IKEA NÄMMARÖ privacy screen for balconies and tiny gardens

Anyone living in the city will know the issue: the moment you step outside with a coffee or a book, neighbours seem to treat themselves to a ringside seat.

Many people want greater peace outdoors without needing planning permission for privacy screens or permanent canopies. A clever piece of IKEA furniture offers precisely that: it blocks prying eyes, provides seating and storage, and does it all without drilling, screwing or sacrificing much space.

Why balcony and tiny-garden privacy screens matter

In densely built-up cities, balconies and small gardens can feel as though they are on display. There are residents opposite, somebody leaning out of a window above, and a neighbour looking across from the terrace next door: it is hardly genuine privacy.

Market researchers estimate that the global market for privacy-screen elements and fencing is worth around $19 billion – a clear sign of the growing desire for somewhere to retreat. At the same time, every square metre of living space is becoming more expensive, particularly in major cities. Anyone fortunate enough to have an outdoor area therefore wants to use it as efficiently and comfortably as possible.

A small piece of furniture with a big impact: a well-placed privacy screen can turn an overlooked corner into a genuinely comfortable zone.

Very compact spaces bring a second challenge. Traditional fences, walls or permanently installed screening panels are often too bulky, prohibited or simply too expensive. This is where flexible options that can be set up, repositioned and taken with you come into their own.

IKEA NÄMMARÖ module: privacy screen, seat and storage in one

This is exactly the need addressed by IKEA's NÄMMARÖ range. One particularly appealing module combines three functions: a freestanding screen that stops unwanted glances, a comfortable place to sit and built-in storage for everything that would otherwise be left scattered outdoors.

Made from solid acacia wood, the furniture uses a timber regarded as sturdy and long-lasting for outdoor use. Its slats allow light and air to pass through while interrupting direct sightlines. The result does not feel like a dark enclosure; instead, the area remains airy while gaining a more sheltered feel.

• Height: approximately 140 cm – tall enough to provide privacy when seated
• Screen width: around 80 cm
• Footprint depth: roughly 50 cm – slim enough for standard balconies

In the version with a bench and integrated storage box, the module measures approximately 80 × 68 × 140 cm. Cushions, throws, children's toys or garden tools can be tucked away inside within seconds. For anyone keen to keep their outdoor area tidy, it is a practical addition to the privacy screen.

One customer particularly praises the straightforward assembly and quality – a point likely to matter to many people who are not keen on DIY.

The screen alone costs approximately €75, while the combination of privacy screen, bench and storage box is roughly €170 to €220, depending on offers at the furniture store.

How the privacy screen changes everyday outdoor living

Its main benefit is that the module stands freely. It is not plugged into the façade or screwed to the balcony railing. This means it can be turned to suit the time of day, the position of the sun and the direction from which neighbours can see in.

This creates entirely new options, especially where space is limited:

• In the morning, a sheltered coffee spot can be created behind the screen, protected from the street.
• At midday, the module can be moved slightly to provide cover from the midday sun or from views from the office opposite.
• In the evening, the area becomes a small lounge where you can enjoy a glass of wine in peace.

Families also often use the screen to form a semi-sheltered play space for children, while retaining room alongside it for dining or working.

Vertical planting: turning the screen into a green garden

The slats are ideal for creating a lightweight vertical garden. Horticultural specialists point out that vertical gardening is particularly efficient in tight spaces because it grows upwards rather than outwards.

Practical planting ideas for the NÄMMARÖ module include:

• hanging herb pots from hooks, such as basil, rosemary and mint
• training small climbers such as nasturtiums upwards
• attaching lightweight hanging baskets with flowering plants
• positioning grasses in narrow planters directly in front of it

With just a few pots and plants, the screen stops looking like furniture and starts to resemble a small green wall.

Practical layouts for outdoor areas of different sizes

Narrow city balconies

On typical apartment-block balconies, every centimetre counts. The screen is best positioned on the side from which most people can look in – often where the neighbouring balcony is directly adjacent.

One possible arrangement:

• position the module lengthways along the railing to reduce views from below
• place a slim bistro set in front of it, with a small table and two folding chairs
• add a tall planter containing grasses or bamboo on top of the module or directly behind it

This creates a second, higher line above the railing without filling the whole area.

Tiny back-garden spaces

Different activity zones can be created in small urban gardens. The NÄMMARÖ module with bench works well as a visual divider between a dining area and a relaxation space.

A typical layout:

• use the bench with its privacy-screen back as the boundary of the dining area
• conceal wheelie bins, an air-conditioning unit or a compost bin behind it
• place a table and chairs in front, framed by two large planters

The practical part of the garden then stays out of sight, while the visible section looks neat and welcoming.

Ground-floor terraces with little privacy

Ground-floor homes beside pavements are especially exposed to passing pedestrians. Anyone living there knows the feeling of sitting in a shop window. Two modules arranged at right angles can form a kind of semi-open cocoon.

An option for a more enclosed feel:

• place one module lengthways alongside the pavement
• attach a second module across it to create an L shape
• put a bench in the corner, with a small table in front

With cushions, a throw and fairy lights, the space can quickly feel like a small outdoor living room, without making any structural changes.

Care, durability and legal considerations

Acacia wood can withstand plenty, but it needs a little maintenance. Once or twice a year, lightly sand the timber and refresh it with oil or wood stain to maintain its colour and weather protection. Cleaning usually requires only lukewarm water and a little mild soap.

Aspect	Recommendation
Cleaning	Soft brush, soapy water, no pressure washer
Maintenance interval	Oil or stain 1–2 times per year
Winter storage	Cover where possible or store in a sheltered location

Because the module is freestanding rather than permanently fixed, many users can avoid disputes with landlords, property managers or neighbours. If you rent, it is still advisable to check the building rules: some property managers require a consistent appearance, particularly on balconies facing the street. However, a freestanding item of furniture is generally less contentious than a permanently screwed structure.

Simple ways to make the privacy screen more effective

Anyone wishing to maximise the effect of the privacy screen can use a few straightforward ideas:

• choose light-coloured seat cushions for the bench – this makes the area appear larger
• attach fairy lights or solar lamps to the slats
• place darker pots at the bottom and lighter ones higher up to create depth
• select textiles in similar shades to avoid visual clutter

One benefit that many people only notice after buying it is that outdoor storage reduces indoor clutter. Seat cushions no longer need to be carried through the home all the time, children's toys can be put away directly on the terrace, and throws for cool evenings are always close at hand.

It is also useful that the module can move home with you. If you move from a flat with a balcony to one with a garden, the furniture can simply be repositioned and used differently – for example, as a backdrop for a seating area beneath a tree.

That makes the IKEA solution a useful building block for a better quality of life in the smallest of spaces: not spectacular, but highly practical for everyday use. If you too often feel watched on the balcony, one piece of furniture can switch the space from an “open display area” to a “private retreat”.