21 Apartment Balcony Privacy Ideas: Diy Screens, Tall Plants & Curtains You’ll Love

Let’s turn your balcony into the kind of hideaway you brag about. I’m talking instant privacy, big personality, and cozy vibes that make you forget you’re ten floors up. From DIY screens and tall plants to breezy outdoor curtains, these ideas give you a complete look you can build, style, and love.

Walk through these designs like a mini house tour. Picture textures underfoot, the glow of string lights at dusk, and that snug feeling of being tucked away—even in the heart of the city. Ready to make your balcony your favorite room?

1. Urban Jungle Bamboo Hedge Nook

Line the railing with a dense row of clumping bamboo in long trough planters, instantly creating a leafy green wall. Add a low acacia bench with olive cushions, a charcoal outdoor rug, and warm lanterns for sunset glow. The look is lush, private, and beautifully organic—your own city jungle.

2. Scandinavian Slatted Cedar Screen & Linen Curtains

Build a DIY vertical cedar slat screen on one side, then soften it with breezy white linen curtains on a simple rod. Keep it airy with bleached deck tiles, a pale oak bistro set, and a eucalyptus plant in a concrete pot. It’s calm, clean, and quietly secluded.

• Materials: cedar 1x2s, exterior screws, tension-rod curtains
• Palette: soft whites, pale woods, cool gray

3. Boho Rattan Lounge With Macramé Curtain Wall

Hang macramé panels across the rail for peekaboo privacy, then layer a kilim outdoor rug with rattan chairs and plush floor poufs. A cluster of trailing pothos and monstera plants softens every edge. Add twinkly string lights and you’ve got the dreamiest boho cocoon.

4. Modern Frosted Polycarbonate Panels

Go sleek with a DIY aluminum frame fitted with frosted twinwall polycarbonate for a polished, light-diffusing screen. Keep furniture minimal: cube stools, a low black table, and charcoal seat pads. LED strips tucked under the rail glow like a boutique rooftop.

5. Mediterranean Trellis With Bougainvillea

Mount a whitewashed wood lattice trellis and thread in magenta bougainvillea for that sun-washed coastal feel. Terracotta pots, a mosaic side table, and cobalt striped cushions complete the scene. Privacy arrives naturally as the vines fill in.

• Key Elements: lattice screen, terracotta, vibrant florals
• Accents: café lights, ceramic pitchers, woven basket

6. Industrial Metal Grid With Climbing Ivy

Attach black welded wire panels to form a rugged screen, then plant English ivy and jasmine to climb and veil the grid. Keep seating angular with concrete-look stools and a steel bistro table. Edison-bulb string lights add warm contrast to the industrial bones.

7. Coastal Cabana With Sheer Curtains and Rope

Install a simple ceiling rod and drape sheer outdoor curtains tied back with rope for a breezy, beachy enclosure. Choose a weathered teak chaise, striped blue cushions, and a jute rug for laid-back comfort. The curtains float, filter neighbors, and scream vacation.

8. Moroccan Screened Oasis

Create a privacy wall with laser-cut metal panels (or DIY wood cutouts), casting ornate shadows at golden hour. Layer jewel-tone floor cushions, a patterned tile-look rug, and brass lanterns. A low tray table sets the scene for mint tea and total escape.

9. Japanese-Inspired Shoji Sliding Screens

Craft slender cedar frames with frosted acrylic “rice paper” inserts and mount on a simple track for sliding privacy. Keep the palette restrained: charcoal, natural wood, and soft cream. A low bench, zen pebbles in trays, and a bonsai set the mindful mood.

10. Tropical Resort With Palm Curtain

Arrange tall areca and kentia palms in matte black planters to form a living screen that sways in the breeze. Add a teak loveseat with striped cushions and a small slatted coffee table. A canvas awning in sun-bleached taupe finishes the resort vibe—and the privacy.

• Plants: areca, kentia, bird of paradise
• Textures: teak, canvas, matte black metal

11. Mid-Century Breeze Block Wall Moment

Set lightweight faux breeze block panels along the rail for that retro pattern and partial concealment. Pair with a slatted walnut bench, a geometric rug, and tangerine-olive cushions. A ceramic orb lamp brings Palm Springs flair to your little perch.

12. Minimalist Matte Black Louver Screen

Install an adjustable louvered privacy screen in matte black, so you angle out the view but keep the light. Keep the furniture sculptural: one modern lounge chair, a concrete side table, and a single tall snake plant. It’s quiet, crisp, and completely controlled.

• Why it works: adjustable sightlines, graphic silhouette
• Pairing: neutral textiles and one bold plant

13. Farmhouse Reed Fence Wrap

Wrap the railing with reed or bamboo fencing and secure with zip ties for instant texture and coverage. Layer in galvanized planters with lavender, a wood crate side table, and a plaid cushion on a metal café chair. String a few mason jar lights and let it glow.

14. Rainbow Planter Wall for Happy Privacy

Build a staggered vertical planter wall and paint each box a different sunset hue for privacy that pops. Fill with herbs, trailing plants, and cheerful marigolds for layered softness. A round bistro table in white keeps the palette bright and fresh.

15. Shade Sail Canopy With Corner Curtains

Anchor a triangular shade sail overhead, then mount outdoor curtains at two corners to block side views stylishly. Keep it loungey with a woven loveseat, outdoor drum table, and sandy-toned rug. The layered heights make the balcony feel like a real room.

• Top: UV shade sail
• Sides: tie-back curtains for adjustable privacy
• Bottom: soft rug to define the zone

16. Parisian Bistro With Topiary Row

Create a chic screen with boxwood topiaries in matching planters, neatly aligned along the rail. Wrought-iron café chairs, a tiny marble-top table, and a striped black-and-cream awning bring classic charm. Add a small wall-mounted shelf for candles, and bonsoir, privacy.

17. Art Studio Balcony With Canvas Curtain Divider

Hang canvas drop-cloth curtains from a ceiling conduit rod to shield views and catch light. Add a compact easel, a rolling cart with brushes and paints, and a jute rug that can handle splatters. A slim shelf doubles as a perch for succulents and finished sketches.

18. Desert Chic With Cactus Screen and Terracotta

Mix a tall perforated metal screen painted sand-beige with sculptural cacti and euphorbia in terracotta pots. A leather butterfly chair, woven side table, and striped desert rug keep the vibe warm and airy. The pattern of the screen gives privacy without heaviness.

19. Convertible Folding Lattice Parlour

Build hinged folding lattice screens you can open by day and close when you want retreat mode. Add a compact loveseat with botanical cushions, a folding acacia table, and lanterns you can rearrange easily. Flexibility meets charm, with ivy weaving through the lattice over time.

20. Smart Roller Shades Sky Lounge

Mount exterior-rated motorized roller shades in a warm flax color and drop them with a tap for instant privacy. Keep seating modular with a low-profile sectional, slate planters, and a glass lantern for sleek glow. The look is high-rise calm with techy convenience.

• Shades: solar fabric for light, privacy, and UV control
• Palette: slate, flax, soft charcoal

21. Cozy Greenhouse Niche With Clear Panels & Ferns

Frame two sides with clear acrylic panels topped with frosting film halfway up for privacy that still invites light. Fill the space with lush ferns, a potting bench, and a slatted shelf of humidity-loving plants. A narrow bench and patterned cushion make it a verdant reading nook.

Whichever vibe you choose—lush plants, carved screens, or breezy curtains—your balcony can feel like a private room with a view. Mix textures, keep lighting warm, and don’t be afraid to layer your privacy solutions for a space that’s both hidden and heavenly.