9 Tips to Help You Live in Harmony With Your Neighbours
Privacy and space can be hard to find in urban areas, but these simple ideas will help you live in peace and harmony with the whole street
It’s par for the course in most urban homes, but living in close quarters with what feels like the whole neighbourhood can be challenging. With a little clever planning, however, you can ensure you only hear, see and smell what goes on inside your own home – and remain blissfully oblivious to what’s occurring beyond your four walls.
Try out these expert tips to help you enhance the privacy as well as, potentially, the sense of space in your home, and live side by side in harmony with your neighbours.
Try out these expert tips to help you enhance the privacy as well as, potentially, the sense of space in your home, and live side by side in harmony with your neighbours.
Opt for sound insulation
If the screaming baby or barking dogs next door are driving you mad, you might want to consider upping your property’s sound insulation.
The way to reduce the level of noise coming in is to use a combination of a void and a sound-absorbing material. This is achieved by fixing a simple frame to the inner wall or floor in question to create a void. This may be a basic timber lath frame, but for best results there are lightweight steel frames available specifically for this purpose (read on for details about how much space is required).
Rubbery sound-absorbing material is available by the roll. Any newly built property must reach a particular accredited standard of sound insulation (such as that provided by Robust Details, for example), but you can make improvements in noise reduction to any part of your home retrospectively.
If the screaming baby or barking dogs next door are driving you mad, you might want to consider upping your property’s sound insulation.
The way to reduce the level of noise coming in is to use a combination of a void and a sound-absorbing material. This is achieved by fixing a simple frame to the inner wall or floor in question to create a void. This may be a basic timber lath frame, but for best results there are lightweight steel frames available specifically for this purpose (read on for details about how much space is required).
Rubbery sound-absorbing material is available by the roll. Any newly built property must reach a particular accredited standard of sound insulation (such as that provided by Robust Details, for example), but you can make improvements in noise reduction to any part of your home retrospectively.
Weigh up costs
The two key points to consider when installing sound insulation systems are the price per square metre and the depth of the system – ie how far it protrudes from the existing wall.
Depending on the efficacy of the product and the quality of the brand, a wall, floor or ceiling noise insulation product may cost between £50 and £150 per square metre. The size of the adjoining structure will, therefore, dictate what standard of product is economically viable for you. If it’s just one bedroom wall, then choose the top-of-the-range kit. If you are under siege by noise from every angle, then pick your battles and make an informed decision.
Most modern frame and clip kits have a fairly minimal profile, so you shouldn’t lose more than a couple of inches from the surface of the wall. Where this will start to add up is if three or four sides of a room need to be insulated, as 50mm from each side will have a significant impact on overall floor space. So again, consider your options with care.
The two key points to consider when installing sound insulation systems are the price per square metre and the depth of the system – ie how far it protrudes from the existing wall.
Depending on the efficacy of the product and the quality of the brand, a wall, floor or ceiling noise insulation product may cost between £50 and £150 per square metre. The size of the adjoining structure will, therefore, dictate what standard of product is economically viable for you. If it’s just one bedroom wall, then choose the top-of-the-range kit. If you are under siege by noise from every angle, then pick your battles and make an informed decision.
Most modern frame and clip kits have a fairly minimal profile, so you shouldn’t lose more than a couple of inches from the surface of the wall. Where this will start to add up is if three or four sides of a room need to be insulated, as 50mm from each side will have a significant impact on overall floor space. So again, consider your options with care.
Ensure clean air
Working through the senses, next we come to smell. In this case, it may be of your own creation or that of your neighbours’. Cooking, refuse, waste and pets – these can all be an issue, particularly when living in an apartment or mid-terrace house. Generally, restrictions on space result in an obligation to consider air flow.
The best way to tackle this issue is with a ducting system. Centred on the kitchen or bathroom, for example, ducting will extract unwanted odours directly to the outside. In some cases, this may be achievable in voids between joists and studwork. However, exposed ducting, as seen in this living room, can make a great feature in contemporary interiors, so don’t worry if you’re struggling to hide it.
Working through the senses, next we come to smell. In this case, it may be of your own creation or that of your neighbours’. Cooking, refuse, waste and pets – these can all be an issue, particularly when living in an apartment or mid-terrace house. Generally, restrictions on space result in an obligation to consider air flow.
The best way to tackle this issue is with a ducting system. Centred on the kitchen or bathroom, for example, ducting will extract unwanted odours directly to the outside. In some cases, this may be achievable in voids between joists and studwork. However, exposed ducting, as seen in this living room, can make a great feature in contemporary interiors, so don’t worry if you’re struggling to hide it.
Extract kitchen odours
To ensure cooking smells don’t waft into your neighbours’ properties, invest in a high-powered kitchen extractor that runs at at least 800-900 m3/hr for a modest-sized, open-plan apartment. Watch out for those decibel (dB) noise levels, however; look for models that don’t run above 60dB at maximum speed.
The best and most efficient way to use a kitchen extractor is not to blast at max speed for 10 minutes, but to leave it on low for a longer time to create a gentle, consistent air flow. If you’re ‘land locked’ in the middle of an apartment block, with no possible way to duct out an extractor, this limits you to a filtered extractor. Be sure to change the filter frequently, otherwise it will become noisy and ineffective.
To ensure cooking smells don’t waft into your neighbours’ properties, invest in a high-powered kitchen extractor that runs at at least 800-900 m3/hr for a modest-sized, open-plan apartment. Watch out for those decibel (dB) noise levels, however; look for models that don’t run above 60dB at maximum speed.
The best and most efficient way to use a kitchen extractor is not to blast at max speed for 10 minutes, but to leave it on low for a longer time to create a gentle, consistent air flow. If you’re ‘land locked’ in the middle of an apartment block, with no possible way to duct out an extractor, this limits you to a filtered extractor. Be sure to change the filter frequently, otherwise it will become noisy and ineffective.
Avoid prying eyes
Even with the most friendly of neighbours living next door, we all prefer the insides of our homes to be private.
The most common areas from which your home is likely to be overlooked include patios, roof terraces, balconies and rooms with huge windows, as seen here. All these areas are also the spots where you’ll want to enjoy privacy.
To screen the view in both directions the key is to do it aesthetically. Floor-to-ceiling windows like the ones in this bedroom can be dressed according to who is visible to whom and the style of the windows. Options include one-way blinds that still let light through, Venetian blinds and window film.
In external areas, nobody wants to build a giant wall – and neighbours won’t want to look at one, either. Instead, choose screening that’s easy on the eye. Use an attractive rustic brick wall or a rendered wall with lights, for example, and be creative with fencing and plants, too. Bamboo or lattice, for example, is less imposing than a solid wall or hedge.
Even with the most friendly of neighbours living next door, we all prefer the insides of our homes to be private.
The most common areas from which your home is likely to be overlooked include patios, roof terraces, balconies and rooms with huge windows, as seen here. All these areas are also the spots where you’ll want to enjoy privacy.
To screen the view in both directions the key is to do it aesthetically. Floor-to-ceiling windows like the ones in this bedroom can be dressed according to who is visible to whom and the style of the windows. Options include one-way blinds that still let light through, Venetian blinds and window film.
In external areas, nobody wants to build a giant wall – and neighbours won’t want to look at one, either. Instead, choose screening that’s easy on the eye. Use an attractive rustic brick wall or a rendered wall with lights, for example, and be creative with fencing and plants, too. Bamboo or lattice, for example, is less imposing than a solid wall or hedge.
Let in the light
Another great material for ensuring privacy, especially on balconies, is an opaque-, tinted- or frosted-glass balustrade. This is much lower maintenance than other options and will let plenty of light through. Again, mix it in with other finishes and consider potential sightlines from neighbouring windows and other open areas.
Another great material for ensuring privacy, especially on balconies, is an opaque-, tinted- or frosted-glass balustrade. This is much lower maintenance than other options and will let plenty of light through. Again, mix it in with other finishes and consider potential sightlines from neighbouring windows and other open areas.
Build with consideration
Mid-terraces, townhouses and apartments are often more restricted when it comes to obtaining planning permission for a building project, as any scheme must protect neighbouring properties and must not impinge on their light, visibility and general proportionality. First check what kind of permitted development is warranted for your property. Most homes will have a limit of, for example, 4m deep x 5m wide, as an allowed plan not requiring permission
Mid-terraces, townhouses and apartments are often more restricted when it comes to obtaining planning permission for a building project, as any scheme must protect neighbouring properties and must not impinge on their light, visibility and general proportionality. First check what kind of permitted development is warranted for your property. Most homes will have a limit of, for example, 4m deep x 5m wide, as an allowed plan not requiring permission
Go for glazing
If your proposed structural project, such as an extension, is not approved, consider going for glass instead of brick.
The rules on ‘conservatories’ are far more relaxed than for solid extensions as they are considered far less imposing. Glass production and aluminium frame manufacturing are of a very high quality these days. This means energy efficiency, structural potential and general building possibilities are such that what might be categorised as a ‘conservatory’ will feel as warm and solid as any brick construction.
To make your new extension even more enjoyable to use, discuss soundproofing and privacy-enhancing solutions with your contractor.
Tell us…
What steps have you taken to improve the privacy of your home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
If your proposed structural project, such as an extension, is not approved, consider going for glass instead of brick.
The rules on ‘conservatories’ are far more relaxed than for solid extensions as they are considered far less imposing. Glass production and aluminium frame manufacturing are of a very high quality these days. This means energy efficiency, structural potential and general building possibilities are such that what might be categorised as a ‘conservatory’ will feel as warm and solid as any brick construction.
To make your new extension even more enjoyable to use, discuss soundproofing and privacy-enhancing solutions with your contractor.
Tell us…
What steps have you taken to improve the privacy of your home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
The first thing that comes to mind when considering potential issues with close neighbours is noise. It may be music, children playing, the TV or regular parties. And if the sound being made isn’t yours, then it’s noise.
There are two types of noise transference: airborne and impact. Airborne noise includes voices, music, the TV and so on. Impact noise is footsteps or the whirring of a washing machine, for example. The good news is the remedy for both is the same.
Find and hire reviewed building companies in your area on Houzz.