What Makes A Home Beautiful?
Hello.
It’s been a long while since I’ve written anything in this journal and I think its time I got back to it. I have many thoughts (too many), all the time … and I’ve found in the past that getting them out of my head and on to the laptop is a good way of collecting them.
Recently I’ve been thinking about the concept of home, and what makes a home beautiful. I’d say most people would agree that home is somewhere you should want to be. It needs to be inviting, comfortable and warm. Your safe haven from the rest of the world. Where you can rest, relax, recharge, and do whatever it is that makes you happy.
So how do you create this feeling in your home while also making it beautiful to look at? This is important because it’s the combination of the feeling and the aesthetic that makes your experience of home really special.
I think that on the surface this sounds easy and logical, and in some ways it is. But when you’re tackling it all in one go, are not set on an interior style and have the needs to different people to consider, it can be overwhelming and confusing.
I’ve come up with some of what I believe are important factors and considerations in creating a home that feels good to you and looks good:
Comfort – you need to prioritise comfort. Think rugs, sofas, your bed. If you love sitting on your sofa, then make sure you invest in one that is comfortable (and beautiful – this is entirely possible). Make sure your bed is just right and that you have good quality bedding. We spend so much of our lives in bed, why skimp on your bedding?
Comfort also applies to the finishes you choose – natural stone is surprisingly soft visually and to touch, so is timber. Using natural elements adds warmth, something every home needs.
Colour – consider how much you love colour, which colours you love the most and make sure you use them accordingly. It can be through paint, art and textiles, there are lots of ways to do it.
Function – a very practical and obvious consideration. Things like, how many people do I want to be able to sit comfortably (and realistically) in the living room? Where in the house do I want my family to congregate? Where do I want to be able to retreat to for some timeout on my own? Am I going to be working from home and what does my workspace need? I think you get where I’m heading with this. Ask yourself these questions and make your space work as best you can to meet these needs. Think about how you want the space to feel and use that to help guide your selections and decisions.
Sentimental pieces – we all have them. It might be some furniture handed down, a photograph, an artwork or even jacket or hat from a grandparent. Why not find a way to display or use these things in your home. If you love it and it’s special, you will find a way to incorporate it.
Vintage – You have to mix old and new. I think every room needs something old in it. It could be the rug, a piece of art or some furniture. It adds to the room and makes it look more lived in and unique. You want to avoid a showroom appearance and adding something vintage will tone things down perfectly.
Mix and match – while we are on the topic of showroom appearances, generally speaking the best looks are achieved when you use a mix and match approach. Use a mix of suppliers for your furniture and furnishings. That way you end up with a home that is reflective of you – not the latest showroom display.
There are lots of other things that go into making a home beautiful but these are all things I think of and consider when designing a home for my clients. I hope they provide you with some guidance or at the very least some food for thought when it comes to making your house a home. I’ve also put some images together of spaces that I think are great examples of spaces that look like ‘home’ and are beautiful.
If it’s still all a bit too much, that’s ok. Let me know and I’d be more than happy to lend you a hand.
