When you’re designing a home, there are lots of things you need to think about, but something you might forget, even though it’s vitally important, is your comfort (and the comfort of everyone else living there, of course).
You need to remember that a home isn’t just there to be looked at, and although making it look stylish and up to date is important, if it’s not comfortable as well and can’t really be lived in, then what’s the point? With that in mind, here are some of the things you should think about when you want to design a home with comfort in mind. Read on to find out more.
Start With Thoughtful Space Planning
When you think about it, the foundation of a comfortable home has to be how you use the space you have available. If you try to fill every spare inch with stuff, you’ll feel closed in and cluttered, but if there’s too much space and not enough to put in it, you might feel cold and isolated. There has to be a good balance.
The best place to start is by thinking of what you and your family need from a home and thinking about the flow of people around it, doing whatever it is they need to do each day. When you put that idea first, you can start to plan a layout that can ensure everyone is comfortable.
That layout might come in different forms, including an open plan layout, where you’ll have a real sense of space, and everyone can be together (although you’ll still want some rooms that are private, of course). Another popular idea would be zoning, where your home is divided into different zones, so there are good boundaries between spaces.
Get The Temperature Right
Your home is never going to be comfortable if the temperature isn’t right, and it’s constantly too hot or too cold – it has to be just right, and you’ll need to think about the best way to ensure that happens, as there are a few options.
One great idea is to install an air source heat pump from All Seasons Energy. These heat pumps heat your home – including your water – and they do it in an energy-efficient, eco-friendly way, so they’re an excellent option for everyone. You’ll also need a good thermostat so you can control the temperature perfectly, and you might even opt for a smart thermostat that’s controlled by your phone – you won’t waste any energy that way because the heating and hot water will only be on when you choose them to be, and you won’t have to heat an empty house just so it’s nice and toasty when you get home.
Perfect The Lighting
Lighting sets the mood in your home, so if you want it to be comfortable, you need to get the lighting perfect for whatever your needs might be. And that’s the thing you’ll need to take into account; you’ll have to have different lighting for different rooms, so it all has to be planned in advance.
One type of lighting you’ll need is ambient lighting, which is just your general overhead lighting. We say ‘just’, but it’s actually vital, and it should be the first thing you do when it comes to putting in new lights. Ideally, you’ll install fixtures will have dimmer switches to ensure you can control just how bright the rooms are, and make it as comfortable as possible.
You’ll also want task lighting, which is, as the name suggests, there to help you do various tasks – this could be cooking in the kitchen, for example, or reading in the bedroom, and so on.
Plus, you might want accent lighting. This isn’t always necessary, but it can be a nice touch and might be just the thing to make your home more comfortable. This is really going to be down to personal preference, but could include table lamps or wall sconces, for example.
Invest In Quality Bedding
You’ve thought about all the different things that should make your home more comfortable and enjoyable while you’re awake, but what about while you’re asleep? Getting a good night’s sleep makes all the difference to your health and happiness, and investing in quality bedding so you have a comfortable bed to drift off it makes a lot of sense.
First, you’ll need a great mattress. Even if you can’t afford an expensive bed or luxury sheets, if your mattress is high quality, you’ll be able to sleep well. Mattresses come in lots of different variations, so don’t just pick the first one you see – check that it’s the one that will suit your sleeping preferences (including what position you like to sleep in), and so on.
Then you can look at getting comfortable bedding as well. High-quality sheets, pillows, and duvets can really enhance how well you sleep, and when you add some blackout curtains, you’ll be extremely comfortable.
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