Do you struggle with a lack of privacy on your backyard deck? Do you want privacy without losing the sun like with a pergola? Then you'll love this budget-friendly alternative for a deck privacy screen with repurposed louvered doors.

It's a simple build and doesn't require the water feature pictured in the center. However, I do share a link to how to build that too further down in the post. Either way, the privacy wall adds a lovely focal point to a deck.

Repurposed Bi-fold Door Deck Privacy Screen

Depending on which direction you face the louvered doors, you can see out but the neighbors can't see in.

This is what the deck privacy wall looks like from the deck. I've shared links to the DIY solar lights and the birdhouse sign in the deck makeover series recap further down in the post.

This is the view the neighbor's see on the backside of the privacy screen. It's just as pretty and is illuminated with solar floodlights after dusk.

The repurposed bi-fold door deck screen adds a gorgeous focal point on our deck and gives us the privacy we've been longing for. I've included a link to the repurposed headboard garden bench pictured in the foreground further down in the post too.

I chuckled when I noticed the upcycled metal garden kitty peering through the Adirondack fire bowl screen in the photo below. I've included links to the upcycled metal garden statues further down in the post as well.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to make the deck privacy wall, I should mention that we are self-taught DIYers and not trained professionals. This step-by-step tutorial is based on our building knowledge only. However, if you are a do-it-yourselfer like us, you'll find these steps helpful if you plan on making a version of our deck privacy screen.

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What You'll Need To Make It

This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Supply List

• Wood Louvered Bi-Fold Doors (salvaged)
• Najavo White (SC-157) Behr Premium Exterior Wood Solid Stain
• Seafoam Green (SC-132) Behr Premium Exterior Wood Solid Stain
• Drop Cloth/Tarp
• Husky 20-Gallon Air Compressor (alternatives)
• Pneumatic Husky HVLP Gravity Feed Spray Gun (alternatives)
• Power Drill
• 1 1/2-inch Galvanized Wood Screws
• 2 1/2-inch Angle Brackets
• 1 Cedar 1 x 6 Board
• 1 Cedar 1 x 4 Board

Here's How We Made It

It all started with a couple of solid wood 23-inch bifold louvered doors in our basement. I used them as divider walls in my booth at a local antique mall. I'm to finally found a new purpose for them.

Step 1 - Trimming The Doors

The doors were trimmed to 73-inches high with a skill saw and cutting guide so they are the same height as our DIY Water Wall.

Step 2 - Staining The Doors

The doors are stained with Behr Premium Exterior Wood Solid Stain in the color Najavo White. They were stained with an HVLP Gravity Feed Spray Gun that came with our 20-gallon compressor in a 4:1 ratio just like in our How To Stain Adirondack Chairs The Easy Way tutorial.

When relaxing on the deck with a cold one while waiting for the stain to dry I had a little visitor. It stayed there for a long time.

Step 3 - Mounting Screens Onto Deck

Next, we line the doors up on either side of our water wall and attach them to the deck on the bottom outer edge of the screen with 2 1/2 angle brackets (pictured below). The metal brackets were pre-painted with Rustoleum spray paint in the color Heirloom White, an almost perfect match to the Najavo stain color.

Alternatively, without a water wall, butt up against each set of bi-fold doors along the edge of the deck and attach them the same way with angle brackets.

Step 4 - Capping Top Of Garden Screen

To cap the privacy screen we used a piece of 1 x 6 x 9' cedar and ran it across the span of both bi-fold doors and the water wall. It was attached from the top with 1 1/2-inch galvanized wood screws, with a 2-inch overhang on either end.

Without a water wall in the middle, the instructions are the same. Run the cedar board across the span of all the sets of bifold doors with a 2-inch overhang on either end. Make sure the doors are butted up tight to one another before attaching them from the top with 1 1/2-inch galvanized wood screws.

Now that you have all the doors joined together with a cedar cap, we'll add a simple decorative element on top. Attach another narrower 1 x 4 x 8' cedar board on top.

You can leave the cedar natural so it greys over time or stain the wood to match. We chose to stain ours with Behr Premium Exterior Wood Solid Stain in the color Seafoam Green to match the garden bench on the deck.

Deck Privacy Screen WITH Water Fountain Feature

Should you decide to include a water fountain feature in your deck privacy screen, you can find the instructions for how to build one here in our DIY Outdoor Water Wall post.

To dress up the backside of the privacy screen I hung bronze metal basket planters that I've had hanging indoors for many years. They'll be so pretty filled with trailing flowers.

This isn't our first garden screen made with salvaged bi-fold doors. A few years ago we built a Louvered Door Garden Fence. It hides our woodpile and other unsightly junk.

Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I hope you were inspired by this privacy screen idea for your deck. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!

If you enjoyed this deck privacy screen idea, I'd be so thankful if you shared it with a friend and pinned it to your DIY Outdoor Living Ideas or Repurposed Door Ideas board on Pinterest.

As promised, here are links to all the DIY projects in our deck makeover series. I hope you find some inspiration here as well.

Deck Makeover Series Recap

1. DIY Birdhouse Sign
2. Budget-Friendly Deck Restore
3. Easy DIY Solar Fence Lights
4. Easy DIY Outdoor Rug With Stain
5. Easy Way To Stain Adirondack Chairs
6. DIY Headboard Garden Bench
7. Stenciled Outdoor Cushions
8. Upcycled Garden Animal Statues

I share my projects at these inspiring link parties.