Updated: July 2026
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Love Your Privacy?
Turning a backyard into a peaceful hideaway where the neighbors cannot peek in on an outdoor gathering does not require a huge budget or major landscaping. In this post, I am sharing the simple, affordable way my daughter and I blocked out prying eyes on the lanai at Casa Rosa and turned it into the serene retreat we had been picturing.
About the Lanai at Casa Rosa
Casa Rosa is a 1988 custom built pool home with 1900 square feet, two bedrooms, and two and a half bathrooms on a quarter acre. The original plans called for a screened porch measuring 13 feet wide by 24 feet 8 inches long. Somewhere between the plan drawings and the actual build, the porch was extended to the end of the house, adding roughly 10 feet to the length and bringing the final footprint to 13 feet wide by 35 feet long.
Existing Wood Fence
The original wood fence had done its job of providing privacy to the screened porch for years, but even before closing on the house, we knew it would eventually need to be replaced. After spending a full year renovating the interior of the home, it was finally time to tackle the fence.
The choice for the new fence was simple: a classic black aluminum spaced picket fence. The one hiccup with this style is that it offers no built-in privacy on its own, at least not until a hedge has time to fill in.
Solving the Temporary Privacy Problem
Shortly after the new fence went in, we planted 3 gallon podocarpus along the inside line to eventually grow into a privacy hedge. Podocarpus typically grows about 2 feet per year, which meant the planting would need at least three years before it did its job. An immediate, budget-friendly solution was in order while the hedge caught up.
IKEA’s reputation for affordable solutions came through once again.
The IKEA Fix
The Ritva curtain panels were the natural choice. These 100 percent cotton curtains are easy to wash and priced well below custom outdoor drapery, which made them the perfect fit for a temporary-turned-semi-permanent solution. They come in four lengths: 57 inches wide by either 65, 84, 98, or 118 inches long. Rounding out the project were the Räcka curtain rod, and the Betydlig wall or ceiling bracket.
The back side of the porch measures 156 inches wide, the side width between the two posts is 100 inches, and the height is 106 inches. Since the goal was curtains that could flow and pool slightly rather than pull tight, more panels than the exact width were used on each run.
Installation tips worth knowing:
- Strong wind caused the rods to pop off the brackets more than once. Securing each rod to its bracket with fishing line solved the problem for good.
- Curtain rings were the original plan, but sliding the panels directly onto the rods ended up being the easier, cleaner option.
The Result
We are thrilled with the privacy the curtains now provide on the lanai. While the podocarpus hedge continues to fill in, the curtains have become something we are not in a rush to take down. There is something about the way they soften the space and add a sense of peace that may earn them a permanent spot regardless of how quickly the hedge grows.
Podocarpus Hedge Progress
For anyone curious how the permanent privacy solution is coming along, the hedge has filled in noticeably between March 2023 and March 2024, and continues to thicken each season.
Casa Rosa Close
Casa Rosa is an ongoing love story between an old house and a lot of good ideas. From dusty rose paint to the details that make a space feel like home, I am documenting every step of the renovation and styling journey right here on the blog. Follow along and see where it goes.
IKEA shows up more than once in this renovation story. If you enjoyed this hack, take a look at How to Design a Sensational IKEA PAX Closet: My Insider Guide for another affordable, high-impact IKEA project at Casa Rosa.
For a look at an interior transformation, see Casa Rosa Powder Bathroom Renovation: My Insider Guide. And for the front door story that ties the whole property together, see Best Dusty Rose Paint Colors: My Insider Guide to This Timeless Shade.
— izzy