As mentioned in my previous post on A plan is one thing, planning is everything… , the unquantifiable aspects of good architectural design sometimes causes a house to feel right rather than to look nice. The design of your house can have a profound effect on how you feel in it although this is often attributed 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 some key tips for achieving a comfortable, well-thought-out home.

Get the layout right

Also discussed in the post A plan is one thing, planning is everything… the most important aspect of planning your new home is all about the layout of the spaces and how they are linked and the way these spaces functions. Spend time looking at how you will be using and move around your house. Try to establish what will and won't work for you. If the space is not going to work well for you like you may find it difficult to move around or be comfortable, the best interior decoration isn’t going to make much of an improvement. Rather, you may need to relook the layout like removing a wall between a kitchen and a family or dining room, or steal space from a bedroom to create an en suite bathroom. If you are fortunate enough to have a new house designed for you, or even better, design it yourself, remember that it is your house, so make sure it fulfils your needs and requirements.

Be practical

A well-designed home is one that makes things easy for you, so it pays to make room for those everyday tasks like laundry, charging electronic devices and providing a drop zone for keys, sunglasses and the like. If you are restricted for space, be practical. If you don't have space for a separate laundry room for example, try stacking the washer and dryer on top of each other. They can even be combined with a sink, all concealed behind closet doors, making them easy to access when required.

Use those 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. Are you stuck with an awkward nook at the top of a staircase? Convert it to a functional and cozy window seat!

Designate Storage

Talking about awkward spaces, rather than leaving that awkward space empty to attract clutter, rather convert it into a formal storage space. “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 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.

Future-Proof It

Make sure that your design addresses more than just your immediate needs. Remember your needs will change over time, so it’s vital that you build in some flexibility.

For instance, an open-plan kitchen/dining/living area may be your choice when the children are young, but when they get older you may develop the need for more privacy in the form of a separate living room or snug. Family members may eventually desire a calm room away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the home, so try to provide for such future changes in your design now.

Make Rooms Work Hard

When you’re designing a room, try to see where you can utilise spaces more effectively. Try to design some rooms as flexible or multi-purpose spaces. Can you give a design feature multiple functions or can you build in more storage?

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. To avoid artificial lighting pitfalls, use layered lighting. Combine ceiling lighting with wall lighting and even include task lighting in the right places. Layered lighting will only be successful when wired to separate switches to enable stepped lighting levels. The use of dimmers in certain rooms may greatly improve lighting ambience.

Pick Finishes Wisely

Choose finishes that are appropriate for the 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 an item, it’s important to think about whether it’s a practical choice for your room. Always keep the cleaning of your chosen materials in mind.

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. For example, think grays, 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.

Let Your Personality Shine

Most importantly, 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. A living room may feature a personal art collection or furniture that has an emotional connection for the homeowner.

Portions of this post is based on an article from Houzz.com