The Backyard Trend Everyone’s Talking About

A strange thing has been happening this year. Homeowners, designers, and even a few curious neighbors have started asking the same question: “What’s that modern fence I keep seeing everywhere?”

Welcome to the era of the horizontal fence.

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your outdoor space, this might be the trend that finally nudges you out of Pinterest and into reality.

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Why Horizontal Is Having Its Moment

For starters, it looks modern without trying too hard. Instead of traditional vertical boards, horizontal lines instantly give a backyard a more architectural, intentional feel. It’s like your yard suddenly got a degree in design.

And homeowners are loving it for a few reasons:
• more privacy with tighter spacing
• clean, modern look
• visually widens the yard
• works with wood or steel

Translation: it looks custom without requiring a full renovation budget.

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Does It Work in Utah?

Short answer: yes.
Long answer: absolutely.

Whether you’re downtown, in the suburbs, or on acreage, horizontal fencing pairs beautifully with Utah’s landscape and modern home styles. Think cedar against mountain views or steel with minimalist architecture.

And bonus: It actually photographs well, so it’s basically Instagram-friendly backyard security.

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Wood or Steel?

Wood gives you warmth and timelessness. Steel gives durability and low maintenance. Both look incredible in a horizontal layout, so it really comes down to how much maintenance you want in your life.

Tip: If you’re not into staining and sealing every few years, a steel horizontal fence is going to be your best friend.

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Pro Tip from Western Fence

Go for a mixed-width layout. Instead of using boards all the same size, alternate widths for a custom look. It’s a small design detail that makes a big difference. Your neighbors will wonder who your designer is.

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What to Know Before Installing

A few things to think about:
• your slope or grade
• HOA rules
• privacy preference
• wood vs steel maintenance

If you’re in Utah, we can walk you through all of this. We’ve built enough horizontal fences at this point to write a dissertation, but we’d rather just build you one.

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Trend or Here to Stay?

Horizontal fencing isn’t a passing trend. It’s becoming a staple of modern backyard design. Think of it like stainless appliances in the kitchen. It’s not going anywhere.

So if your backyard is ready for a glow-up, and you want privacy that still feels stylish, this might be your moment.

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Ready for something beautiful?

We install modern horizontal wood and steel fences all across Utah, and we love helping homeowners choose the right style for their space.

Ask us for a quote or a design recommendation. We love talking fencing probably more than we should.