10 Keys for a Well-Functioning House
Sure, looks are important. But practical matters like layout, storage and lighting directly affect your comfort too
Denise O'Connor
15 November 2020
Denise holds a degree in architecture from Richview School of Architecture in UCD. After graduating in Dublin she moved to London where she worked on residential, healthcare and office schemes including the award-winning headquarters for Holiday Extras for which she was project architect at Walker and Martin. In 2005 she returned to Dublin and set up architecture and interior design consultancy Optimise Design.
Denise is an architecture and interiors columnist for the Irish Times and a contributor for HOUZZ. She is also a regular contributor to various other publications and also gives lectures on a range of topics. She was a presenter for the first series of the RTE TV show ‘The Design Doctors’ and is the creator and name behind the successful paint collection for Dulux called Signature...
Denise holds a degree in architecture from Richview School of Architecture in UCD.... More
The design of a house can have a profound effect on how we feel, but we often attribute this to aesthetics. In fact, it’s about so much more. Good design should enhance our experience of a space, and the way a room looks is almost the icing on the cake. Here are 10 key tips for achieving a comfortable, well-thought-out home.
1. Get the layout right
The starting point for any kind of change in your home should be the layout and the way the space functions. Spend time looking at how you use and move around your home. Try to establish what is and isn’t working to get a clear picture of what you need to alter.
If the space doesn’t work well and you’re finding it difficult to move around or feel comfortable in it, the interior decoration isn’t going to make much of an improvement. Rather, you may need to knock down a wall between a kitchen and a dining room, for example, or steal space from one bedroom to create an ensuite.
The starting point for any kind of change in your home should be the layout and the way the space functions. Spend time looking at how you use and move around your home. Try to establish what is and isn’t working to get a clear picture of what you need to alter.
If the space doesn’t work well and you’re finding it difficult to move around or feel comfortable in it, the interior decoration isn’t going to make much of an improvement. Rather, you may need to knock down a wall between a kitchen and a dining room, for example, or steal space from one bedroom to create an ensuite.
2. Be practical
A well-designed home is one that makes things easy for you, so it pays to make room for those everyday tasks such as laundry. Not all of us have space for a separate laundry, but clever design may enable you to maximise the space you do have.
In this Sydney, NSW, home by Art of Kitchens, the washer and dryer are stacked and concealed behind a bi-fold door, making them easy to access when required.
Need to call on the experts for customised advice? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
A well-designed home is one that makes things easy for you, so it pays to make room for those everyday tasks such as laundry. Not all of us have space for a separate laundry, but clever design may enable you to maximise the space you do have.
In this Sydney, NSW, home by Art of Kitchens, the washer and dryer are stacked and concealed behind a bi-fold door, making them easy to access when required.
Need to call on the experts for customised advice? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
3. Use the awkward spaces
Do you have an area you don’t know what to do with? Challenging spaces are often left bare, and bare spaces tend to attract clutter. If an unused corner in your home has become messy, it may take away from the enjoyment of the room.
Think about how you can transform the space, as there are clever ways of putting these awkward areas to good use. In this home, a nook by a door became a gorgeous window seat that’s both functional and cosy.
Do you have an area you don’t know what to do with? Challenging spaces are often left bare, and bare spaces tend to attract clutter. If an unused corner in your home has become messy, it may take away from the enjoyment of the room.
Think about how you can transform the space, as there are clever ways of putting these awkward areas to good use. In this home, a nook by a door became a gorgeous window seat that’s both functional and cosy.
4. Future-proof it
Make sure your design addresses more than just your immediate needs. It’s very easy to focus your attention on how you want to live right now, especially if you have young children. However, your needs will change over time, so it’s vital that you build in some flexibility.
For instance, the opportunity to create a separate living space in an open-plan home may be a good idea for when the children get older, since family members may eventually desire a calm room away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the home.
Make sure your design addresses more than just your immediate needs. It’s very easy to focus your attention on how you want to live right now, especially if you have young children. However, your needs will change over time, so it’s vital that you build in some flexibility.
For instance, the opportunity to create a separate living space in an open-plan home may be a good idea for when the children get older, since family members may eventually desire a calm room away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the home.
5. Designate storage
‘A place for everything and everything in its place’ really is the mantra for a well-functioning home. When it comes to choosing the right kind of storage, you should let what you need to store dictate the kind of storage that you select.
Designated, customised storage is far more efficient and useful than general storage. By having a specific place for each item, you’ll avoid the possibility of everything being thrown in haphazardly.
‘A place for everything and everything in its place’ really is the mantra for a well-functioning home. When it comes to choosing the right kind of storage, you should let what you need to store dictate the kind of storage that you select.
Designated, customised storage is far more efficient and useful than general storage. By having a specific place for each item, you’ll avoid the possibility of everything being thrown in haphazardly.
6. Plan the lighting
Lighting is one of the most important design aspects of a home and is something many people struggle with. It has such a powerful effect on the ambience of a room that it is worth taking the time to get it absolutely right.
The trick is to get the proper balance of artificial and natural light. Too much artificial light results in a space that feels clinical, but if a room is underlit, everything appears gloomy and uninviting.
Lighting is one of the most important design aspects of a home and is something many people struggle with. It has such a powerful effect on the ambience of a room that it is worth taking the time to get it absolutely right.
The trick is to get the proper balance of artificial and natural light. Too much artificial light results in a space that feels clinical, but if a room is underlit, everything appears gloomy and uninviting.
7. Make rooms work hard
When you’re designing a room, try to see where you can utilise spaces more effectively. Can you give one design feature multiple functions, for example, to save space? How can you build in more storage?
Browse beautiful Australian bathrooms for design inspiration
When you’re designing a room, try to see where you can utilise spaces more effectively. Can you give one design feature multiple functions, for example, to save space? How can you build in more storage?
Browse beautiful Australian bathrooms for design inspiration
8. Pick finishes wisely
Choose finishes that are appropriate for each room. Tiles in a kitchen are a practical, durable choice for flooring. Spend time researching the finishes for your home, and ask about upkeep and suitability for the space where you plan to use them. Even if you love the look of a material, it’s important to think about whether it’s a practical choice for your room.
Choose finishes that are appropriate for each room. Tiles in a kitchen are a practical, durable choice for flooring. Spend time researching the finishes for your home, and ask about upkeep and suitability for the space where you plan to use them. Even if you love the look of a material, it’s important to think about whether it’s a practical choice for your room.
9. Layer with colour
Your choice of colour isn’t important only for how it looks; it also will have a big impact on how you feel in the space. Get it wrong, and the colour will shout at you every time you enter the room. Get it right, and you won’t even notice the colour – you’ll just love spending time in the space.
A good tip is to layer your colour palette. Start with a neutral backdrop and build on colour carefully by adding bolder shades through accessories and art. However, neutral doesn’t mean painting your walls a bland shade. You can create a neutral version of practically any colour by going either very light or very dark. Think greys, caramels and sandy tones, all of which work in any version from light to dark as a neutral backdrop that you can combine with any other accent colour.
Your choice of colour isn’t important only for how it looks; it also will have a big impact on how you feel in the space. Get it wrong, and the colour will shout at you every time you enter the room. Get it right, and you won’t even notice the colour – you’ll just love spending time in the space.
A good tip is to layer your colour palette. Start with a neutral backdrop and build on colour carefully by adding bolder shades through accessories and art. However, neutral doesn’t mean painting your walls a bland shade. You can create a neutral version of practically any colour by going either very light or very dark. Think greys, caramels and sandy tones, all of which work in any version from light to dark as a neutral backdrop that you can combine with any other accent colour.
10. Let your personality shine
Most important, your home should reflect the personality of those who live in it. Choose design elements that you love and that help you feel healthy and happy. This living room features a personal art collection and reupholstered slipper chairs that have an emotional connection for the homeowner.
Your turn
What are your must-haves for a well-functioning home? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Curious what directions future interiors will take? Find out more here with Brave New World: 4 Important Design Trends You’ll See in 2021
Most important, your home should reflect the personality of those who live in it. Choose design elements that you love and that help you feel healthy and happy. This living room features a personal art collection and reupholstered slipper chairs that have an emotional connection for the homeowner.
Your turn
What are your must-haves for a well-functioning home? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Curious what directions future interiors will take? Find out more here with Brave New World: 4 Important Design Trends You’ll See in 2021
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Family games, board games, playing cards, dice, books for all ages (especially the ones that are no longer published), and about a dozen albums with geneology research, photos (going back to the 1800s), and transcribed stories from our life, our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, some of which bent the truth a bit. Oh, and a few of the embarrassing stories of our children's growing up years. Ever tried riding a donkey backwards?
The TV is less important and we never got around to buying a gaming system.
Almost forgot our collection of jigsaw puzzles which are currently in a bedroom closet.
We definitely need the storage space.
We just finished remodeling our kitchen and I used a lot of this advice without knowing it. Before I finalized the plans I thought carefully about how my family would move around the room and where each item stored in the kitchen would go. I also planned for flex storage to allow for changing needs. We layered the lighting and used pot lights as well as undercabinet lighting and above-cabinet lighting. The below cabinet lighting is perfect for when you need to get a glass of water in the middle of the night.
My entire 3 generation family uses the kitchen to cook so we needed to make sure it would stand up to that, especially since my older son is like a bull in a china shop. I wanted soapstone counters but my designer didn't think they could stand up to my sons. We sourced hard-wearing granite that looks just like honed faded black soapstone, which is exactly what I wanted. The adjacent living room has a fluted wood structural column that is visible in the kitchen. I wasn't planning to install a farmhouse sink but I fell in love with one that had fluting on the apron. My best friend cautioned against me buying it because she thought my sons would chip it. She was right so I chose a practical undermount stainless steel sink.
One thing that a lot of homeowners don't consider is where their trashcans will be located. Our designer placed on the plans a pullout at the end of our wraparound peninsula so it would be out of kitchen traffic and accessible to the adjacent living room. It's far from the sink and prep area though so I bought small prep trash cans. The tops sit flush on the countertop so they are unobtrusive. In our main bathroom, we use a wicker laundry hamper as our trashcan. It's amazing how much trash you generate in your bathroom so the small decorative ones aren't adequate.
I'm interested in good functional design. I recently enjoyed a weekend in a beautiful modern home. It was interesting to compare to the 50s home I was brought up in & the interwar + 60s places I've lived ever since. The older styles had separate kitchens. Days of the one cook are gone (thank goodness) - a more open space where all family members can prepare food (& do their cleaning up) is beneficial.
The kitchen along one wall design is practical for a small home/apartment but loses the functional benefits of 'the working triangle'. Adding the sink to an island bench seems to rectify this. While it lacks the sink under the window that I love in older homes, it gives a similar visual effect: a sink with a view.
The Butler's Pantry was an experience I'd call a *function fail* for our family. All 4 of us squeezing into the 'back' kitchen area as the toaster, kettle, coffee machine all were. Crockery & cutlery were in 'front' kitchen. Narrow doorway separating.
I'd love to read more articles on function over fashion for home designs. Thanks.