6 Ways to Deal With a Bad View Out the Window

It’s common knowledge that a beautiful view raises a home’s value. But can a bad view actually lower its value? Los Angeles real estate agent Peter Kinnaird says yes. “One of my clients had reservations about buying a house because you could see two ugly apartment complexes from the living room window,” says Kinnaird. He identifies large, unkempt utility poles and rundown multistory apartment complexes as major culprits in ruining views for potential home buyers.

I live in an older, high-density neighborhood, where my one-story house is situated about 20 feet from a two-story apartment. I keep my curtains drawn every day, because my living room window looks right into my neighbor’s property. Sick of this approach, I looked for ideas that could help mask unappealing views both inside and out. Use these strategies to enhance your home life — or to make your home more attractive to buyers.


1. Conceal by planting a living screen. Planting mature trees to block a view requires ample space, time and funds. Installing bamboo is one stylish way to conceal a building adjacent to a narrow side yard. Just make sure it’s right for you. Bamboo is often praised for its beauty and screening potential, but it can be invasive if not planted with a root barrier.

According to Anna Foleen, a representative from the American Bamboo Society, many types of bamboo can thrive in a strip of land as narrow as 8 inches, depending on adjacent ground conditions. They also can tolerate limited lighting conditions and can grow 3 to 5 feet every year.

See more about growing bamboo in small spaces


2. Conceal with a fabric privacy screen. Unlike with a living screen, there’s no need to wait for a fabric screen to grow to the desired height, although screens above a certain height may require a city permit. This fabric-like privacy screen has various openings that frame desirable views of the sky and trees.


3. Create a focal point with plants or sculptural art. The designer here chose not to completely conceal the neighbor’s home beyond the fence. Instead, he or she installed this framed mobile of hanging plants and stones to take center stage. Now the neighbor’s home disappears into the background.


4. Frame the view with an adjustable window treatment. Like clerestory windows, the Roman shades on these windows bring in light from above while maintaining privacy. They might also help conceal an offending feature outside.


5. Hang distractions in front of the window. Hanging plants and decorative fabric is a playful, budget-friendly alternative to installing formal window treatments.


6. Combine indoor and outdoor strategies. This designer applied frosted window film inside and placed a living privacy screen just outside this room. The treatment gives the view depth and dimension even though we have no idea what lies 5 feet beyond the window.

More: 8 Wonderfully Creative Window Treatments

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