Renovating
Should You Have a Mission Statement for Your Home or Renovation?
These eight steps will make everything easier, from choosing a paint colour to deciding whether to renovate, sell or buy
You’ve undoubtedly heard of the benefits of creating mission statements for businesses, or even for yourself, but what about writing a mission statement for your home? Part style, part personal values, this short statement can help you make better decisions about redesigning, decorating and more.
1. Explore your style
A home mission statement is about more than style, but often what you are drawn to visually will lead you to deeper realisations about what you crave at home. Start by creating an Ideabook on Houzz or cracking open a fresh file folder to hold your tear sheets and ideas, and start collecting inspirational images.
To do: Write down what drew you to each image you save – it could be anything from ‘love the farmhouse table’ to ‘sunny, open floor plan’ or even something as abstract as ‘romantic/artsy’. Keep an eye out for common themes that could become part of your mission statement.
A home mission statement is about more than style, but often what you are drawn to visually will lead you to deeper realisations about what you crave at home. Start by creating an Ideabook on Houzz or cracking open a fresh file folder to hold your tear sheets and ideas, and start collecting inspirational images.
To do: Write down what drew you to each image you save – it could be anything from ‘love the farmhouse table’ to ‘sunny, open floor plan’ or even something as abstract as ‘romantic/artsy’. Keep an eye out for common themes that could become part of your mission statement.
2. Tap into your values
What is important to you? What takes top priority in your life? Anything you hold dear should find a welcome place in your home. For instance, if you value your extended family, it might be especially meaningful for you to make room for big family gatherings.
To do: Take a few minutes to list your top priorities and how you can welcome them into your home. For example, if caring for the planet is important for you, think about ways to be more eco-friendly at home or, if you’re renovating, look into how you can design a sustainable build.
What is important to you? What takes top priority in your life? Anything you hold dear should find a welcome place in your home. For instance, if you value your extended family, it might be especially meaningful for you to make room for big family gatherings.
To do: Take a few minutes to list your top priorities and how you can welcome them into your home. For example, if caring for the planet is important for you, think about ways to be more eco-friendly at home or, if you’re renovating, look into how you can design a sustainable build.
3. Define how you want your home to feel
This is a bit different from the style question, and potentially more important. When you walk through the front door, what three words do you want to spring to mind? ‘Uncluttered’, ‘clean’ and ‘serene’? ‘Welcoming’, ‘cosy’ and ‘social’?
To do: Think about how you want your home to feel, freely jotting down any descriptive words that spring to mind. Once you have a good list, narrow it down to your top three words.
This is a bit different from the style question, and potentially more important. When you walk through the front door, what three words do you want to spring to mind? ‘Uncluttered’, ‘clean’ and ‘serene’? ‘Welcoming’, ‘cosy’ and ‘social’?
To do: Think about how you want your home to feel, freely jotting down any descriptive words that spring to mind. Once you have a good list, narrow it down to your top three words.
4. Clarify the purpose of your home
What roles does your home play in your life? Is it where you decompress after working long hours? Is it your home as well as your office space? The place where you are raising your children? Of course our homes serve many purposes, but try to identify what your home’s primary purposes are (aside from shelter).
To do: Write down the main purpose of your home, beyond providing you with basic shelter. If you like, add one or two additional roles that support the main purpose.
What roles does your home play in your life? Is it where you decompress after working long hours? Is it your home as well as your office space? The place where you are raising your children? Of course our homes serve many purposes, but try to identify what your home’s primary purposes are (aside from shelter).
To do: Write down the main purpose of your home, beyond providing you with basic shelter. If you like, add one or two additional roles that support the main purpose.
5. Refine your answers
Look over everything you have gathered so far, from your Ideabooks to brainstorm sessions, and begin searching for themes and key points that you might like to use in your mission statement.
To do: Make a list of key words and phrases from your brainstorming and style folders. For example: ‘kid friendly’, ‘fun’, ‘modern’, ‘laid back yet polished’.
Look over everything you have gathered so far, from your Ideabooks to brainstorm sessions, and begin searching for themes and key points that you might like to use in your mission statement.
To do: Make a list of key words and phrases from your brainstorming and style folders. For example: ‘kid friendly’, ‘fun’, ‘modern’, ‘laid back yet polished’.
6. Imagine your ideal day at home
This exercise is a great way to synthesise all you have been learning about yourself. When you have a moment alone at home, close your eyes and visualise your ideal day in your house or apartment, from waking in the morning to climbing into bed at night.
To do: While imagining your perfect day at home, be sure to explore with all of your senses – what do you see, hear, smell, touch and taste throughout the day? Who else is there? What do you do?
This exercise is a great way to synthesise all you have been learning about yourself. When you have a moment alone at home, close your eyes and visualise your ideal day in your house or apartment, from waking in the morning to climbing into bed at night.
To do: While imagining your perfect day at home, be sure to explore with all of your senses – what do you see, hear, smell, touch and taste throughout the day? Who else is there? What do you do?
7. Write your mission statement
Pulling from the key points and themes you identified in your notes, begin writing your home mission statement. If you need a little nudge to get started, begin with ‘My home is a place where…’ and complete the statement. If you feel you have more to add, just add another ‘My home is a place where…’ and keep going!
Browse more beautiful Australian bathrooms with black accents
Pulling from the key points and themes you identified in your notes, begin writing your home mission statement. If you need a little nudge to get started, begin with ‘My home is a place where…’ and complete the statement. If you feel you have more to add, just add another ‘My home is a place where…’ and keep going!
Browse more beautiful Australian bathrooms with black accents
8. Put your mission statement to work
Once you have your mission statement written, how you choose to use it is up to you: memorise it, write it in your calendar, have it made into an art print or share it with your family. The most important thing is to keep it close enough to guide your decisions about your home from here on out.
Your turn
Besides shelter, what is your home’s primary purpose? Share your thoughts in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images to an Ideabook, and join the conversation.
More
Ready to take the next step? To save yourself stress if a redesign is on the way, read Room by Room: Experts on Ways to Avoid Common Renovation Blunders
Once you have your mission statement written, how you choose to use it is up to you: memorise it, write it in your calendar, have it made into an art print or share it with your family. The most important thing is to keep it close enough to guide your decisions about your home from here on out.
Your turn
Besides shelter, what is your home’s primary purpose? Share your thoughts in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images to an Ideabook, and join the conversation.
More
Ready to take the next step? To save yourself stress if a redesign is on the way, read Room by Room: Experts on Ways to Avoid Common Renovation Blunders
Need help defining your vision for your home? Chat with architects near you, browse images of their projects and read reviews from previous clients