It's Time to Reconnect: 10 Ways Your Home Can Create a Community
Our homes can divide us, but with some clever tweaks they can also bring people together and build a neighbourhood
Julia Fairley
1 April 2018
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture that is thoughtful, sophisticated and champions an element of the unexpected. Before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts at UNSW and becoming a journalist, I studied interior architecture. For over a decade I have interviewed inspiring creative minds from around the world to write about design in its many different forms. Recently, I have also become an accidental gardener, to everyone's surprise.
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture... More
Traditionally, our homes are our retreats, where we seek sanctuary from the outside world. They are designed to give us peace and privacy, to be a place to unwind. Sometimes though, instead of connecting us to our surrounding communities, residential buildings can sever us from them. Solitude morphs into loneliness, seclusion grows into isolation and homes become akin to hermitages. Researchers often refer to this lack of social bonding and cohesion in neighbourhoods as ‘social stress’ and stress, as we all know, can have disastrous effects on our health and wellbeing.
Living surrounded by millions of strangers is an unnatural and unhealthy state for human beings, and many neuroscientists and environmental psychologists have started measuring the disturbing ways this phenomenon is affecting us. A new breed of architects, designers and urban planners have also started trying to address this issue in recent years, mostly in commercial buildings and public spaces.
Biophilic Design: The Rise of Wellness-Enhancing Architecture
Biophilic Design: The Rise of Wellness-Enhancing Architecture
But surely the onus for creating communities should not fall squarely on the shoulders of commercial architects and urban planners. As locals, there are many steps we too can take to build a sense of belonging. Here are our ideas… what are yours?
1. Say hello
It’s one of the first words we memorise when learning a new language or travelling to a foreign country. Likewise, saying hello is usually the first step you can take to initiate any type of interpersonal connection.
A simple nod, smile, wave or greeting as you enter or leave your home can lead to conversations with people who live nearby. Conversations then become local connections. And with a little nurturing and luck, connections can grow into friendships or at least form the start of community cohesion.
It’s one of the first words we memorise when learning a new language or travelling to a foreign country. Likewise, saying hello is usually the first step you can take to initiate any type of interpersonal connection.
A simple nod, smile, wave or greeting as you enter or leave your home can lead to conversations with people who live nearby. Conversations then become local connections. And with a little nurturing and luck, connections can grow into friendships or at least form the start of community cohesion.
2. Make your facade pet-friendly
It’s amazing what pets can get away with that people can’t. If you offered a passing stranger a sip of water they would likely bolt; but place a bowl of fresh water in front of your home or apartment block for people’s dogs, and the majority of their owners will melt at your kindness.
Shops do it and so do cafes, so if you’ve been trying to meet the locals without success, try following suit.
Tip: To help dog owners interpret the gesture, a little sign welcoming passing pups to help themselves can clarify.
It’s amazing what pets can get away with that people can’t. If you offered a passing stranger a sip of water they would likely bolt; but place a bowl of fresh water in front of your home or apartment block for people’s dogs, and the majority of their owners will melt at your kindness.
Shops do it and so do cafes, so if you’ve been trying to meet the locals without success, try following suit.
Tip: To help dog owners interpret the gesture, a little sign welcoming passing pups to help themselves can clarify.
3. Set up a street library
You may have noticed little street libraries popping up on people’s front fences, or even affixed to trees flanking the footpath. The idea is that you take a book to read and replace it with one you no longer need. No membership is required, though companies such as Street Library or Little Free Library already constitute a network and let you register your free street library on a map so other members of that book community can find it.
Tip: Street libraries come in all shapes, sizes and designs, so you can choose one that coordinates with your home.
You may have noticed little street libraries popping up on people’s front fences, or even affixed to trees flanking the footpath. The idea is that you take a book to read and replace it with one you no longer need. No membership is required, though companies such as Street Library or Little Free Library already constitute a network and let you register your free street library on a map so other members of that book community can find it.
Tip: Street libraries come in all shapes, sizes and designs, so you can choose one that coordinates with your home.
4. Build a bench
If you’re redesigning the facade of your house or the foyer of your apartment block and would like your home to engage more actively with your local community, consider incorporating a bench.
Seating out the front of your home can be useful for you too, if you’re waiting for a friend, a taxi or unloading the car. Many others will also appreciate the gesture, especially those who are less mobile or longing to rest their weary legs.
If you’re redesigning the facade of your house or the foyer of your apartment block and would like your home to engage more actively with your local community, consider incorporating a bench.
Seating out the front of your home can be useful for you too, if you’re waiting for a friend, a taxi or unloading the car. Many others will also appreciate the gesture, especially those who are less mobile or longing to rest their weary legs.
5. Create a friendly facade
Do you like the theory of installing a seat at the front of your property, but are not sure about it in practice? If you have a front porch or verandah, try to incorporate a seat or two there for yourself instead.
The trick here is to actually use it. This sounds obvious, but when was the last time you sat on your front steps with a cuppa or read your book in a chair near your front gate instead of simply walking past your porch then closing the front door behind you? You won’t meet the locals by staying inside.
The Life-Enriching Benefits of Togetherness
Do you like the theory of installing a seat at the front of your property, but are not sure about it in practice? If you have a front porch or verandah, try to incorporate a seat or two there for yourself instead.
The trick here is to actually use it. This sounds obvious, but when was the last time you sat on your front steps with a cuppa or read your book in a chair near your front gate instead of simply walking past your porch then closing the front door behind you? You won’t meet the locals by staying inside.
The Life-Enriching Benefits of Togetherness
If you live in an apartment block, at your next body corporate meeting suggest installing a bench near the stairs or lift on each level. Instead of spending your time silently cursing the slowness of your lift as you wait for its doors to open, say hello or make some simple conversation with others who are also waiting. Communal spaces in apartment blocks can also be great places to meet other residents and form community bonds.
6. Don’t forget the back
It sounds counterintuitive to focus on the back of your dwelling if you’re trying to meet people. However, if your building has rear access this is also a place where conversations can develop naturally between neighbours, particularly if your home backs onto a lane.
This award-winning Melbourne home successfully revitalised the neglected back lane, transforming it into a place for neighbours to congregate and socialise, and effectively building a community.
It sounds counterintuitive to focus on the back of your dwelling if you’re trying to meet people. However, if your building has rear access this is also a place where conversations can develop naturally between neighbours, particularly if your home backs onto a lane.
This award-winning Melbourne home successfully revitalised the neglected back lane, transforming it into a place for neighbours to congregate and socialise, and effectively building a community.
7. Focus on your exterior
Something as simple as increasing the time you spend pottering around the exterior of your home can be quite the conversation starter. Pruning street-facing plants, watering the front garden, weeding the back lane, clearing out the gutters, cleaning the front windows, sweeping the porch, wiping cobwebs off the fence… all these activities and more put you in a prime position to meet people passing by.
The more often you see the same familiar faces, the more chances you have of striking up a conversation and getting to know them.
Browse more inspiring home exteriors
Something as simple as increasing the time you spend pottering around the exterior of your home can be quite the conversation starter. Pruning street-facing plants, watering the front garden, weeding the back lane, clearing out the gutters, cleaning the front windows, sweeping the porch, wiping cobwebs off the fence… all these activities and more put you in a prime position to meet people passing by.
The more often you see the same familiar faces, the more chances you have of striking up a conversation and getting to know them.
Browse more inspiring home exteriors
8. Start a community garden
Community gardens are usually quite formal set-ups, although there’s no reason you can’t organise one informally as well. Different approaches suit different homes and areas, so you can design your own according to what works for you and your neighbourhood.
Community gardens are usually quite formal set-ups, although there’s no reason you can’t organise one informally as well. Different approaches suit different homes and areas, so you can design your own according to what works for you and your neighbourhood.
You could plant edible plants or trees on the nature strip to produce a bounty for everyone to enjoy (with council approval). You can utilise an accessible spot in your garden and invite your neighbours to help themselves (no council approval needed). Or you can grow your own produce separately and periodically give seasonal vegies, garden greens or homegrown fruit to your neighbours.
A gesture this generous is always appreciated… and often reciprocated too. It’s not only freestanding houses that can jump on the green-thumb trend.
With greater emphasis being placed on the importance of having access to the great outdoors, many body corporates in built-up urban areas have become receptive to planting community gardens – or even just edible alternatives to decorative shrubs and hedges – in common areas. Even a little green plot can be a culinary and social saviour.
Tip: Try including signs with recipe ideas alongside edible plants. Food is always a great conversation starter.
With greater emphasis being placed on the importance of having access to the great outdoors, many body corporates in built-up urban areas have become receptive to planting community gardens – or even just edible alternatives to decorative shrubs and hedges – in common areas. Even a little green plot can be a culinary and social saviour.
Tip: Try including signs with recipe ideas alongside edible plants. Food is always a great conversation starter.
9. Consider other produce
There’s no need to limit your neighbourly offerings to what grows in a garden. If you keep chooks, consider giving away surplus eggs. If you’re on a health kick but have received some chocolates from a colleague, offer them to the person next door. Or if you have a worm farm, let your neighbours harvest its enriching benefits too, or affix it somewhere they can also access it to create the beginnings of a co-op.
War on Waste Made Easy: Cut-Price Compost Bins and Worm Farms
There’s no need to limit your neighbourly offerings to what grows in a garden. If you keep chooks, consider giving away surplus eggs. If you’re on a health kick but have received some chocolates from a colleague, offer them to the person next door. Or if you have a worm farm, let your neighbours harvest its enriching benefits too, or affix it somewhere they can also access it to create the beginnings of a co-op.
War on Waste Made Easy: Cut-Price Compost Bins and Worm Farms
10. Organise a street party
If you grew up in the Australian ’burbs in the 1980s, chances are you encountered a street party or have at least heard of them. The best thing about these rare gems is the way they can bind communities together. The second-best thing is that no-one needs to get their home party-ready, because street parties are usually held on the footpath or in a local park.
All it takes is a quick letterbox drop to spread the word or, better yet, try to organise a regular event such as sunset drinks the first Sunday of every month.
If you grew up in the Australian ’burbs in the 1980s, chances are you encountered a street party or have at least heard of them. The best thing about these rare gems is the way they can bind communities together. The second-best thing is that no-one needs to get their home party-ready, because street parties are usually held on the footpath or in a local park.
All it takes is a quick letterbox drop to spread the word or, better yet, try to organise a regular event such as sunset drinks the first Sunday of every month.
And finally, remember that one of the best ways to connect with your local community has less to do with your home and more to do with your own initiative. Asking those around you for help when you need it – and always returning the favour – is a great way to enhance community interaction.
Going away? Ask if a local can collect your mail or water your plants. Spot a neighbour struggling to carry the shopping to their apartment? Lend a hand. Run out of flour halfway through cooking? Knock next door and see if they can spare some.
Going away? Ask if a local can collect your mail or water your plants. Spot a neighbour struggling to carry the shopping to their apartment? Lend a hand. Run out of flour halfway through cooking? Knock next door and see if they can spare some.
You can’t force others to actively participate and you can’t make them want to if they’re not inclined. But communities include all types, so chances are there’s someone living close by who is craving a sense of connectedness and belonging just as much as you.
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How have you or the people around you created a sense of community? Share your experiences, like or save this story if you enjoyed it, and be part of the Houzz community.
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Read more inspirational lifestyle stories
Tell us
How have you or the people around you created a sense of community? Share your experiences, like or save this story if you enjoyed it, and be part of the Houzz community.
More
Read more inspirational lifestyle stories
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Block parties, neighborhood watch and alerts, more front yard public spaces for gathering and just stopping for a minute to smile and say hello and to learn something personal about our neighbors, working together to overcome tough weed challenges on property lines are all great ways to come together on common problems and support one another.
Thanks for bringing up this important topic.
When we moved in to our new neighbourhood we decided to have a garage sale of excess stuff here instead of at the old house. Lots of neighbours came along and chatted, and one neighbour told me she knew this was a safe place to come (turns out she's a single mum with 5 teenagers). When hubby built the front fence some weeks later, some came to help. He was observed by refugee neighbours who then asked him to help extend their driveway and they now pop in from time to time to swap plants and laugh and giggle through a 'conversation'. We feel part of the community more because we smile and wave at one another, something that others apparently didn't do before. It's definitely worth it.
Great article, thank you. I moved to a little seaside community two years ago; I knew nobody. I went out of my way to say hello to strangers while walking my dog (a great way to meet people). Since then I've made many friends and late last year three of us set up a street library which has been a huge success. But beware of the damage mean-spirited people can do; a friend had a pretty hand-painted bowl (for dog water) stolen at Easter time, and the local community garden had all its sprinklers pinched.