Interior design has many sides to it and in many respects it is a kind of art form which changes by the day. There's plenty that you might hope to achieve from harbouring a good home style, and it might well be that you put a lot of thought into this in your daily life, as I do.
Something which can be often overlooked however, is the kind of effect which the home design choices have on the family unit itself. It’s perfectly natural to want your family to be as close as possible in the home - but have you thought about what kind of changes around the home might help that? Here's a few suggestions as to what you can do to make your home more of a positive space to bring your family together, feeling relaxed, happy and most of all, at home.
Use The Power Of Colour
One thing that can have a monumental effect on the design of your family home is the use of colour. Knowing what colours to go for in each room of the home requires a good understanding of how different styles work together. It's not just the way a colour looks, or if it feels warming, but there's also the psychological effect of the colours you choose. Every shade and hue you can possibly think of has some kind of subtle unconscious effect on those who see it. Generally, this effect will be marginal, but if you're looking to make your home as united as possible, it might be worth considering the colours you choose around the home and any effects they may have.
Most of us know the basic aconotations with certain colours, so it's a good idea to go for those colours which are likely to be more soothing and calm inducing. Light blues are generally a good option, as are yellower tones and greens. Green, in particular, has been shown to encourage a sense of harmony and balance in the home, which may be exactly what your family needs.
focus on family favourites
Looking at the more important areas of focus when it comes to designing within the family unit, there are a few key rooms which you can focus on. The secret to figuring out which of those areas are most important to you and yours, is to think about where you spend most of your time as a family unit.
One of the first places that will likely spring to mind is the dining room, or wherever it is that you happen to eat when all together. The kitchen table or the sofa can often have the same kind of significance, so wherever the communal eating dining spot is - that's your strating point. It's a special family time when you are eating together and therefore makes sense to focus on the style in those areas above others. Fortunately, making the dining area more conducive to family activity is actually relatively straightforward.
Step one is to introduce a little style and glamour into that area. It doesn’t take much - little touches like beautiful Richard Haworth tablecloths and a decent cutlery set are enough to begin making this extra special. You might even want to think about treating the family to a gorgeous new dining table, some new crockery and some stylish decor. Adding a little luxury to this much loved space.
However you do it, putting extra effort into the style of these rooms is going to make a huge difference to how the family feels when they are enjoying those special moments together. Why not give it a go and see what kind of an effect it has on your family.
Give Everyone Their Own Space
It might seem ironic, but one of the most vital elements of keeping the family happy is to ensure that everyone has their own special place in the home to retreat to. Having time to yourself is important for the whole family and it's quite interesting how this need can dictate some of the bigger home style choices you might need to make. It's not enough that everyone has a little space though, you also need to make sure that it's designed in a way which speaks to them personally.
For children, this is often particularly simple to carry out. Generally, you can decorate their bedrooms with references to some of their favourite likes and enjoyments, or with themes and colours which you happen to know will speak to them. You can go much further than this if you want to, and make style meet functionality in ensuring that they have some kind of space in which to carry out their favourite activity. For example, a particularly arty child might enjoy having a bunk bed type layout where the lower portion is a foldaway desk, full of art supplies - this was always my dream! There are so many brilliantly designed kids beds out there now too, the possibilities are litterally endless. You can really unleash your imagination here, but the most important thing is that they LOVE it, feeling relaxed and happy.
Let’s not forget us adults though too, as it's just as important for us to feel that we have a space we can call our own, and that the decor matches that need. Being able to unwind when the kids go to bed, or sleep well in a calming room is so important. Ultimately we just need to make sure each member of the family has a well-designed space for themselves, as well as those much loved communal areas.
It's really simple to make a few changes that will bring the family together. Adding comfort, serenity and beautiful design to a space loved by all, having your own space and getting those colours right really are key.
* Collaborative post.
