Nobody wants to fall foul of the local homeowners’ association (HOA), not least for failing to maintain visual standards. Keeping a neat and inviting front yard is essential for several reasons. Not only does it enhance your home’s curb appeal, making it more attractive to potential buyers, but it also helps to keep the HOA at bay (if you have one).
Of course, certain decor choices can quickly become neighborhood nuisances: your front yard is a reflection of your home and your personality. While it’s important to express yourself, being mindful of how your decor might be perceived can help maintain a harmonious neighborhood atmosphere and healthier real estate value.
As you curate your front yard, the following neglectful decisions might irk your neighbors but also detract from your home’s potential. These are preventable options that will keep the local auditors from the “friendly” knock at your door.
1. Random Objects
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While showing one’s personality is integral to enjoying life, not everyone needs to see your innermost thoughts in your front yard. Yet, we all know certain members of society like to adorn their yard with random things. Vehicles, mannequins, or artistic installations are just some objects best kept in the backyard, or better still, indoors.
A cunning example comes from a story in Springfield, Illinois. The Springfield Daily Citizen interviewed Matt Paasch after he received a penalty notice for four ceramic toilets placed artfully in his front garden. In all fairness, Paasch had done so out of spite for a previous citation for his inflatable hot tub.
2. Outdated Holiday Decorations
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While holiday decorations can spread cheer, leaving them up long after the season has passed can irritate neighbors. Excessive decor can shift from festive to tacky in no time, and it’s all about reading the room — or the street, in this case.
“I find it wild that some people take their decorations down on Boxing Day,” says TV producer Anthony Hawwa to The Guardian. He adds that anytime in the first week of January is acceptable. Some might consider the day after Epiphany, on January 6, as the perfect moment to say goodbye to your tired holly wreath. Anything later may bring unwanted but warranted scorn.
3. Tired or Broken Fencing
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A broken or outdated fence can detract from your home’s appearance and create a sense of disorder. What’s more, it isn’t only about looks, according to a Mr. Handyman article on fencing. “A weakened perimeter can give criminals a sense that there’s little risk of getting caught.
Furthermore, when a fence isn’t properly maintained, it sends the message that the property owner doesn’t take security seriously. Keeping your fencing in good condition reflects pride in your home and increases its safety.
4. Excessive Wind Chimes
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If you live in the Boonies, you can put up chimes until the cows come home, literally. Yet, urban environments don’t make for a kind setting. Wind chimes can add a soothing ambiance to your yard, but too many can become an irritant that annoys neighbors.
Wind chimes are announcing to the street that you like soothing, natural sounds. Yet, if you live near a busy road, the combination could be maddening for others. This sentiment finds a place in a Homes & Gardens post. “They can disrupt people trying to enjoy a quiet moment in their backyard, and in the worst cases, disrupt people’s sleep,” writes Alex David.
5. Overly Bright or Flashy Paint Colors
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When considering your front door or shutters, remember that bold colors can easily become eyesores in the wrong settings. While a vibrant hue can be a statement, it can also clash with the overall neighborhood vibe.
As color consultant and designer Karen Haller notes, “In a nutshell, colour psychology allows greater insight into human nature and human behaviour, why we do what we do.”
However, if turquoise columns and a DayGlo yellow front door are your thing, it may send a message that old Mildred from next door won’t appreciate. There is something nice about uniform neighborhoods, not least those without one standout paint job.
6. Artificial Flowers
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While they may require less maintenance, artificial flowers can appear cheap and tacky, possibly letting your front porch down. At least, that’s the Martha Stewart ethos in a guide to front-porch no-nos.
“Over time, they collect dust and become dull,” Aguirre tells the publication. “Spaces that are inspired by nature should feel fresh and alive, not dead and synthetic.” Artificial flowers need cleaning, and if left alone, they can gather dust.
7. Inflatable Decorations
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Inflatable decorations might be fun for holidays, but leaving them out year-round can irritate neighbors. Seeing Halloween characters with deflated, sullen expressions anywhere near Thanksgiving is just plain wrong. Meanwhile, Christmas inflatables can quickly lose their charm once the magic is over (nowadays, there are inflatables for all the holidays too).
Besides, didn’t you learn anything from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? Front yard decorations can be charming at first, but once Cousin Eddie stops by, anything can happen.
8. Garden Gnome Overload
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While garden gnomes can bring a whimsical touch, an overwhelming number can quickly turn your yard into a kitschy spectacle. At worst, it might give your neighbors’ children nightmares.
There is a real rift in the gardening world between gnome lovers and gnome haters. Maybe the best place to understand this relationship is from a real-life gnome. The Beryl the Gnome website is the place for all things gnome, not least a guide on how real gnomes hate their plastic counterparts.
9. Potted Plants with Dead Foliage
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It isn’t easy keeping up appearances, especially if you work long hours, but the HOA isn’t interested in your latest double shift. Neglecting your potted plants reflects poorly on your home and can be a sore sight for passersby.
At the very least, choosing low-maintenance plants makes sense for anyone on a strict working regimen. The Spruce has a great collection of low-effort shrubs and perennials like Russian sage or arborvitae to let your garden almost run itself.
10. Unkempt Lawn Ornaments
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Fans of the ’90s will remember MTV’s Tom Green Show, when he installed an embarrassing statue on his poor parents’ lawn. His parents had no choice in this decision; thankfully, the rest of us do. Lawn Ornaments (or lawnaments) can quickly become a disaster for the front lawn. A broken statue, an unwashed bird bath, or a cracked light all reflect badly on the owner.
There are even some philosophical considerations, if feng shui is anything to go by. “Keeping broken items brings negativity into your home as they are a constant reminder of the items’ uselessness,” states Creative Style Furniture. “Broken clocks are also bad luck. If a broken clock chimes, it is believed by many to mark that there will be a death in the family.”
11. Unmowed Lawns
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Letting your lawn grow wildly can send a message of neglect to the entire neighborhood. An unkempt yard not only detracts from your home’s curb appeal but can also attract pests. A neglected lawn can also stand out next to more diligently kept lawns, but it might do more than just irk your next-door neighbors.
A post from A.M. Landscaping says it can lead to weed overgrowth, lawn disease, and thatch buildup.” From pest infestations and lawn disease to city fines and curb appeal issues, overgrown grass can hurt more than just your property value,” it reads.
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