When designing a space, whether a living room, bedroom, kitchen, or even a bathroom or laundry, make sure you are honest with yourself in how you will use it – really use it. Many people start out with a pretty design first and push functionality to the side. Then you are stuck with a pretty room that you really can’t use to its fullest ability.
Do you just sit on your couch occasionally or do you like to sprawl out, take naps and binge watch movies on weekends? Don’t buy a couch that is only good for the occasional ‘sit’ if you actually like to take naps and watch TV. Do you have pets that like to join you on the couch? If you do, don’t get something that can’t hold up to your pet’s jumping and occasional dirty paws.
Places like kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms require a lot more thought regarding functionality than say, a living room or dining room. These rooms require pick up, laying down, turn on, turn off and the occasional spill.
If you love to cook, but you’re not the best at putting things away in an orderly fashion – go with that style. Create more of a ‘working chef’s kitchen’ design of organized chaos. If you don’t like to cook, then don’t pretend you do – invest in a good microwave and make it the star of the room.
How do you really use your bedroom? Do you just use it for sleeping – or are you the person who enjoys watching tv and having a late-night snack while you cuddle up under the blankets? If you enjoy spending more time in your bed than just for nighttime sleeping, then invest in a bed that is conducive to that lifestyle.
Do you kill all living plants? Are you a magazine junkie? Does your mail end up on your counter? These are all very important things to consider when designing and styling a room. Once you are honest about what you really need, you can design around it and make the space functional for you.