You're sitting outside and suddenly your napkin blows off the table, or you can see straight into your neighbour's kitchen. A windbreak or privacy screen turns an open terrace or balcony into a sheltered spot where you actually want to stay. But which screen should you choose: a fixed wall of wood or glass, a retractable side screen, or a fabric hung along the railing? In this guide you'll read what each type does against wind and nosy neighbours, which material suits you, how to fix a screen securely, and what to watch for on a balcony. There's also a quick choice test and examples from our range.
In short: first decide what you want to block: wind, views from neighbours, or both. A solid screen gives the most privacy, while a wind-permeable roller blind breaks the wind without creating swirling air behind it. On a balcony, a fabric screen along the railing is the lightest option, but check first with your owners' association (VvE) or landlord what is allowed. The larger the screen, the sturdier the fixing needs to be.
Wind or views: what do you want to block?
A windbreak and a privacy screen look alike, but they solve different problems. So start with the question of what bothers you.
- Views: you don't want to be seen. Then you need a solid or almost solid screen that is high enough from the spot where the neighbours stand or sit.
- Wind: you want to be able to sit comfortably. Then what matters most is the direction the wind comes from, and how the screen catches it.
- Both: then you often combine two solutions, or choose a screen that blocks views and slows down the wind.
With wind there's one more thing to consider. A completely solid screen blocks the wind directly behind it, but the air flows over the top and can swirl behind the screen. A screen with an open structure lets some of the wind through and slows it down. As a result, the area behind it is often calmer than you'd expect. That's also why the Coolfit fabrics in this article are deliberately wind-permeable.
On a windy day, hold a sheet up at the spot where the screen will go. Hold it at different heights and feel where it becomes calm. That way you'll know the height and the side before you buy anything.
Types of screens compared
There are roughly six ways to screen off your seating area. This table shows what each type is good at and what to watch out for.
| Type | Strong at | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed screen (wood, composite) | Privacy, all year round | Sturdy posts needed |
| Glass windscreen | Blocks wind, keeps the view | No privacy, needs cleaning |
| Retractable side screen | Only closed when needed | Fixed mounting point needed |
| Balcony fabric along the railing | Views and sun on the balcony | Rules from VvE or landlord |
| Freestanding screen on a base | Movable, no drilling | Heavy base, catches wind |
| Greenery (hedge, climber) | Natural, breaks the wind | Grows slowly |
Fixed screen of wood or composite
A fixed wall on posts gives the most privacy and stays up all year. It is permanent, though: you choose the location once. A fixed screen on the property boundary is in fact a fence, and municipal rules apply to it. Check those before you start building, and discuss it with your neighbours.
Glass windscreen
Glass blocks the wind and keeps the view open. That makes it popular on a terrace with a view or by the water. Clear glass offers no privacy and shows smears and streaks quickly. Glass sliding walls under a veranda or canopy are a step further: read more about this in veranda, canopy or pergola.
Retractable side screen or roller blind
A roller blind or retractable side screen lets you lower it when the wind, sun or neighbours are a nuisance, and roll it up when you want the view. You hang it from a fixed point, such as a window frame or pergola. Further on you can read more about the Coolfit roller blinds.
Fabric along the railing or between posts
A piece of fabric is the lightest solution and especially handy on a balcony. You fix it with cable ties or cord and take it down again after the season. The more wind a fabric catches, the harder it pulls on the fixings, so choose a wind-permeable fabric and keep it taut.
Freestanding screen and greenery
A freestanding screen on a base can be placed without drilling, but a large flat surface catches a lot of wind and needs a heavy, stable base. A hedge or climber against a trellis is the green option: it breaks the wind and provides privacy, though it takes a while before it's dense.
Choice test: which screen suits your spot?
Still unsure? Answer four questions and see which direction best suits your garden or balcony.
Which screen against wind or views suits your spot?
What do you most want to keep out?
- Neighbours looking in, all year round
- Wind and low sun, only at certain times
- Views and sun on my balcony
Where would you fix the screen?
- To posts in the ground or on the property boundary
- To a window frame, canopy or pergola
- To the balcony railing
How often do you want to remove or open the screen?
- Never, it can stay up
- Daily: closed when needed, open when possible
- Only after the season
What are you allowed to attach in that spot?
- Anything, it's my own garden
- Screws or hooks in my own canopy
- Only something that can be removed without leaving marks
A fixed screen. A wall of wood or composite on sturdy posts gives privacy all year round. If you want to keep the view, choose glass. Check your municipality's rules if the screen will stand on the property boundary.
A retractable side screen. A roller blind on your window frame or pergola lets you lower it when it's windy or the sun is low, and roll it up when you want the view.
A balcony screen. A fabric with eyelets is attached to the railing with cable ties, and you take it down after the season. First ask your VvE or landlord what is allowed on the railing.
Materials: wood, composite, glass or fabric
The material determines how the screen looks, how much privacy it gives, and how much work it takes.
| Material | Privacy | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | High, natural look | Occasional stain or oil |
| Composite | High, sleek | Soapy water |
| Glass | Low, unless frosted glass | Frequent cleaning |
| HDPE fabric | Partial, lets light through | Lukewarm water and soap |
| Reed or bamboo | Moderate | Doesn't last as long |
HDPE is a plastic woven into an open fabric. That is the fabric of the Coolfit screens: it lets air and some light through, dries quickly and doesn't need painting. A wooden screen suits a rural garden well, while composite and glass suit a sleek, modern garden. If you're looking for a style, check the modern garden page for ideas.
Fitting a screen securely in 4 steps
A screen catches wind, and you notice that in the fixings. In a storm, a large, solid surface pulls hard on posts, screws and railings. So take your time with the installation.
Over a few days, note which direction the wind blows from and from which windows or gardens you can be seen. Place the screen on that side, as close to your seating area as possible.
A fixed screen goes on posts set deep and firmly in the ground. A roller blind is screwed or hooked to a window frame or pergola. Fabric is attached to the railing or posts with cable ties or cord. A thin drainpipe or loose plant pot is not a fixing point.
If you live in an apartment or rent, ask your VvE or landlord what you may fix to the façade, railing or floor. If a fixed screen will stand on the property boundary, check your municipality's rules and discuss it with your neighbours.
Fix everything in place, pull fabric taut so it doesn't flap or hold water, and tug on it firmly. After the first strong gust, check that everything is still secure.
Also want to stretch a shade sail over your terrace? You can read how to choose fixing points and keep a sail taut in hanging a shade sail in 7 steps.
Retractable side screen: the Coolfit roller blinds
A roller blind is handy if you don't always want a solid wall. The Platinum Sun & Shade Coolfit roller blinds have an open woven fabric of HDPE 285 g/m² that, according to the product information, is wind-permeable, provides up to 95% UV protection and can stay up for the whole season. You mount them between, under or on the window frame or pergola and operate them with a pulley system. The length is always 240 cm; you choose the width.
| Width | Weight | Fixing |
|---|---|---|
| 98 cm | 2.13 kg | Screws or hooks |
| 148 cm | 2.75 kg | Screws or hooks |
| 198 cm | 3.60 kg | Screws or hooks |
| 248 cm | 4.38 kg | Screws |
| 296 cm | 5.25 kg | Screws |
Measure the opening you want to screen before choosing a width, and check whether your fixing point can carry the roller blind. It is not a blackout screen: it blocks sun and views, but lets light and air through.
Coolfit roller blind 148 cm anthracite
A medium size that fits in a window frame or between two posts of a pergola. Anthracite blends in easily against a dark frame.
Coolfit roller blind W148xH240 cm anthracite
Coolfit roller blind 198 cm sand
Wider, and in a light sand colour that absorbs less heat than a dark fabric. It can be hung with screws or hooks.
Coolfit roller blind W198xH240 cm sand
Other widths and colours:
Coolfit roller blind 98 cm
View roller blind →
Coolfit roller blind 296 cm
View roller blind →
All shade sails
View range →Roll up in a storm
A wind-permeable fabric catches less wind than a solid fabric, but it is not a storm screen. The product information is clear about this: roll the fabric up in storms or heavy rain to prevent damage.
Windbreak and privacy on the balcony
On a balcony you're often higher up and therefore more exposed to the wind, and it doesn't take long before people can look in from the neighbouring balconies. At the same time, space is limited and you're not allowed to fix just anything. Three things to keep in mind:
- Rules: check with your VvE or landlord what you may attach to the railing, the façade or the floor, and whether there are agreements about colour or height.
- Light and loose: choose something you can fix without drilling and remove again. Anything that stands loose, such as a freestanding screen or plant pot, must be placed so it can't blow over the railing.
- Not too solid: a solid screen on a high balcony catches a lot of wind. A wind-permeable fabric is often the wiser choice.
Coolfit balcony screen 500x80 cm
The Coolfit balcony screen is made for the railing. It has a sturdy eyelet every 50 cm, and you fix it with the included cable ties. The fabric is HDPE 285 g/m², wind-permeable, blocks sun and views, and can stay up from March through September.
Coolfit balcony screen 500x80 cm ecru white
Measure the length of your railing before you order, and stretch the fabric taut so it doesn't flap. You can read how to arrange the rest of your balcony, from furniture to plants, in balcony styling: tips and smart layout. If you're looking for compact furniture, check the balcony garden sets or read buying a balcony set.
Combining with shade and a canopy
A side screen works even better with something overhead. A fabric or roof blocks the sun, while the screen handles the wind and the low sun from the side. For shade options that suit your garden, read shade solutions for the garden. On a patio between walls, wind is often less of a problem, but heat and noise are: that's what patio design is about.
If you want a completely sheltered spot, you'll end up with a pergola or canopy with one or more solid sides. The Ryan pergola with louvred roof is also sold as a set with a side wall: a freestanding steel pergola measuring 300 x 300 cm and 2.40 m high, with one solid side. You can read about the difference between a veranda, canopy and pergola in veranda, canopy or pergola.
Ryan pergola with side wall
View pergola →Coolfit balcony screen
View screen →Shade sails and roller blinds
View range →Is there a parasol next to your screen? Then choose one that can handle a knock: read which parasol handles wind best.
Which screen suits your situation?
| Your situation | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Neighbours watch all year round | Fixed screen | Solid and permanent |
| Wind, but you want to keep the view | Glass | Blocks wind, keeps the view |
| Pergola or canopy with an open side | Roller blind | Closed when needed |
| Balcony with views from neighbours | Balcony screen | Along the railing, no drilling |
| Rental home or temporary | Freestanding or fabric | You can take it with you |
| Green, natural garden | Hedge or climber | Breaks the wind |
How to choose quickly
- First decide whether you want to block wind, views or both
- Solid for privacy, wind-permeable for a calm seating area
- Choose the fixing point before you choose the screen
- On a balcony or in a rental home: ask your VvE or landlord first
- Combine a side screen with shade overhead
Do you also need to choose furniture alongside a screen? The buying guide helps you on your way with a few questions.
Common mistakes
A large solid screen on a weak fixing point
A solid surface catches a lot of wind. Don't hang it from a drainpipe, a thin strip of wood or a loose tub, but from posts, a window frame or a sturdy pergola.
Measuring from your own chair
Views come from the neighbours, not from you. Check from their window or terrace how high the screen needs to be, and take standing and sitting into account.
Leaving fabric hanging loose
Slack fabric flaps, rubs along the railing and holds water. Pull it taut and fix it every few decimetres.
Not asking what's allowed
If the VvE or landlord doesn't allow a screen, you may have to take it down again. Ask beforehand, especially if you want to screw something in.
Leaving fabric up in a storm
Even a wind-permeable fabric isn't made for storms. Roll up a roller blind and take a balcony screen down in storms or heavy snowfall.
Maintenance and storms
A screen needs little, as long as you give it some attention now and then:
- Fabric: clean it with lukewarm water and a mild soapy solution, and let it dry thoroughly before rolling it up or storing it.
- Wood: keep it clean and treat it occasionally with stain or oil, depending on the type of wood.
- Composite: a bit of soapy water is usually enough.
- Glass: clean it with water and glass cleaner; after rain, smears are the first thing you'll see.
If you see a storm coming, roll up the roller blinds, take fabrics down and store loose screens and pots indoors or lay them flat.
- Side of the wind and the views determined
- Height marked out with tape or tested with a sheet
- Fixing point chosen and checked
- Asked what's allowed by VvE, landlord or municipality
- Opening or railing measured
- Storm plan: roll up or take down
Frequently asked questions
Which screen blocks the most wind?
A solid screen made of wood, composite or glass blocks wind best directly behind the screen. However, wind can go over a solid screen and swirl around behind it. A wind-permeable fabric, such as a Coolfit roller blind, doesn't block the wind completely, but it slows it down without that swirling effect. For a seating area, a combination is often the most pleasant option.
Can I simply put up a windbreak on my balcony?
Not always. In a flat, the owners' association (VvE) often has rules about what you can attach to the railing, facade or floor, and if you rent, your landlord may also have a say. So check with your VvE or landlord beforehand. A fabric screen attached to the railing with cable ties is easy to remove, but even then, it's best to ask first.
Is a Coolfit roller blind a windbreak?
According to the product information, it is a sun-blocking roller blind that is wind-permeable. It won't stop the wind the way a glass wall does, but it breaks up the wind and blocks sun and visibility from outside. You fit it between, under or onto the window frame or pergola, and when there's a storm or heavy rain, you roll it up.
How high should a privacy screen be?
That depends on where the view into your space comes from. If you mainly sit down, the screen needs to be higher than your head when seated. If you also want to be out of sight when standing, it needs to rise above the eye level of a standing adult. Tape out the height first, or hold up a sheet and look from where the neighbours stand. For a fixed fence, your local council's rules apply, so check them before you build.
Can a windbreak stay outside all year round?
A fixed screen made of wood, composite or glass can stay outside all year. Fabric screens are designed for the season: the Coolfit balcony screen fabric can stay up from March through to September, and the Coolfit roller blinds can stay up the whole season. Roll up a roller blind during storms or heavy rain, and take down a balcony screen fabric during storms or heavy snowfall. Clean them and let them dry thoroughly before storing them.
Can I combine different screens?
Yes, and this often works best. Place a fixed screen on the side where the wind is strongest or where the neighbours are closest, and hang a roller blind on the other side that you only lower when needed. That way, you keep light and views when possible, and shelter when you need it.
