Home Privacy Tactics That Keep Prying Eyes At Bay
Privacy is becoming something of a scarce commodity. With devices running rampant in our homes and
nosy neighbors peering into our backyards, keeping your life private is more complicated than ever
before.
nosy neighbors peering into our backyards, keeping your life private is more complicated than ever
before.
With that said, there’s still plenty of things that you can do to make your home more private, both inside
and out. Here’s how.
and out. Here’s how.
Tip #1: Use Privacy Plants
Putting up a massive wall between you and your neighbors is a great way to achieve privacy, but it might
not be popular. The people who live next door might not want to stare at a big, solid fence all day long
when sitting in their backyard.
not be popular. The people who live next door might not want to stare at a big, solid fence all day long
when sitting in their backyard.
For this reason, using dense privacy plants is a much more effective and discreet method. The way it
works is simple. All you do is go down to your local garden center and pick up fast-growing, dense
shrubs, like evergreens, and then plant them in such a way that they grow into a hedgerow that
surrounds your property. Hedges starts small but then become taller and denser over time. Usually, your
neighbors won’t even notice, and if they do, they’ll just think it looks pretty.
works is simple. All you do is go down to your local garden center and pick up fast-growing, dense
shrubs, like evergreens, and then plant them in such a way that they grow into a hedgerow that
surrounds your property. Hedges starts small but then become taller and denser over time. Usually, your
neighbors won’t even notice, and if they do, they’ll just think it looks pretty.
Tip #2: Add A Fountain
Even when your neighbors can’t see you (because you’ve made extensive use of privacy plants), they
can often still hear what you’re doing as you potter about in your back garden. Again, if you care about
privacy, that’s not what you want. But here you can be smart too by using natural sounds to your
advantage.
can often still hear what you’re doing as you potter about in your back garden. Again, if you care about
privacy, that’s not what you want. But here you can be smart too by using natural sounds to your
advantage.
The simplest method is to install a fountain in the middle of your pond (or get a self-contained unit
if you don’t have one). The noise of the fountain helps to drown out any noises you might be making
while out on the terrace. What’s more, it creates an unobtrusive, natural sound that you can turn on
and off whenever you like.
if you don’t have one). The noise of the fountain helps to drown out any noises you might be making
while out on the terrace. What’s more, it creates an unobtrusive, natural sound that you can turn on
and off whenever you like.
Tip #3: Use Privacy Glass Windows
Privacy Glass is a special type of glass that lets light into your home but prevents onlookers from
seeing what’s going on inside. Typically, you find this type of glass in bathrooms, but you can put it just
about anywhere to improve privacy.
seeing what’s going on inside. Typically, you find this type of glass in bathrooms, but you can put it just
about anywhere to improve privacy.
Advanced Window Products suggests that people use this kind of glass when they want an alternative
to bathroom blinds. The glass provides a natural screen for all your indoor spaces, negating the need
to add window coverings.
to bathroom blinds. The glass provides a natural screen for all your indoor spaces, negating the need
to add window coverings.
Tip #4: Use Clever Landscaping
Landscaping along the boundary of your property is another intelligent way to protect your privacy 3
while also avoiding having to put up a fence.
while also avoiding having to put up a fence.
If you have space, considering contouring your landscape and adding trees in such a way that it
obscures your home, preventing anyone from seeing what’s going on inside.
obscures your home, preventing anyone from seeing what’s going on inside.
Tip #5: Install A Security Camera
Part of keeping your home private is deterring would-be criminals from stepping foot on your land.
Security cameras are one of the most potent ways to do this. Just install a camera on the eaves and
then leave it there to deter opportunistic burglars and thieves.
Security cameras are one of the most potent ways to do this. Just install a camera on the eaves and
then leave it there to deter opportunistic burglars and thieves.
Tip #6: Construct A Pergola
Constructing a pergola not only provides you with a roofed section of your garden where you can enjoy
meals with friends and family, but it also adds a little extra privacy to your property too.
meals with friends and family, but it also adds a little extra privacy to your property too.
Many modern pergolas come with privacy curtains that you can draw around the edge of the space,
once everyone is inside. They’re also surprisingly easy to assemble, just like gazebos, making them a
highly affordable way to prevent prying eyes from looking in.
once everyone is inside. They’re also surprisingly easy to assemble, just like gazebos, making them a
highly affordable way to prevent prying eyes from looking in.
Tip #7: Pack The Trunk Of Your Vehicle Out Of Sight
Most people don’t think twice about where they pack the trunk of their car, whether on their driveway,
out on the street, or somewhere else. The problem with this, though, is that it gives criminals a chance
to see what you’re putting in your car, giving them a heads-up on their reward, should they go to the
effort and risk of breaking in. Top targets include things like skis, bicycles, and electronics - stuff that’s
easy to sell.
out on the street, or somewhere else. The problem with this, though, is that it gives criminals a chance
to see what you’re putting in your car, giving them a heads-up on their reward, should they go to the
effort and risk of breaking in. Top targets include things like skis, bicycles, and electronics - stuff that’s
easy to sell.
The best approach is to pack the trunk of your vehicle out of sight, preferably behind screened gates.
This way, you can prevent inadvertently advertising that somebody should break into your car.
This way, you can prevent inadvertently advertising that somebody should break into your car.
Tip #8: Don’t Use Home Assistants
Home assistants are all the rage right now, with many people finding that they make it easy for them to
perform basic household tasks, like changing the setting on the thermostat. When it comes to privacy,
though, these extra conveniences probably aren’t worth it.
perform basic household tasks, like changing the setting on the thermostat. When it comes to privacy,
though, these extra conveniences probably aren’t worth it.
There are a couple of problems with home assistants when it comes to keeping your living spaces
private. The first is that these devices listen to everything you say. Thus, there’s an incentive for the
companies that operate them to pass on personal details to advertisers. Second, once you allow these
systems into your home, you increase the damage that a hacker could do by breaching your internet
security. It’s not just like hacking a PC where a person can see all your files. If you have a home
assistant hooked up to cameras, then nefarious individuals can literally see into your private spaces -
not something you want if you care about privacy.
private. The first is that these devices listen to everything you say. Thus, there’s an incentive for the
companies that operate them to pass on personal details to advertisers. Second, once you allow these
systems into your home, you increase the damage that a hacker could do by breaching your internet
security. It’s not just like hacking a PC where a person can see all your files. If you have a home
assistant hooked up to cameras, then nefarious individuals can literally see into your private spaces -
not something you want if you care about privacy.
Until we know more about the safety of these devices, it is probably best not to install them on your
property just yet. We must wait for more data to come through before essentially handing over our
private lives to third parties.
property just yet. We must wait for more data to come through before essentially handing over our
private lives to third parties.
Tip #9: Store Your Bins Securely
People can find out a lot about what happens in your home from the contents of your bins. They can
see the products you’ve bought in the last week, the food you’ve eaten, and even the bills you’ve
received.
see the products you’ve bought in the last week, the food you’ve eaten, and even the bills you’ve
received.
For these reasons, storing your bins securely and out of sight should be a priority. What you don’t
want is people going through your bins, looking for packaging for expensive items you may have
bought, and then using that as an incentive to break into your property.
want is people going through your bins, looking for packaging for expensive items you may have
bought, and then using that as an incentive to break into your property.
