When you work with an interior designer the most common questions we ask are who you live with and how you use your space. Out of all the questions asked on the questionnaire, these are by far the most important questions. These questions determine the finish and materials an interior designer will choose for your home. It is important to prioritize how the room will be used rather than how it will look. Some may argue that aesthetics is most important but I assure you that nothing goes above function and I’ll explain why!
What Does Functionality Mean in Interiors?
Having a functional means having enough space for functional areas such as a kitchen or laundry room. You can optimize your home’s functionality by taking your daily routines and actions into account. This can be anywhere from having enough room in the spaces where you need it the most, such as if you have a large family and you cook a lot, opt for a larger kitchen and maybe a large dining room as well. This is where the importance of a floor plan comes into play.
Function and Materials
I see this happen a lot where a designer will recommend a pure white couch or accent chair purely because it goes with the aesthetic of the room but doesn’t take into account that the home also contains young children. White furniture + children = disaster. If you absolutely HAVE TO include white accents chairs or sofas make sure to select a fabric that is easily maintained and cleaned.
When it comes to bathrooms and kitchens, the biggest mistake people make is picking tile, flooring, and countertops that are gorgeous but require a lot of maintenance and upkeep that the owner doesn’t have time for. This ends up costing you, the homeowner, hundreds to thousands of dollars in maintenance or replacements.
Storage Should Always Be Taken Into Account
Having a well-organized pantry and kitchen drawers is satisfying but are you able to keep up with it? I was reading an article about organization and it started off by saying that the most common mistake people make is hiring a professional organizer who organizes their home to look magazine ready and then they’re back to do it all over again in a couple of months. This is because people initially don’t think about the upkeep of things. Can you keep up with a color-coded pantry or closet?
Having Enough Room
I see this mistake being made often in small apartments and homes where people are treading over stuff or have minimal room to walk around. The biggest mistake you can make is over-stuffing an already small space, making it look small and making it not functional. When you have to step over many obstacles to get from the living room to the kitchen your home is no longer functional. Having a lot of free space increases your home’s functionality.
Most importantly, you want to be comfortable in your home and comfortable performing daily actions. This is why having a functional home should be a top priority.
Until next time!
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