There’s a creative blend of art and science that goes into designing the architectural bones of your home to create a space where you can let your guard down, relax, dine, and entertain.
Throughout history, there have been new architectural trends that help mold the next several years of home building, from materials used to floor plan layouts. However, your lifestyle is unique and doesn’t always fit in a trendy box—so what is home to you?
Custom-built homes, or even additions, can help make a house feel like your home because the design is created specifically to function just the way you need it. Here are 5 elements that can influence your design choices and help transform a house into a happy home.
#1 Safe & Comfortable
Your home’s design and furnishings should make you feel safe and comfortable because they can heavily influence your emotions and behavior. When designing your space, it’s important to have a good idea of how you’d like to use each space and how you want to feel (energized, relaxed, cozy, lavish, etc.).
Safety, which includes your health, plays an equally important role of feeling comfortable in your home. The materials (furniture, textures, colors, etc.) you choose to furnish and build your home, have an effect on your physical and mental health. Safety and comfort are the first elements to consider when transforming a house into your home – we want to feel just as comfortable in our environment as a lion feels in a savanna.
#2 Naturally Balanced
Although you may not realize it, nature typically influences your choices for your home’s color palette and materials. Having pops of natural elements in your home is grounding. Incorporating biophilic design in a house can truly make you feel more at home, happier and even improve your productivity.
“The biophilic design craze has been fueled by a host of scientific studies that indicate that being closer to nature, whether that’s in the form of houseplants or natural light, is beneficial for your health. A landmark 2019 study found that children in Denmark who had been exposed to more greenery had 55% less mental health problems later in life compared to those who weren’t exposed to nature. Other research has shown that plants can reduce stress, help with focus, and even increase immunity. Studies have also tied plants to productivity. In a series of two studies, researchers in Norway found that subjects who did reading and attention-based tasks surrounded by greenery improved their scores more over time than subjects who didn’t.” - Fast Company
#3 Personal Space
Homeowners and designers are rethinking the concept of an open floor plan and are now starting to include multi-functional private spaces. The open plan does not work for everyone or every family. Having personal spaces where you can spend some time alone can be beneficial for your well-being.
Because the majority of new home designs do incorporate elements of an open floor plan for entertaining friends and family, we are now also starting to see elements that allow you to zone off the home when you do need that alone time, such as adding an interior pocket or sliding door between hallways or rooms.
Other elements that promote the feel of openness without being overly exposed include large windows for natural illumination, large rooms, and high ceilings.
#4 Comfortable Workspace
Whether you’ve been working from home for some time now, or you’re still figuring it out, you likely have a new appreciation for your home office or workspace.
Designing a home that allows you to plug in when you need to work and unplug when you’re back at home is important. Your home office should be designed to suit your own needs and the requirements of your work. Some people prefer to work in a closed-off, quiet room while others might prefer to work at a desk or workspace in the center of the home.
Wherever and however you choose to work in your home, make sure the space is aesthetically pleasing to you. You want to work in a space that feels good to you. Also, be sure that you invest in a quality chair and desk/countertop to maximize your work from home comfort.
#5 Sustainable
Home designs are increasingly continuing to foster sustainability. The saying “waste not, want not” has never been more prevalent in home design as it is now. Homeowners are looking to make design choices that promote an efficient home that's built in a way that respects resources, optimizes energy and water use, and will last longer with quality systems. Sustainable homes use low-impact, high-performance materials that are efficient in terms of manufacturing, shipping and installing.
What is Home to You?
Whether it’s an open floor plan with plenty of space or a biophilic design, your home should be functional for your lifestyle.
At Ryan A. Jones, we’ll design a sustainable, safe, and comfortable home tailored to your exact needs for living and entertaining. Contact us today for a consultation.