Types of Sidewalk Joy
There are SO many types of Sidewalk Joy that this blog post will never fully cover it all but my aim is to serve as inspiration as you’re deciding what type of spot to create!
Here are some considerations….
Make it Exciting for You:
First I would consider YOUR interests. What do you like to do with your free time? What delights you? What do you enjoy chatting about with others? Or keeping your eye out for? If you love creating little scenes, perhaps you’d really enjoy having a diorama displayed outside. If you’re an avid gardener, consider creating a community Seed Swap or Little Free Greenhouse. I particularly love thimbles so whenever I’m in an antique store, I keep my eye out and bring some home for my Thimble Exchange!
Exchanges:
Of course, exchanges are quite popular genre and there are so many types of things one can exchange! These are the Sidewalk Joy spots that are, in many cases, most directly inspired by book exchanges. Folks have created…
Puzzle Exchanges
Free Little Art Galleries (for swapping pint-sized art)
Mug Exchanges (I made the first one in November 2024 and have since made over 35 more to gift the community plus shared free plans for them online).
Seed Swaps and Little Free Greenhouses
Toy Exchanges
Little Free Fibraries (for swapping yarn, crochet or knitting materials, etc)
Arts and Crafts Exchanges
and so many more!
Mini Galleries
Similar to Free Little Art Galleries, these spaces showcase pint-sized works of art of all varieties. But instead of being open for trading all month, they are display only for part or all of the time. The Morrison Street Minigallery features a local artist each month while the Tiny Gallery St. Johns starts each month with art from one artists that then is available to trade and it morphs into a regular Free Little Art Gallery. Small Scenes (my own diorama) features a new diorama of mine each month.
Yard and Window Installations
Another category is often-updated yard decor. You may have seen those 12 foot skeletons that are put up around Halloween but how about a 12 foot skeleton that’s dressed festively for every season and holiday (see Post Mabone, Skelekrewe, and Abe Skelincoln as examples)? Or a drama played out with flamingos a la Farcical Flamingos? How about a monthly display touching on current issues using Barbies like Washington D.C.’s Barbie Pond Ave Q. There are also wishing trees where passersby are invited to attach a wish or hope to a little tag and tie it to a tree.
Defying categorization
There are exchanges that are truly one-of-a-kind like the Shrek Box in Philadelphia. Other spaces that don’t quite fit a category like Twin Pines Country Club, a 6-hole mini golf course in a front yard or the Cozy Card Corner displaying handmade greeting cards in San Francisco. Feel free to go niche!
Parting Thoughts
I hope this information is inspiring vs. overwhelming. If you find yourself in the latter category, please know that there’s no reason you can’t pick a direction and then pivot or add to it later. Many folks have multiple displays outside their homes (myself included) and it’s absolutely okay to have your installation evolve over time. I love to chat ideas so feel free to get in touch via email or on social media. I’m excited to hear your ideas and cheer you on!