See how Jamie Lee Curtis uses trees for privacy and shade – to create a green sanctuary in Los Angeles

Jamie Lee Curtis won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (in Everything Everywhere All at Once) – marking yet another award-winning milestone for the actress, producer, and author who resides in Los Angeles. 

Inevitably The Halloween star is no stranger to attention from the media and fans alike – but she has managed to create an entirely private space (aside from the corner she has shared) in her yard – using nature's most reliable tool. 

In a photo (below), Jamie is pictured in the corner of her garden, which offers a host of outdoor design inspiration. Her bright white-painted gate and Spanifornia-style tiled floor are certainly something to note – but her choice of trees for privacy is perhaps the most interesting (and strategic) feature in her yard. 

'This was the last moment before Deb went home after surprising me to sit with me during these nominations,' Jamie Lee says while surrounded by the shade of the trees. 

Alongside the privacy of the surrounding greenery, the trees are equally useful for creating organic garden shade– something likely to be appreciated by Jamie in sunny SoCal. These backyard ideas are replicable far beyond the west coast, however.

'If you're looking for an attractive way to add privacy to your outdoor space, plants, and shrubs are a great option,' says David Andersen, the design director at David Andersen Garden Design (opens in new tab).  

David recommends investing in shrubs and trees in their mature forms – saying that you can pick up trees that are already six meters tall in many cases. He suggests planting them in the ground or strategically placing pots around the desired area. He says Photinis, or Red Robin (Red Tip Photinia) – a dense plant that offers 'complete privacy' – are best for the job. 

'Laurel is brilliant for screening your garden too. It's evergreen, so it's effective all year round and tolerant to all types of weather,' David adds. 'It also grows quickly, creating a lush, long-lasting screen – and its glossy bright green leaves are the perfect aesthetic for contemporary spaces.'

Marcus Eyles, the horticultural director at Dobbies Garden Centres (opens in new tab), also praises Jamie Lee Curtis's use of greenery – saying that these trees are a more natural (and good-looking) alternative to the conventional fence. 'Instead of using walls or fences, plants can be used to create your own secluded slice of paradise,' he says. 

'The plants we'd recommend for quick-growing, dense screening, which are not invasive, would be Pyracantha, Prunus Laurocerasus – also known as Cherry Laurel, or Lusitanica. Wildlife hedges, including Hawthorn, Holly, and Field Maple, are great for sustainability. Meanwhile, Hedging conifers, Privett, and Laurel also work well for screening and grow quickly.'

You can replicate her private ideas below. 

Pre-spring, but post-Oscar win, there's no better time to follow Jamie Lee Curtis's lead.