For homeowners, there are few things more satisfying than revamping, renovating or refurbishing your home, breathing new life into your private space and making it a house you’re proud to call your own. A lick of paint here and a new designer sofa there can fast turn into something of a hobby; why stick with just one new look a year, when you can update your home to keep up with the latest interior trends, or your own ever-changing tastes?
However, there are some much more useful and tangible improvements you can make to your living space than aesthetic changes alone, and creating a home you love to spend time in is as much about convenience as it is looking impeccable at all times. Everyone deserves to live in a place that caters to their own personal needs and lifestyle; our homes are our castles, after all, and a cleverly designed one should have all the luxuries it takes to make you feel like royalty.
Ensuring your home fully caters to your needs will first require you to identify exactly what your needs are, and this comes with carefully considering how you and your family members go about your days, what could make life easier, and what could add value and enjoyment to your lives. Unsure where to start? Try looking at these five areas.
Art
Whilst art might not be the first thing that instantly springs to mind, it actually has an impactful role to play when brought into your home, and although not an issue of convenience, it can boost the pleasure and enjoyment you get from your day. Try breathing life into bare spaces by investing in some beautiful paintings from your favourite artist, place a welcoming sculpture in your entrance hall to greet guests in a memorable way, or put up a handmade wall hanging you bought whilst travelling to a far away place to remind you of a special memory.
Art inspires creativity, gets us thinking, and encourages us to express ourselves. The key is all about finding the kind that resonates with you.
Health Needs
When looking to adapt your home to cater to the needs you have, it is always important to consider just where those needs fall on a hierarchy. We all have certain needs such as to be entertained, or to feel comfortable – but those are in no way more important than the need for good sleep, a nutritious diet, and to be well cared-for in terms of our health. With this in mind, matters such as medication should go straight to the top of your list.
The location of your medication cabinet can be more important than you might first think; should it be placed in the kitchen next to the sink, or would it be more practical to place certain products at other convenient points around your home? For example,it could be that certain items you take before bed could be in your bedside drawer, while after-meal tablets might remain in the kitchen. Try setting an alarm on your Alexa for backup so you’ll never miss a dose.
To stay extra organised, purchase a weekly wall planner so you can list what you need to take each day and hang it in a visible place – next to the kettle is good, so you’ll see it each time you go to make a cup of tea. Better yet, you may decide to make use of a service that offers NHS prescriptions online, helping you avoid the inconvenience of heading to a pharmacy, and instead ensuring you are always thoroughly stocked.
Home Assistants
A home assistant can be an excellent tool when it comes to organising your day, and connects conveniently to other smart gadgets in your home for easy, streamlined use. A voice assistant such as Alexa can be asked for the weather in the morning, to set alarms, to remind you to add items to your shopping list, or to help you to maintain constant contact with your relatives. These virtual treasures can also help you plan journeys ahead to avoid traffic, give you tidbits of wisdom throughout the day, or suggest answers to the interesting questions that are on your mind each day, making them an indispensable tool that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without. There are many varieties of virtual assistant on offer, all connecting easily to your mobile phone so that you can control and monitor them from wherever you are.
Mobility
The mobility potential of your home can be important to consider. Not all of us can move as freely as we once did, and if elderly relatives are part of the equation then making their daily lives easier could be top priority when it comes to optimising your home.
Consider the layout of each room in your house. Are the doors relatively unimpeded and can they be opened fully, or are there any obstructions that can force people to squeeze uncomfortably in and out? If the latter is true, then it may be time to rearrange your furniture and declutter to remove any unnecessary pieces. This will allow you to maximise the available space and make it easier to navigate the house as a whole – as well as making your home look more glamorously understated.
Storage
The storage in your home is important to get right. It’s true what they say; less really is more, and poorly designed storage can lead to a messy and unkempt home that fails to meet your needs.
We all wish to have the cleanest and most functional space possible, and items all over the place can seem a little unsightly. Not only that, but clutter can also have a negative impact on your mindset and mood, making it doubly important to ensure your belongings can be stored tidily and efficiently away.
To get things moving in the right direction, start by cleaning out all wardrobes and cupboards. Take anything you haven’t used in the last six months – aside from the ornaments and trinkets you like to display for decorative purposes – and consider boxing it with foam and placing it in your attic for safe keeping. Don’t be afraid to throw out old junk, either; while most things do have their uses, there does come a time when they have served their purpose, and at that point it’s time to let go and move on.
Next, consider looking into neat and organised methods of storing your belongings. For example, hanging baskets for toys can help children to keep their bedrooms tidy, while a shoe rack placed near the front door can help you avoid the piles of trainers that might otherwise collect there.
When it comes to creating a home that caters to your needs, it’s all about making your life easier, and a home that is easy to navigate and a pleasure to live in in every way will serve its purpose well. These simple tips should get you well on the way to a more functional and practical abode – and one that looks tasteful and chic, too.
