Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
As someone who, no doubt, takes immense pride in their home, you’ll already know what it is that truly makes a house feel like home – beyond the love that lives within it, of course. Space, light and layout govern the general liveability of a space, and remain key considerations for any new renovations; that said, it’s often the smaller details that make the biggest difference to daily life.
Something as simple as the provision of roller garage doors can make a huge difference to your day-to-day life; they free up driveway space, and make school runs or late-night arrivals so much simpler than the laboured pivot of the standard garage door. In this same vein, there are other vital and hugely understated design touches that put in the work on your behalf, smoothing out your routine and quietly making your life better.
- Built-In Storage
Every home needs storage – and every home has storage. But that storage isn’t always the most efficient or considered. Well-planned integrated storage solutions that take advantage of ill-used spaces – namely under the stairs, along hallways, and in oddly-shaped alcoves – can both dramatically increase the available storage space available and dramatically reduce the amount of visible clutter in your home. The result? A cooler, calmer home in which everything has its place. For inspiration in your home, try to think vertically; how can you best use each space floor-to-ceiling?
- Smart Lighting
If the goal is to make your home as intuitively fuss-free as possible, then technology could have a hand in making some essential aspects of your home hands-free. Using smart-lighting technology, whether smart bulbs or IoT-enabled dimmer switches, you can create zoned lighting systems for easy control over high-traffic areas; motion sensors make it easy to get around with a babe in arms, and can also save you a pretty penny on your energy bill in the process.
- Acoustic Design
A little-recognised corner of good home design is that of acoustics – not something you can see, but something you very much benefit from each day. Furniture placement can do a lot for acoustics without costing you any money, whether you employ rugs in hard-floored rooms or line the walls with diffusive elements like bookcases. Where renovations are concerned, acoustic plasterboard is an excellent alternative that adds some sound-isolating qualities to a space without impacting its aesthetics.
- Flexible Layouts
Homes benefit from adaptability; after all, we are a changeable species, and so too do our needs, wants and even family dynamics change. It’s only right that your home can reflect your needs; open-plan living isn’t for everyone, but it can be a great base level for building an adaptable space. Employing partitions, pocket doors, or movable partitions give you the option to open or close the space, letting your home shift between playtime chaos and quiet focus with minimal effort.
- Easy-Clean Materials And Finishes
Finally, but no less importantly, it helps when a home helps you out. Household chores aren’t going anywhere soon, but they can be made easier with the use of low-maintenance surfaces in your home’s design. Simple things like washable wall paint, stain-resistant fabrics or wipe-clean worktops take the stress out of keeping your home looking cared for.
Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
