The world has indoor cats and outdoor cats. Introverts and extroverts. Backyard fans, and in a trend that seems to be growing, fans of the front yard. In the redesign world, we’re always looking for new ways to use an existing space, and converting the front of your home to be more social might be just what you need. It might be what our world needs as well.  

For years, creating the perfect outdoor space in the back has grabbed most of the attention. We love the privacy and peace and quiet this type of space can give us. But now, partially due to the lockdown we all had to live through where we were looking for safe ways to have some social interaction, any social interaction, we have rediscovered the joy of sitting out front chatting and waving to neighbors. Even engaging the ones who don’t talk too much in conversation. So if this idea appeals to you, let’s look at what the front exterior has to offer. 

Creating Social Space on Your Front Yard Porch or Patio 

If you’re lucky enough to have a front porch or patio, you’ve got a head start. Comfy chairs or cushioned benches and a couple of side tables mixed with pretty potted plants and flowers and you could be good to go! If, however, you don’t have a porch or patio space, don’t let that slow you down. Why not make one? Simply evaluate your space and designate the best area to become the new social area.  

What you decide to do depends on the size of budget, and level of effort you're dealing with. You could create a seating area without altering the existing space, OR use gravel, brick, stone or other solution to create a simple patio that you could then deck out (pun intended) with appropriate furnishings, plants, and décor. Got a bigger budget and the right space? Consider a fire pit for those cooler evenings. Nothing beats the warmth and primitive charm of fire and fellowship. We are, after all, social creatures. 

Personalizing Your Front Yard Redesign 

With spring around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start outdoor space planning. And if you’re in a cold weather climate, you desperately need hope that warmer weather truly  is on the way. Spring also means the seasonal return of garage sales and convenient thrift store shopping. Great ways to help out your budget, while helping you design a space you and your friends will love. Remember that shopping with redesign in mind can also give your space that one-of-a-kind, personalized look. Your home may just become the envy of your neighborhood. 

“Fixing the front” is also a cool social experiment. It seems if someone in the neighborhood creates a social area, others are likely to follow suit. In this era of constantly being plugged in, creating new ways to unplug and engage in human interaction is a very good thing!

 There are tons of great ideas and advice online to help guide you and get you inspired, so be sure and check out ideas on Pinterest and other similar sites. A simple Google search can do the trick as well. If you do decide to take on this project and enter the social front frontier, we would love to see your project here. Maybe you can inspire someone else along the way! 

Now, what will you do next to love where you live?

Please feel free to reach out to us at The Redesign Habit and ask questions or simply share a project that you are working on or have completed.

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