Driveway fence ideas can serve a number of purposes when it comes to your home. Whether it's the need for an an extra layer of security, to clearly define your home from your neighbours, provide privacy from passers-by or simply to add a stylish finish to your exterior, getting them right is key.
After all, you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression, and if your driveway fence is the first thing your visitors see when they arrive at your home, it's an important part of your driveway ideas and one that can potentially make or break your home's kerb appeal.
So, whether you're seeking a contemporary solution or need something more in-keeping with the traditional style of your home, we've rounded up 14 driveway fence ideas to boost your home.
How to choose your driveway fence ideas
"Choosing the right driveway fence depends largely on the style of your home, the level of privacy you want, and what functional role you expect the fence to serve," says Leigh Barnes, fencing expert at Jacksons Fencing.
'Start by considering your main priorities, whether that’s blocking out road noise, preventing unauthorised access, improving safety, or simply complementing your home’s architectural features."
Leigh has 20+ years of experience in the timber and construction industry. Since joining Jacksons Fencing in 2019, he has been instrumental in leading the retail team, focusing on driving the timber division side of the business.
1. Use a metal top section for additional security
If your property boundary is next to a road, it's likely you'll want to add an element of privacy and security to your driveway fence ideas.
In this instance, a close boarded option will be good for blocking out the view for people driving by. But, if you don't want to entirely block out the light, combing wood with metal can give you the best of both worlds.
"Where security is a top priority, metal railings are a strong and reliable option," says Leigh Barnes.
"These are often paired with electric driveway gates and work particularly well on modern properties. Solid panel designs, such as featherboard or chilham fencing, provide excellent privacy and are well suited to urban or suburban settings where screening the property from view is a consideration," suggests Leigh.
"In areas where traffic noise is an issue, acoustic fencing can be a valuable addition, combining a solid appearance with sound-dampening performance."
2. Pick a contemporary option for a modern approach
If on the other hand your driveway fencing ideas need to offer a more contemporary finish to match your home, or because that's simply your preferred design aesthetic, there are plenty of options available too.
"For those seeking a more contemporary style, slatted timber designs such as venetian or Venetian hit and miss panels are increasingly in demand," confirms Leigh Barnes.
"Their semi-solid construction allows light to filter through while maintaining a clear boundary, making them ideal for front garden driveway ideas as well, where openness and design are equally important."
Try this contemporary double slatted fence panel from Wickes for a modern finish to your driveway or garden
3. Keep it simple with a low level dividing fence
Most people need to park their cars somewhere within their front garden but this is not always great news for kerb appeal.
When it comes to front garden ideas, where possible keep car parking away from front windows so that you don't find yourself looking out at vehicles rather than a view. The right fences can be used to visually zone the space, without being overpowering.
Here, pretty white metal fences keep the garages away from the front garden and pair beautifully with the stone walling elsewhere.
4. Match fencing to other driveway features
When contemplating your driveway design, the practicalities of daily life will also need to be taken into account. And, with wheelie bins and recycling all needing somewhere to live, it's often easier to leave them at the front of your home. Particularly if you don't have easy access from the rear of your property to the front.
However, if you live in a populated residential area, this may mean you facing an eyesore from the street, and your living room. If this sounds like your situation, then use your driveway fencing ideas to help provide a barrier, says Rosie Wilkins, founder of Rosie Wilkins Landscape Design.
"In the recent project shown above, we used a timber slat fence, painted black, to screen views of the bin store from the house," she explains. "This design worked well because it provided both privacy, and a backdrop that enhanced the visual effect of the planting from inside the house."
5. Vary your fencing height for visual interest
You won't always need the same height fencing or the same fence types all the way around your driveway – sometimes varying the height of your boundaries works far better.
Take a look at where you need more privacy between you and your neighbours and use higher fences in these spots. Where you have views you want to take advantage of or want to avoid blocking light from getting into the interiors of your home, opt for lower fences.
Here, a taller panel fence has been used to separate the house from the adjacent property, while a daintier post and rail fence has been used directly in front of the glazed gable – both atop a rendered dwarf wall that deals with the sloping nature of the plot.
6. A simple fence style will provide a neat boundary
Wondering how to create kerb appeal? One surefire way is to choose your driveway fence to tie in with the style of your house or its setting.
"Traditional post and rail fences remain a popular option, offering a decorative boundary that defines the edge of a property without obstructing views," confirms Leigh Barnes.
Highly contemporary façades will suit a very different fence type to traditional-style homes – this wooden post and rail fence suits the new oak frame self build it surrounds perfectly, picking up on the timber elements of the house.
7. Include a pedestrian gate in your driveway fence
While your driveway fencing ideas may provide privacy and security, if they become an impenetrable barrier to the rest of your home or outside areas, you may find yourself with an impractical solution.
An easy fix is to include a pedestrian gate in the same finish as your fencing, making it far easier to access the side or rear of your home and perfect if you need access to your rear boot room.
Try B&Q for a range of gate options to suit your driveway fence ideas.
8. Combine cladding with weathered fencing for contrast
If you are looking for fence ideas to complement a New England style house you should be thinking of weathered finishes that conjure up thoughts of oceanside properties.
Rather than matching your fence materials to your house cladding ideas, look for fences that contrast slightly to avoid the whole thing looking too uniform or stark. Here, the white painted timber cladding of the house has been offset with a more rustic timber used for the driveway fence.
9. Soften your fence with planted borders
If your driveway fencing feels a little too structured, but is needed for privacy and security, adding a border in front of it will allow you to slowly develop your planting scheme to provide an additional layer of cover that's less rigid.
"Planting climbing plants or hedging along your fence line is a great way to soften its appearance and seamlessly blend it into the surrounding landscape," advises Leigh Barnes.
Alternatively, if you're looking for a more natural boundary, "replace harsh, visually disruptive fencing or edging with living boundaries like Daphne, Rose or Viburnum," suggests Kristian Goodenough, exterior design expert and founder of The Bespoke Sign House. "These create a softer welcoming transition."
10. Consider low brick walls if privacy isn't an issue
It is important to consider height when it comes to your driveway fence ideas – very high boundaries will not always work.
In this case, why not consider a low wall instead? This makes a great alternative if you want to look out from your front windows at an unobstructed view. A brick wall can also work better than timber or metal fencing for some styles of front garden.
Here, the wall used to define the driveway matches the materials used for the house and garage – all while tying in perfectly with the neat, straight lines of the front garden.
11. Combine rustic stone with elegant metal fencing
Metal fencing looks beautiful when combined with stone walls and stone cladding. Although all styles of metal fences can work well, opting for more elegant, visually lightweight designs can really enhance the reassuringly chunky nature of natural stone.
They can also offer a practical solution if your home exits directly onto a road.
"This style of fencing can also improve safety when pulling out of the driveway, as they offer greater visibility of pedestrians or oncoming traffic," confirms Leigh Barnes. "In many cases, the best choice will be one that strikes a balance between functionality and aesthetics, enhancing the property's overall appearance."
Metal fencing and gates offer a solid, but secure driveway fencing idea and good vision if you need to drive out onto a main road
12. Divide driveways from land with post and rail fencing
If you have a large space or a long driveway to deal with, a simple post and rail fence, such as this pack from B&Q can very often be the best option.
Large expanses of solid fencing can appear a little overbearing, while the open and unfussy nature of this style of boundary is less visually intrusive. It's perfect for paring with rural properties where it acts as a clear divider, without spoiling the view.
13. Use brick pillars with metal fencing for a grand entranceway
Both metal driveway fences and those made from timber can be finished off wonderfully with brick piers. They form a very impressive entrance and really make a statement.
Here, the black metal fences sweep away from the brick gate piers which have been topped with cast stone balls and bases from Haddonstone.
14. Consider your options carefully with agricultural conversions
Great care needs to be taken to remain true to the agricultural roots of certain types of home, such as barn conversions. Not only should the original features be dealt with sympathetically (something usually insisted on by planners anyway) but the treatment of the landscaping should also be considered with the nature of the property in mind too.
Metal fences really work well when surrounding barn conversions. Here, they follow the sweeping driveway to this new build home, designed to look like a barn conversion, particularly beautifully.
15. Pick a pretty picket fence and paint to suit
There's something about a pretty picket fence that can't be beaten. And even if your dogs are getting up to mischief on the other side, it can be a handy divider between yourself and your neighbours when your driveway has a lawn, as well as a space to park your cars.
And, while natural wood finishes work well when paired with oak frame homes for example, you can also easily learn how to paint a fence, or choose a colour to match your home when renovating or updating your exterior.
Need something more than a fence for your driveway? Although driveway fencing ideas work well on many homes, sometimes, the nature of a plot will render fencing unnecessary and a different approach will be required. Retaining wall ideas are great alternative for sloping sites but can also be used as a feature to create height and visual interest.
Alternatively, natural stone walling can make a great driveway fence alternative and is particularly well suited to rural, stone clad homes. Take a look at these additional front garden wall ideas too to ensure you have a standout entrance and boundary in place.
