What can I do in my garden that's overlooked...

[Zingyzesty]

I live in a ground floor maisonette with a good sized private garden but I find myself being self conscious to use it as the upstairs neighbours bedroom essentially looks over my whole garden and towards the back of the garden, their kitchen looks out over it too.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to avoid being overlooked? I am considering some sort of awning but want to keep maintenance to a minimum. I'm not doing anything untoward, I just want to be able to relax and lie down in the sun.

Edited to say that I don't have a diagram but could provide one if needed!

Er no not sure how you've come to that conclusion.

A pergola with a creeper growing on it? But anything that blocks the view of your upstairs neighbour is likely to block sun, too.

Most gardens (if you live on a housing estate or in a terrace) are overlooked in some way these days, so I wouldn't worry about it.

A garden sail?

Do you own or rent?

How much time do you think 'upstairs' stands at their bedroom window on the off chance you go outside. Just so they can watch you?

You could buy or make planters with lattice trellis attached. Choose climbing plants to create a more screened effect or a smaller gap in lattice.

This would create a barrier and your seating or lounging area would be screened but you'd not be shaded for lying in the sun.

You could also get a folding screen that you put only when sunbathing.

I have close enough neighbours that potentially could look out their upstairs windows into my garden and I could do the same to theirs. The reality is unless I'm washing the inside of the windows or opening the curtains, I'm never at those windows.

My kitchen sink is at the downstairs window but when there I am washing dishes or using the sink. My eyes would be on what I'm doing, not looking at my neighbours. I imagine your neighbours would be the same unless your shrieking and running about to catch their eye.

The upstairs window of your neighbours on either side will also be able to look down.

Pergola sounds gorgeous bit would take time and money. A sail would be very effective.

I’d to create some vertical screening to break the eyeline. Get some taller shrubs or plants that grow quickly. I’d also get a gazebo and a huge parasol. You want other things in the garden so if you are sat out there you are not the sole focus. Do you want to lie out and sun bath or just sit at a table and read?

Insaw on insta grams wisteria parasol that I’m making. - like a mini pergola.

I’d create a private seating area that uses a pergola covered in lots of climbers and the rest large ferns and tropical type plants for volume and interest . It’s not ideal being totally overlooked though .

I would plant trees and a pergola with something fast growing like clematis Montana. Height makes your garden feel bigger and you will naturally feel less conspicuous.

from my own upstairs window, the 1st 2 meters is not visible unless i stand on my window sill and look out of the window, so unless you want to sunbathe in the middle of the garden its unlikely you'll be seen if your close to the house, have a look online to see if theres any diagrams of view angles from windows at certain heights in buildings