Fences can be viewed in different ways. They are very practical in terms of keeping out animals, burglars and generally giving your privacy. However they should also look good which is why many people are searching for ornamental fence ideas. There are many different options you have when it comes to ornamental fences so you should do as much research as you can on the subject.

One popular choice for a decorative fence is to have one made from aluminium because they are very practical in terms of creating your design but they also can resist oxidation. Aluminium is often used as an alternative to wrought iron.

Many people prefer to have their fence made from aluminium but you might want to have yours made from wrought iron for whatever reason. Luckily wrought iron today is much better than it used to be and is much less brittle and better at resisting rust.

Although metal is a great way of obtaining an ornamental fence, you can use other materials too which are just as beautiful and worth looking at when searching for design ideas.

Vinyl is a very popular fence material because it allows people to have the appearance of real wood but without all the maintenance hassles. In terms of design, vinyl is great because it has the ability to be extruded in different designs and can even be shaped into a curve and comes in a variety of colors. Vinyl fences don’t need anywhere near as much caring for as real wood and it won’t crack or peel either. You will however want to give it a clean with soapy water now and again to keep it brand new looking.

No matter how many new materials come out that are suitable for garden fencing, people still love to continue using real wood. If you want a decorative fence then this is very much achievable with wood because it’s so easy to cut into a variety of different shapes. You can go as simple as a picket fence or you can try something a bit more different such as having the wood cut into scallops, waves or waffle.

Not only will you want to think about the design of the fence panels but you’ll also want to look at the fence posts too. There are ways that you can make fence posts more exciting too such as integrating garden lighting into them or even fitting metal caps to the top. You can be as imaginative as you wish.

With so many choices for your garden fence it’s very easy to want to incorporate all the designs you can. This can easily get out of control if you’re not careful and the design can become over complicated. Sometimes is better to choose a more classic design of fence and make it more attractive with your choice of plants. At the end of the day it’s your fence so you should choose whatever design you fancy.

April Kerr often writes for website Gardening Content which has details of where to buy ornamental fences and types of wooden fences.