look no further than hedges in terms of front garden fencing.

The thing is:

Hedges can evoke a sense of countryside charm, creating a soft and natural boundary between your property and the street. They also provide a habitat for birds and insects, promoting biodiversity and contributing to a healthier ecosystem.

4. Paint your metal fence a vibrant colour

Sure, there’s nothing wrong with a classic black metal fence.

But hear us out:

Painting your front garden metal fence a striking, vibrant colour offers a striking and personalised aesthetic that can significantly enhance the overall kerb appeal of your home. An easy way to make a bold statement, this will turn your modern front garden fence into a focal point rather than a simple functional barrier.

Check this out:

Painting your metal fence in a vibrant turquoise, for instance, can bring a refreshing and lively energy to your front garden. This colour choice can evoke a sense of coastal charm, creating a visually appealing contrast with the surrounding greenery or neutral tones. Additionally, vibrant hues can lift your mood and contribute to a welcoming atmosphere, especially when it’s cold and dreary outside.

5. Mix and match materials for an eclectic look

Combining materials such as wooden panels and metal railings for an eclectic front garden fence is one of the hottest front garden fence ideas in the UK right now.

Here’s why:

This approach not only adds visual interest and architectural diversity but also allows you to play with contrasting textures and tones. The warmth and natural appeal of wooden panels can be complemented by the sleek and contemporary look of metal railings, creating a harmonious yet distinctive design. This eclectic combination provides a unique and personalised touch to your front garden, showcasing a blend of traditional and modern elements.

And it’s not all about the looks either:

The use of different materials can offer practical advantages, such as increased durability and security, giving you the best of both worlds.

6. Separate your driveway from the front garden with creative railings

If you’re looking for functional fence ideas that don’t compromise on aesthetics, this one’s for you.

Check this out:

Separating your driveway from the front garden with creative railings offers several benefits above and beyond mere functionality, which is why it’s one of the more popular small front garden fence ideas in the UK on our list.

In addition to delineating distinct areas and helping you compartmentalise, creative railings contribute to the overall aesthetics of your property, enhancing its visual appeal. By incorporating unique and artistic designs, these railings become a decorative element that elevates your home’s kerb appeal.

In addition, these railings can serve as a useful safety feature, preventing unwanted access to the driveway while maintaining an open and welcoming atmosphere in the garden.

7. Impress with an imposing garden gate

Your front of house fencing is not complete without a front gate, right?

So, it should come as no surprise that even the most innovative front garden fence ideas will fall flat if you fail to incorporate a suitable garden gate.

Now:

Impressing with an imposing garden gate is a fantastic solution because it serves as a captivating focal point that sets the tone for the entire property. A grand and well-designed gate creates a strong first impression, adding a sense of prestige and sophistication to your home.

But wait! There’s more:

It not only enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of your front garden but also communicates a welcoming and secure atmosphere. An imposing garden gate can be a statement piece that reflects your personal style and the architectural character of your home.

Last but not least, it can increase the perceived value of your property, making it stand out in the neighbourhood – an important factor if you intend to sell your home and move on at some point down the line.

Can I have a 6ft fence in my front garden?

UK regulations regarding fence heights in front gardens can vary, and they are often subject to local planning guidelines and restrictions. Generally, the maximum height allowed for a fence in the front garden without planning permission is 1 metre (approximately 3.3 feet) if it’s located ‘next to a highway used by vehicles (or the footpath of such a highway).’

This limitation is in place to maintain a visually open and neighbourly environment in residential areas.

So, if you wish to install a 6ft fence in your front garden, you will likely need to apply for planning permission from your local council. Keep in mind that each case is considered individually, and factors such as the design, materials used and the impact on neighbouring properties will be taken into account.

Key takeaway:

When considering front garden privacy ideas in the UK, it’s essential to check with your local planning department or visit the official government Planning Portal for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding fence height regulations in your specific area.

What is the cheapest front fencing?

As you’d expect, the cost of front fencing can vary considerably based on materials, design and installation. Among the more budget-friendly options, traditional timber fencing tends to be one of the cheapest choices. Lap panel fencing, comprised of overlapping horizontal slats, is a common and cost-effective option. Budget-friendly materials such as softwood may help keep costs down.

That being said:

It’s important to note that while timber fencing can be economical, its longevity may be affected, and you should also consider ongoing maintenance costs. At Landscaping Superstore, you can also find affordable composite, metal and other fencing options, in addition to a wide range of timber solutions.

And if you wish to save money on installation costs, you should consider putting up a fence by yourself with the help of our step-by-step guide.

Which brings us nicely to…

Embracing functional and elegant front fence ideas

And there you have it:

Seven eye-opening front garden fence ideas that seamlessly combine functionality and safety on the one side and style and elegance on the other for a perfect marriage.

From small fixes like painting your metal fence to larger transformations like growing elaborate hedges, there’s something for everyone.

Bottom line:

Keep in mind the factors you need to consider when choosing front garden fences, check with your local authorities about planning permission, and get ready to boost your kerb appeal by a country mile!