Designing a home is an exciting but often complex process. A welcoming and practical design requires a thoughtful balance of aesthetics, functionality, and comfort. Whether renovating an existing home or starting from scratch, every detail counts in creating a home with personality that meets practical needs. Here are some of the key considerations in home design.
Creating spaces that connect
The layout is the backbone of a home design, and the way rooms connect to each other determines how comfortable and functional the home will be. The flow of movement through the space and the positioning of key areas like the kitchen and living room has a significant impact on how welcoming and functional a home is. When designing a layout, consider the lifestyle of the people who will live there.
A family with children, for example, might appreciate a layout with a kitchen close to the living area for easy supervision and a more communal feel. People who work from home might prefer dedicated, quiet spaces away from busier areas. The placement of doors, windows, and furniture can all contribute to a home’s flow, influencing each aspect of daily life, including convenience and social interaction.
Internal doors for style and practicality
One possibly overlooked element of home design is the type of doors used internally. There are a range of modern internal doors available, from glass doors to white primed doors. A glazed internal door is a stylish option that offers a major practical benefit: more natural light can pass through the home, brightening spaces that might otherwise feel dark. A hallway or smaller room with no windows can still receive natural light from adjacent rooms. Another advantage of a glazed door is the sense of openness that doesn’t sacrifice privacy. These doors allow light to pass between rooms but still maintain separation.
Bringing the outdoors in
Incorporating natural elements into a home design can bring a sense of tranquillity and connection to nature. Indoor plants, natural wood finishes, and stone accents can help in promoting a calm atmosphere. Large windows and sliding glass doors can create a more seamless transition between indoors and out, and bring much more natural light into the home.
Biophilic design, which is the integration of natural elements into architecture and interiors, is known to improve our well-being. Metropolis Magazine notes that many of our modern environments lack “adequate natural light, natural ventilation, natural materials, vegetation, views, environmental shapes and forms” and that these artificial settings “foster fatigue, symptoms of disease, and impaired performance”.
With more of us working from home, the onus is on us to ensure we get adequate natural light. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine examined the impact of windows and daylight exposure on office workers. The authors concluded, “office workers in workplaces with windows may have more light exposure, better sleep quality, more physical activity, and higher quality of life ratings than office workers in work-places without windows.” With a sense of the outdoors, a home will feel more like a treasured space that benefits our well-being.
