If you have scrolled through Instagram or Pinterest looking for garden inspiration recently, you have definitely seen it.
Clean, horizontal lines of timber with narrow gaps between them. It’s called Venetian Fencing (or slatted fencing), and it is rapidly replacing the traditional lap panel as the fencing of choice for modern Bristol homes.
From the Victorian terraces of Southville to the new builds in Paintworks, here is why everyone is going horizontal.
1. The "TARDIS" Effect (Making Small Gardens Bigger)
Many Bristol gardens—especially in areas like Easton, Bedminster, and Horfield—are long and narrow. A solid 6ft fence can make these spaces feel like a box or a prison yard.
The Design Trick: Just like wearing horizontal stripes makes a person look wider, installing horizontal fencing makes a garden feel wider. The lines draw your eye left and right, stretching the perspective and making a cramped courtyard feel spacious and architectural.
2. Light vs. Privacy: The Perfect Balance
With a traditional solid fence, you have two choices: total privacy (but zero light) or a low fence (lots of light, but neighbors can see in).
Venetian fencing hits the "Goldilocks" zone.
- The Gap: We typically leave a 10mm to 15mm gap between the slats.
- The Result: Sunlight can filter through the gaps, creating beautiful shadow lines as the sun moves. However, because the gap is narrow, it is almost impossible for a neighbor to see through clearly unless they are pressing their eye right up against the wood.
3. Material Matters: Softwood vs. Hardwood
To get that crisp, high-end "Venetian" look, the wood quality matters.
The Budget Option: Planed Softwood
We use high-quality, pressure-treated pine that has been "planed all round" (smooth). This gives a clean, modern finish that can be painted or stained easily. It’s affordable and looks great in contemporary grey or black.
The Premium Option: Western Red Cedar or Larch
This is the magazine cover look. Cedar has natural reddish/brown hues. We often install this with slightly thinner slats (45mm) for a delicate, refined screen. It requires no painting and smells incredible.
4. It’s Not Just for Boundaries
Slatted fencing isn't just for the perimeter. We are seeing a huge trend in using Venetian panels for Zoning.
You can use short sections of slatted fencing to:
- Screen off a messy BBQ area or bin store.
- Create a backdrop for a dining area.
- Add height to an existing low brick wall (a "topper").
Is it right for you?
Venetian fencing does require more timber and more labor than a standard fence (there are a lot of screws!), so it comes at a higher price point.
However, if you have a small garden, the investment is worth it. You are adding usable visual space and modernizing the entire look of your property instantly.
Want to see samples?
We can bring samples of our slat widths and timber types to your home so you can see how the light filters through them.