If your fence is starting to bore you, break it up. No, no, put the sledge away. Break up the design; do something a little special with the gate and renew your entire fence.
It can be as simple as spacing boards on an otherwise solid fence.
Or you can change materials. A wrought iron gate in a wooden fence gives a whole new look without the expense of a total overhaul. One-inch or 3/4″ dowels set in a wooden frame can create a similar effect.
The profile of your gate can make it stand out. Try an arch or a more elaborate shape on top, make the gate a foot taller or shorter than the rest of the fence, or build a square or arched arbor with a waist-high gate through it.
You can use your jigsaw to cut designs in the gate boards: a window, your initials, or ancient runes and symbols to ward off evil spirits (and pushy salespeople).
Try staining your gate a different color from the rest of the fence, stencil a design on it, or paint on old-fashioned iron hinges and strapping.
Of course hardware can also lend effect. While latches can range from a simple homemade strap or string loop that collars both gate and fence post… to an ultra secure deadbolt opened with a key, a handle with a thumb-catch is most door-like and inviting.
If you’ve increased the weight of your gate, you may need to reinforce the fence post holding the hinge. You can set it in concrete, even if you haven’t set the rest of the posts. You can also use 6x6s instead of 4x4s, or run a diagonal brace from the top of the post to the bottom of the next post.