9 Common Front Yard Decorations That Are Definitely Bothering Your Neighbors

We’re all for expressing your personal style through home decor, but when it comes to your home’s exterior, it’s worth thinking about how it affects others around you. If you go big and bold with your home’s curbside presentation, you might find your neighbor’s reactions get bigger and bolder, too.

With this in mind, we thought we’d round up some potential front yard decor decisions that might upset your community.

Ostentatious Water Features

Unless you live in an actual palazzo, an ornate water feature or fountain is hard to pull off.

There are tasteful ways to incorporate a water feature into your yard—especially if you have a pond or other small body of water on your property—but a large, stone fountain spouting water into the air is probably not creating the grand effect you were hoping for.

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Indoor Furniture on the Porch

Lawn furniture is undoubtedly expensive, and sometimes you just need a place to sit on your front porch. Even so, the answer is rarely to lug your old sofa or armchairs outside.

This might be an option if you have a sun porch where everything is covered, but otherwise, re-purpose your old upholstered furniture elsewhere. Between sun fade and weather wear, these pieces will begin to look worn quickly, especially to your neighbors who might see it more intermittently than you.

Instead, look for secondhand lawn furniture, trawl yard sales, or ask friends or family if they have any extra items on hand. Along with looking nicer, furniture that’s made to withstand the elements will last much longer than anything made for indoor use.

Out-of-Season Decor

We’ve all had years where the holiday decor has stayed up longer than planned, so there’s no judgement here—unless, of course, you’ve kept your giant inflatable Santa out on the lawn until May.

In some cases, reusing holiday decor throughout the year can work well. Classic white string lights, for example, can work in the summer for some added ambiance.

But anything that’s clearly from another season—winter holidays, Halloween, and even summer items like flamingoes—should go back in storage until the holiday rolls back around.

Aggressively Bright Spotlights

Installing a reliable home security system is one thing, but adding intensely bright motion lights can be a real problem—especially if you live close to your neighbors.

Depending on the positioning and location of your lighting system, it might be worth checking in with your neighbors at night to ensure you’re not disrupting their property.

Cheesy Signs

Interior signs have become divisive enough, and the same applies to your home’s exterior. While your cheesy sign might make you laugh, it might be making your neighbors roll their eyes.

Too Much Kitsch 

As with all things kitschy and whimsical, these can be a welcome addition to your home’s exterior decor in small doses. But when you go overboard, your neighbors might start to take notice—and not in a good way.

We’re not saying it’s impossible to pull off lawn flamingos, garden gnomes, and light up fairies, but consider limiting how many you place around your lawn if you’re hoping to achieve a timeless, classic exterior.

Plastic Plants and Trees

Faux plants inside can be a great way to add a hint of greenery even if you don’t have the skills to keep anything alive and thriving. But when it comes to your outdoor decor, plastic trees are rarely a welcome sight.

Even if gardening isn’t your forte, there are better options. Ditch the plastic flowers for low-maintenance shrubs, and, if you can, opt for a clover lawn instead of turf that’s obviously fake. Along with looking better aesthetically, it’s also much better for your local ecosystem.

Flashing Lights 

During the holiday season, we love a home that embraces colorful lights and goes all out with their exterior decor. But there’s something about flashing string lights—even at the height of Christmas—that can really be hit or miss.

If they’re up during the off-season? Instant headache.

Something about flashing string lights adds an instant element of chaos to your home’s exterior. Plus, if your home is close to your neighbor’s, it’s very possible your flashing lights might be affecting their interior, and that’s a surefire way to get on your community’s nerves.

Faded, Peeling, or Unkempt Paint

Tackling a home paint job is easier said than done. It can be both costly and time-intensive, so we’re not saying this one’s an easy fix. But if your home’s exterior or any outdoor furniture are overly faded or peeling, it’s probably lending to a general air of untidiness.

It’s surprising what a fresh coat of paint can do; along with keeping your lawn and gardens maintained, a quick paint job might be the key to breathing life into your home’s exterior for your neighbor’s benefit, but also your own.