How To Use The Sides Of Your Property More

The house that I live in is situated on a property where the land on either side of the house is underused. This is a normal thing that occurs in many homes in our region and throughout the world.

It is a by-product of suburban developments. Our homes sit in the middle of individual lots. We may use the front and back yards for gardening and lounging but the sides tend to be unused.

Planning and permitting regulations to outline specific boundary setbacks. This is the minimum distance your home must be built away from your boundary. However, it would be good if we could find ways to utilise them as awesome outdoor spaces.

I often look out onto those areas of the property and wonder what it would be like to be out there. I think about how the house could have been designed so that the areas on either side of the house could be better utilised. Now, one side of the house is used to get from the front yard to the back yard of the property. While the other side is not used at all. The only time I stay in those areas for more than a few minutes is to rake leaves or pull up weeds.

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Living in the tropics, I sometimes wonder if the land on either side of a home is not a wasted outdoor area that could have formed part of the home’s functional spaces.

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I see images of houses in other tropical countries such as Singapore, India and Indonesia where the home opens onto those areas to the sides of the home. Perhaps that is because of the large population density of some regions in those countries. Hence, they are far more aware of the importance of using every bit of their land.

Though our population density in Barbados is not as high as in some of these other regions, I do think we could consider better use of the land around our homes. Our countries in the Caribbean are small. COVID-19 has also shown us the importance of domestic food security. Hence, more land will need to be used for farming.
Better utilisation of land lots for houses could mean smaller lots without sacrificing space and functionality.

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Here are some things you can do to make better use of the land on either side of your home.

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Boundary Walls or Fences

For us to use an outdoor space, it needs to feel private. Creating a boundary wall or fence would offer that privacy. It would also help to define the space.

The wall would need to be high enough to provide adequate privacy between you and your neighbours. However, it shouldn’t be too high to block out all breezes.

In my home, the sides of the house face east and west. On the east where the bedrooms are, a permeable fence like slats or breeze blocks may be ideal for the wind to blow through.

However, the wind in Barbados seldom comes from the west. Hence, I would place a solid wall there, as high as permitted to assist with blocking out the intense west evening sun.

Large Windows and Door Openings

Creating easy access and a strong visual connection to those areas would encourage me to go out there more. It would also create a stronger relationship between inside and outside.

I think having large door openings would significantly change how my living and dining rooms feel. These rooms would feel much larger and more open. I would also have this additional useable space outside.

The added benefit of this is that larger openings may also allow more passive ventilation and greater flexibility in controlling this.

With the privacy that the boundary walls would create, it also means that I would feel more comfortable leaving those windows and doors open more often.

Adding Function

This additional outdoor area can now become a more functional spaces.

They can be an extra useable area off of the rooms they are next to or just extra lounging and entertaining areas. Perhaps, in my situation, I could move the main dining to outdoors, and extend the living and kitchen a bit.

We may not be able to build an actual structure in this space because of setback restrictions. However, furniture, pavers and landscaping can be used to add functionality to these outdoor rooms.

Plants and Trees

Adding plants and trees to these areas would have various benefits.

The trees would help provide shade to the area and make it more useable. Low plants and shrubs are better than hard surfaces at keeping the area cool as well. Direct sun on hard surfaces like concrete can store and radiate back into your home. Plants are a much cooler option.

Have a direct connection with natural elements like plants and trees also tend to make us feel better psychologically. This creates a better feeling indoor environment.

Conclusion

Being able to use the land on either side of your home, could be a more efficient use of the lot. It would provide a more useable area and functionality.

Creating a boundary wall or fence adds privacy and security to the area. This makes it more useable and easier to add large door and window openings out to that space.

Use furniture and landscaping to create functionality. Trees and plants could also provide a cool and comfortable space to use.

This could be a great way to maximise the useable area of your lot for you and your family to enjoy.

Featured image by Elina Sazonova from Pexels