21 Front Yard Fencing Ideas Sure to Transform Your Home

A front yard garden with a wood-framed hog wire fence and a matching arched gate — Finding Lovely

A fence puts the finishing touches on any front yard. With a fence, you can build a boundary around your home—sectioning off all or part of your yard. You can add privacy to front yard hot spots, like porches, patios, and entryways. And you can shelter your carefully landscaped plants from harsh winds and rains.

Plus, a front yard fence doubles as a decorative element—giving you yet another way to enhance your home’s curb appeal.

The great thing about front yard fences? Your options aren’t limited to classic white pickets or sleek metal railings. You can customize the height, length, and layout of your fence. And you can get creative with fence colors and materials, too.

With so many options to sift through, it helps to come inspired. So we’ve rounded up 21 front yard fence ideas to consider as you envision the front yard fence of your dreams.

01 of 21

Scallop Your Picket Fence

A Victorian home with a scalloped wooden picket fence — Image Source/Getty Images

You can’t go wrong with a picket fence. But if you don’t feel like having the same fence as everyone else, put your own spin on the classic. Arrange your pickets in scallops or arches or alternate between tall and short pickets. The twist will set your picket fence apart from the rest—without sacrificing its classic appeal.

02 of 21

Line Your Fence With Hedges

A modern house with a metal fence lined with tall hedges — Alvarez/Getty Images

Your fence doesn’t exist in a vacuum. So design your landscaping to work with it. Line your fence with hedges, or plant a row of flowers along its base. These glimpses of greenery will peek out between your fence posts—making your fence look more majestic and your yard look lusher.

03 of 21

Set the Scene With an Arched Gate

A white stucco fence wall with a wooden arched gate — Pure Salt Interiors

Your fence gate is one of the first things people will see in your front yard. So make that first impression count, and invest in an arched gate that feels impressive but welcoming.

04 of 21

Add a Rustic Split-Rail Fence

A historic stone home lined with a white split-rail fence — Finding Lovely

The split-rail fence dates back to colonial America—and it’ll add a pop of classic charm to any front yard. What’s nice? Split-rail fences tend to be budget-friendly. So you don’t have to splurge to get the look.

05 of 21

Mix and Match Materials

A ranch-style house lined with a stucco fence on one side, a wooden fence on the other, and a stone column in the middle — Brophy Interiors

Your fence doesn’t have to be made of just one thing. So if you’re struggling to choose between wood, stone, and stucco, pick all three. Line your fence with stucco on one side and wood on the other, and separate them with a stone column. Then, use your gate to bring your front yard together.

06 of 21

Paint Your Post Caps a Fun Color

A craftsman-style house encircled by a white picket fence with red post caps — Douglas Keister/Getty Images

Post caps are the decorative coverings that sit on top of your fence posts. And you can have a lot of fun picking them out. So make a statement by choosing post caps in an unusual shape or material. Or keep things simple by painting your post caps a fun color.

07 of 21

Keep It Sleek With Metal Railing

A brick townhome with a sleek black metal fence — Devon Grace Interiors

Building a wood fence is a classic choice—but it’s not your only option. If you’re fencing in a sleek townhome or a historic Victorian mansion, consider using metal, instead. The smooth material will complement a range of architectural styles. And you can choose a metal fence that’s as simple or ornate as the home behind it.

08 of 21

Sculpt Your Own Adobe Wall

An adobe-style house surrounded by a matching adobe wall with a black metal gate — Julian Porcino

An adobe wall isn’t for everyone, but it’s a statement-making choice for homes made of adobe or stucco. So sculpt your fence from natural materials, embrace imprecisely curved edges, and add contrast with a classic metal gate. By choosing a fence that honors your home’s history, you can reliably bring out the best in your space. And that holds true—no matter what style of home you have.

09 of 21

Fence in Just Your Front Porch

A house with an open yard and a fenced-in front patio — Finding Lovely

Your fence doesn’t have to line your entire front yard. By building a fence around your patio, you can add privacy where you want it—while leaving the rest of your yard wide open.

10 of 21

Turn Your Gate Into an Arbor

A white picket fence with a white vine-lined arbor instead of a classic gate — Thomas H. Mitchell/Getty Images

Want to make your fence look truly spectacular? Trade your gate for an arbor—and line it with plants. Your landscaping can be as lush or refined as you want it to be. So plant flowers, shrubs, and overgrown vines. Or keep it simple by lining your arbor with carefully trimmed ivy.

11 of 21

Open Things Up With a Crossbuck Fence

A farmhouse-style home with a crossbuck fence flanked by white brick columns — Mindy Gayer Design

Crossbuck fences are commonly used on ranches, barns, and pastures. So they’re a perfect pick for any farmhouse-style home. The great thing about crossbuck fences? They cordon off your house without obstructing your view. So you can invest in your landscaping, knowing passers-by will get to see it.

12 of 21

Give Your Gate a Doorknob

A white stucco fence with a wooden gate that's equipped with a black doorknob — Mindy Gayer Design

Fence gates can be tough to open. So make your front yard user-friendly by sticking a doorknob on your gate. You’ll thank yourself the next time you’re hosting houseguests—or expecting a delivery on your doorstep.

13 of 21

Line Your Fence With Tempered Glass

A fence with metal posts, wooden rails, and tempered glass panels — Maite Granda

Craving a boundary that doesn’t block your view? Line your fence with tempered glass. The material is often used around balconies and pools. And if you want a front yard fence you can see through, it can’t be beaten.

14 of 21

Frame Your Garden With Hog Wire

Hog wire fences were designed to corral farm animals—so they’re great for keeping animals out of your garden. The key? Snag hog wire panels that have been framed with a pretty material, and invest in a matching gate that makes them look even nicer.

15 of 21

Put Up a Partial Fence

A modern ranch-style house with a partial lattice fence near the front door — Julian Porcino

If you don’t want a fence encircling your entire front yard, don’t build one. Put up a partial fence instead. By building a short fence along your front door and walkway, you can make your entryway feel private without closing off your yard. And you can achieve a similar effect by building a corner fence around your patio—or flanking your flower beds with a few fence panels.

16 of 21

Stick a Mailbox by Your Gate

A white stucco fence equipped with a mailbox, a house number, and an ornate wooden door — White Sands

If your freshly built fence blocks access to your yard, be sure your mailbox is still easy to reach. Outfit your fence with a built-in mailbox—and consider adding a house number for clarity.

17 of 21

Build a Full-Blown Stone Wall

A modern home surrounded by a stone wall — Katie LeClercq

A classic panel fence isn’t your only option. If you really want to transform your yard, trade the wooden pickets and metal panels for a full-blown stone wall. The all-natural accent will make any yard look fairytale-worthy. And since stone walls are pieced together rock by rock, you’ll get a lot of say over the size and shape of your fence.

18 of 21

Splurge on a Horizontal Fence

A farmhouse-style home surrounded by a short black fence with long horizontal boards — Mindy Gayer Design

You don’t see horizontal fences as often as you see vertical fences, and that’s because they’re expensive. The longer the boards on your horizontal fence, the bigger the tree that supplied them. So if you want a fence that doubles as a subtle flex, ditch the pickets—and stock up on long horizontal fence boards, instead.

19 of 21

Flank Your Front Door With a Gate

A home with a front entryway flanked by two columns and a lattice metal gate — Maite Granda

Circular driveways aren’t conducive to fences, but that doesn’t mean your fence dreams are dashed. By framing your front door with columns—and sticking a gate in between them—you can create a partial fence that feels as ceremonial as a full one.

20 of 21

Switch Up Your Fence Height

A wooden fence that's short on the sides and tall in the back — Julian Porcino

Your fence doesn’t have to be the same height all the way around. In fact, it probably shouldn’t be. It’s customary to build a shorter fence in your front yard, where curb appeal is key—and a taller fence in your backyard, where you want more privacy.

21 of 21

Revamp the Fence You Have

A front porch with a black metal fence lined with beige rope — Julian Porcino

Instead of rebuilding your fence from scratch, dress up the fence you already have. A simple metal fence looks more eye-catching when lined with rope. And a wooden fence can be transformed with a quick coat of paint.

31 Design Ideas to Create a Beautiful Outdoor Space

Article Sources

MyDomaine uses only high-quality, trusted sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.