4 min readPictured Above: The sitting room above, designed by Olga Naiman, deprioritizes screens in favor of in-person connection.
Loneliness has reached a critically high level in the United States—and that’s not just a casual observation. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General officially declared loneliness and social isolation a public health epidemic. The numbers back it up: In 2025, the American Psychological Association reported that more than six in 10 U.S. adults feel lonely and regularly experience stress tied to societal division.
These are disappointing facts many of us can personally attest to. And what makes matters worse is that our homes can sometimes be the places where we feel loneliest.
“We feel more lonely at home because home is where we actually have moments to feel our subtle feelings,” says Olga Naiman, interior designer, author, and former House Beautiful editor.
Increasingly, though, our homes—and the way we design them—are evolving in response to social isolation, the rise of AI, and fewer organic opportunities for in-person connection.
That’s why planned communities designed to encourage neighborly connection are becoming more popular, while multigenerational living arrangements are helping protect against loneliness. The trend reflects a growing need for stronger social support: In 2025, AARP reported that 40 percent of older adults experience loneliness.
Ahead, learn how these lifestyle approaches are helping battle loneliness—and how to foster a sense of connection within your own home.
How People Are Combatting Loneliness at Home
High-end planned communities are increasingly emphasizing connection—not just through central pools or clubhouses, but through “mini towns,” schools, workout studios, and coffee shops designed to foster a small-town feel where neighbors naturally interact.
For instance, Emberbrook Village in North Carolina has created a walkable neighborhood that draws its visuals from fairy tales, where neighbors can visit with each other at their cottages or artisanal shops. The George in Texas plans cookouts and other events, and encourages a feel where neighbors will “lend you sugar and send you playlists.”
Anita Yokota, licensed therapist, interior designer, author, and speaker, notes that these forward-thinking communities often feature small gathering zones like gardens and shared courtyards, in addition to wellness-focused spaces such as outdoor yoga decks and meditation gardens—all in the name of creating “intentional connection.”
Multigenerational living has also been increasing, especially since the pandemic. Realtor.com recently reported that these households now make up 4.5 percent of owner-occupied homes, a figure that has steadily climbed in recent years. While many of these living arrangements arise out of necessity—whether because of rising eldercare costs or the need for in-home childcare—due to the skyrocketing costs of nursing homes or creating in-home childcare through willing and able family members, they can also help reduce loneliness. To increase togetherness even more within generational living situations, Yokota recommends building in “ritual-based connection points,” such as shared meals or weekly gatherings.
But loneliness can strike a variety of different households, whether you live alone, with a partner, or with children.
“Unfortunately, we can live with others and still feel lonely,” says Sarah Seung-McFarland, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist who specializes in design psychology. “Even if we’re not physically isolated, we can still feel emotionally disconnected.”
“Non-Lonely” Features to Bring Into a Home
If you frequently feel lonely, there are plenty of touches you can weave into your home that can nurture feelings of connection with friends, extended family, or even those you share your home with.
For example, conversation-pit seating and “gathering hubs” are starting to replace TV-centric living rooms. “The goal is to design spaces that pull people in rather than direct all attention outward to a screen,” she shares.
Interior designer Dorothy Parker recently designed an entire mahjong room for a client. She’s also noticing more open layouts divided into distinct zones, including “listening zones” with record players.
To make your living room a headquarters for connection, you can start with conversation seating. Parker suggests adding a couple of L-shaped sofas facing a fireplace, then placing a bench-height cabinet underneath “so there is overflow seating so you can have five or six people gathering by the fireplace.”
You can also encourage varying types of conversation within your living spaces. Seung-McFarland points out that face-to-face seating “tends to feel intense” and “works best if people know each other well.” Chairs placed at an angle, meanwhile, can feel more comfortable because they allow people to occasionally look away, easing tension or awkward silences.
Elsewhere in the home, Naiman likes converting basements into “hang-out zones,” complete with fuzzy rugs and cushions for sprawling conversations on the floor. Yokota also says breakfast nooks tend to encourage togetherness more naturally than counter seating.
Lastly, consider how your home welcomes guests.
“This can be as simple as having enough seating or small details like trays or surfaces that make hosting easier,” says Seung-McFarland. “When a space is set up this way, it can naturally encourage you to invite people over, creating a sense of warmth and togetherness.”
