7. Modern Horizontal Slat Trellis
For a contemporary look, a horizontal slat trellis delivers clean lines and a sophisticated feel. Think Scandinavian garden design—minimal, calm, and effortlessly cool. The horizontal orientation also plays a neat visual trick, making narrow spaces feel wider.
Materials: 1×3 cedar or treated pine boards, 4×4 posts, exterior wood screws, wood stain in a modern tone (charcoal, driftwood gray, or warm walnut), and a level.
Time: A weekend.
Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate. The cuts are simple, but getting everything level takes patience.
Set your posts the same way you would for a traditional fence, then attach horizontal slats across the front, leaving even gaps between each one. The slats give you just enough privacy to feel screened from neighbors while still letting in light and air. Climbing plants weave between the gaps and fill in over time, but even bare, the structure looks architectural and intentional.
Try pairing this look with a single dramatic climber—perhaps a single climbing hydrangea or a vibrant clematis in a deep purple. The restraint of the design lets the plants shine.