9 Ways to Hide an Air Conditioner Outside

As long as you don't block the air flow and you make sure the AC unit is accessible, covering that ugly box is just fine! Here are some of our favorite ways for how to hide an air conditioner at home.

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Hide AC Unit with a Living Garden AC Cover
Anna Baburkina/Shutterstock

Hide AC Unit with a Living Garden AC Cover

Build a fence or box around your AC unit, incorporating plants and flowers between the slats. You can also install flower boxes for a taller ac unit fence.

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Hide AC Unit with a Modern Outdoor AC Cover
Photo by Studio H Landscape Architecture

Hide AC Unit with a Modern Outdoor AC Cover

Here’s a great way to hide your AC. Put it beneath a beautiful structure of clear redwood. Just make sure you construct the outdoor AC cover so the top cover pops off so you can have easy access to the units.

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AC Cover/Tool Shed

Make your outdoor AC cover do double duty as it also provide storage space your outdoor tools. A mini shed is perfect for covering up your AC unit and hiding miscellaneous outdoor items. Just make sure the tools don’t get in the way of ventilation for the outdoor AC unit. Here’s why you should cover your air conditioner in winter.

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Hide AC Unit with Tall Shrubs
Photo by Terra Ferma Landscapes

Hide AC Unit with Tall Shrubs

Line the side of your house with beautiful tall shrubs to not only hide your ugly outdoor AC unit, but also create more privacy for your outdoor space. Here’s why you should be cleaning air conditioners in the spring.

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Hide AC Unit with Birdhouse Picket Fence
Judy Kennamer/Shutterstock

Hide AC Unit with Birdhouse Picket Fence

This is the perfect way to use your outdoor AC unit cover for more than just that! Let your fence serve as a perch for birds to eat and chill, lining up birdhouses to create an attractive outdoor space.

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Hide AC Unit with a Shabby Chic Shutter Screen
Via Merchant

Hide AC Unit with a Shabby Chic Shutter Screen

An old shutter screen is the perfect repurposed fence for hiding your AC unit. Paint an old screen a vibrant color, and wrap it around the outdoor AC unit.

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Hide AC Unit with an Iron Trellis
Klem Mitch/Shutterstock

Hide AC Unit with an Iron Trellis

Surround your outdoor AC unit with a beautiful iron trellis. Let vines grow up it to create a backyard nature scene.

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Hide AC Unit with a Well-Ventilated Structure

Group various things you don’t want to see together. You can build a full-height equipment shed, capable of housing your outdoor AC unit, pool stuff and garden tools.

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Hide AC Unit with an Outdoor Privacy Screen

Not really a DIYer? Simply purchase a pretty outdoor privacy screen and let vines grow up it for an AC unit screen! If you do want a DIY project, here’s how to build a patio privacy screen.

Alexa Erickson
Alexa Erickson is an experienced lifestyle writer who has contributed to Family Handyman, Reader's Digest, Martha Stewart, Bob Vila and Thrillist. She’s written more than 50 articles for Family Handyman on a range of topics, including home design, DIY home improvement projects, and storage and organization. Additionally, she runs her own website, Living by Lex, where she writes about home decor, travel, tech and more.