12
Aug

Experiments with Home Design

There are times when you look at something and think — Perfect, there’s nothing better. Then someone tweaks it just a wee bit and it just blows you away. The most common place to experience this phenomenon is in your own home. You might think that everything is in its perfect place and why fix something that is not broken, but just minor shifts can make a huge difference.

Family Room with comfortable seating

Look at your family room, for example. It is where most families spend most of their day. It’s where all family members and friends sit and talk, share experiences, or just hang out. Start by making it more comfortable. The seating area, whether it is a sofa set or a diwan, or really just a mattress on the floor, should be welcoming and plush. Add some cushions for some support and a throw to keep warm when it gets chilly.

If there are kids at home, adapt the space to their needs as well. Smaller kids need more room to crawl and play so maybe rethink that large ornate sofa set that takes up half the room. Instead, an area rug with nesting tables that can be stacked to the side when not in use might be a more practical solution.

An high activity place needs to be functional and comfortable. The ambience of the space needs to be aligned to the type of activity. If we keep in mind the people for whom the space is meant this will become easier.

Living room/common area

The living room is also where the TV is kept in most homes, which invariably becomes the centerpiece of the room. Why make it so when you have such vibrant choices that could be the talking point instead? Replace it with things that inspire you. Add pieces that push you to do something you really like to do — an easel, an instrument, a map, books! After-all, if you see it often enough, eventually you’ll be tempted to use it. Imagine a fancy book rack in your living room, there is definitely a possibility of the conversation with your guests flipping through multiple of those books. You could have focus on different activities during the day as compared to night — an easel by the window with a flood of day light could be subdued during the night with a focus lighting on a music instrument you play. Creative lighting is crucial element to build the right atmosphere. If you are not going to be using that space for any work or studying, then do you really need four 60W light bulbs? Maybe keep one bright light for when you need it, and layer the room with ambient lighting.

A space can reflect some character if it contains objects reflecting the interests, hobbies and inspirations of the people using it. And these can be enhanced with the magic of lights.

Always experiment with your living spaces and change them now according to the people who use it, how they use it so that it reflects their personality and is flexible enough to setup various moods.

As a wise person once said…
Change is the only constant in our lives. Let’s apply that to our homes as well.