Ideas for Fences & Gates

Picket Fence

• For a classic look, no fencing option tops the traditional picket fence. It is an ideal choice for a country-style garden or the front yard of a Colonial home. A picket fence is short and features an open design, so it does not provide privacy or security. However, it provides a highly decorative element to your landscape and can be customized to complement your property's specific layout. You can also choose to top the pickets with a pointed edge for a more finished look or leave them square for a more rustic look. Traditionally, a picket fence is finished with white paint but you can also stain it for a natural, rugged look.

Trellis Gate

• To give the entrance to your yard a truly dramatic look, combine your gate with a trellis. A trellis gate provides a highly decorative look that allows you to grow roses, vines or other plants around the entrance to create a canopy of beautiful greenery. As a result, a trellis gate is best used in an area of your yard that receives a great deal of sunlight. It also pairs well with a picket style or other shorter wood fence, and may be painted white for a charming, old-fashioned look. This type of gate provides an ideal entrance to a garden because it incorporates greenery in its design and creates a grand entrance.

Cedar and Copper Fence

• For a versatile and highly decorative fencing option, consider building a fence that combines elements of cedar and copper. With cedar top rails and posts and copper pickets, your fence can have an elegant, open design. You may stain the cedar in a rich, warm shade and seal the copper pickets to give the fence a more formal look. However, if you prefer a rustic style for your home, you can leave both materials unfinished so the fence has a more natural appearance. You can also opt to paint the cedar in a bold color and seal the copper so it maintains its bright finish. In addition to providing a highly attractive look, a cedar and copper fence is also extremely durable and can be built to varying heights.

Gate with Stained Glass

• If you want a truly memorable gate for your yard or garden, one that features a stained glass panel may be perfect. The gate utilizes a wood frame that you can adjust to fit your chosen stained glass panel. You can use any style of wooden gate and fence that can accommodate the framed panel, but mimicking the shape of the design in the stained glass at the top of the fence creates a unified look. For example, if the stained glass panel features triangles or diamonds, a pointed, picket-like gate is an ideal option. If your stained glass has circular shapes, rounded pickets may be a better option. Because of the delicate nature of the stained glass, this type of gate may not be the best option for a fence that sees a lot of use.