To wonder why this is 'common'?

[Ellbee83]

I live in an end-terrace house, with a small front yard/garden which I've made as nice as I can with plants, garden furniture, a few fairy lights.
It's south-facing so for (literally!) a few months of the year when the weather allows, if I'm at home and not busy, it's lovely to sit out in the morning with a coffee, or in the evening with a book & glass of wine.
It's genuinely one of my simple pleasures, it's nice to watch the world go by, smile at passers-by, idly chat with the neighbours if they're around but mostly 100% minding my own business and enjoying my own outdoor space.

Yesterday evening, my neighbour (72f) from 3 doors down went past, walking her dogs. She stopped to chat as we often do - the weather, how the flowers are doing, that sort of thing, nothing major! She then went on to tell me how she wouldn't dream of sitting out in her front garden as she'd been taught it was 'common'. I laughed in surprise and said 'Oh, am I being common?' to which she laughingly agreed I was!

Now, tbh, I found it waaaay more common that she'd be so rude but I'm curious - is sitting out in the sun, in your own front garden seen as 'common'?
Not too bothered either way and I'll carry on doing it but I've restricted myself to the back garden today 🫤

Interested to hear opinions!

Haslam, that should have said.

I also have a South facing front garden which is my pride and joy (back garden is the kids domain!) And we often sit out there with a glass of wine, I dont care what anyone thinks its my garden

I live in a row of nice stone terraces with a fab view of the Peak District out front, which is south facing. Our whole row sit out front, talking to the neighbours and passers by. We all have lovely front gardens.

Sometimes when I’m having a nap (my bedroom faces the front), I hear people walking by admiring the gardens or pointing out bees and butterflies to their kids. It’s very heart warming. Front gardens should definitely be encouraged and enjoyed, and then maybe fewer people would tarmac over them.

I’ve never heard that. I couldn’t care less though.

Your garden sounds wonderful.
Don’t take any notice of her.
I think some women get to a certain age and think it’s their right to have bad manners.

I grew up in a house that had a bench built in to it right next to the front door. It was hidden by a few bushes but we'd regularly sit there.

I have heard it's "common" to sit in your front garden and I wouldn't do it in my current home. However, if it was the only outdoor space I had I definitely would.

You say this but in the U.S. they consider it such a bad thing to hang laundry outside that it’s banned in many HOA areas. Whereas we all do it in the UK. It’s just cultural (it’s still not right but the attitude absolutely exists elsewhere).

One of the things I miss about living in the US is hanging out on the front porch! I don’t sit in my front garden here because it’s small and overlooked, but the nicest front garden in our village has a gorgeous circular sitting area in the middle, and I am envious every time I pass and angle for an invitation stop to say hallo.

My granny used to slag off the neighbours for being common if they left their pegs on the washing line and didn’t use a peg bag.

She’d be aghast at some of the sights now.

I've always heard that it's common and do occasionally feel a pang of self-consciousness when I sit out in my front garden but I clearly don't let it stop me as I recently put a bench out there. We live in a very quiet secluded cul-de-sac though so there's almost no passing footfall and there's lots of beautiful nature to admire. I've lived in other less nice places though and still used to sit on my front doorstep or whatever if I felt like it.

Now that you mention it, it rings a bell, but it wouldn't genuinely occur to me to think that if I saw someone enjoying their front garden in the way you describe! It sounds like your neighbour was possibly being playful?

You could probably start a whole new thread asking people to list things that used to be classed as common / upper class but no longer are, and I think this counts!

There's an episode of Downton Abbey where a wardrobe malfunction means one or two of the gentlemen end up wearing black tie to dinner, and it's seen as extremely casual to say the least (especially by granny). Times do change!

I have never heard of that TBH.
There are houses in my town where the front garden is massive, so they have washing line, trampoline, furniture etc in it.

It's only common if you take your sofa out of the front room out there, set up a boom box and get hammered. Sitting with a coffee or a glass of wine or a beer is just enjoying your nice surroundings!

I've honestly never ever heard this and often sit out in my front garden! Please continue to enjoy your lovely sounding front garden.

I've never heard of it being common but if you have a back garden why on earth would you choose to sit out front?

Cars passing, no privacy, random strangers gawping as they walk past etc - that sounds so unappealing and the opposite of relaxing to me

Personally, I think there should be more of it. It encourages interaction with neighbours and passers-by. Some people just need a little human contact.

What is unreasonable is for you to go in the back patio due to this judgy old codger.

I see a lot of front yards and porches with Adirondack chairs. It looks lovely and inviting. ☺️

It sounds like a friendly place to me.

It's unusual, and many people much prefer having some privacy - and most houses have a much bigger back garden than a front one.

I wouldn't really like people looking at me when I can be completely hidden in the back, but each to their own.

I don't have cars passing. The houses have small front gardens or patios with a footpath and a green. No cars, no passers by and the afternoon sun, why wouldn't we sit there and chat?

Yes it’s common but it depends….

I think sitting in the front with a book and a cheery wave/smile is actually really quaint and I’d love my street to adopt this !

Hauling a load of crap out the front with noisy kids and even louder adults, along with their washing and a ‘to hell with others’ attitude, not so nice.

I often wonder why people dont make far more use of the front garden.

Wasted space if people dont, as far as I am concerned.

Reminds me of bungalows.
Always like them.
People didnt used to.
Until eventually they do.

When you"re out the back?

I like seeing people out enjoying their space, it makes things feel a lot more sociable! People can see us from the street, but technically it’s the side garden, not the front 😅 It’s nice, people sometimes stop to comment on the garden etc.