This is my awkward L shaped living room, with 3 focal points: TV, fireplace and Patio windows overlooking the garden and views beyond. Two doorways, one leading from the hallway/main entrance thus creating a through passage to the rest of the house. I have put a desk into the leg of the L to create a little workspace without making it look like an office and then screened it off from the rest of the room using plants! (back to the power of green!)
What’s in a space? Whatever needs to be there? Whatever enhances the space? Whatever makes it your happy place, EVEN if it happens to be your work environment!
A happy and calm space promotes positivity and motivation thus increasing productivity! Easier said than done, this happy place! So how do we go about creating such a paradise?
Firstly, look at the SHAPE of the space, draw it out on a blank sheet of paper if necessary. If you have inherited a space, it might be a good idea to paint it all white in the first instance before filling it, just to get a feel for its size and potential.
In this case, SIZE DOES MATTER, you might need your space to look bigger or smaller and cosier.
How is the LAYOUT: where are the doors and windows?
ORIENTATION: What direction does the room face? Does it afford natural light?
Are there any FOCAL POINTS already in existence or will you need to create some?
What is the PURPOSE of your space? What will be its main use? Does it need to have more than one use? Is it personal or public? How many persons need to fit into it? How will traffic flow through it?
This all seems like common sense but it is amazing how these basic considerations can be overlooked when planning an interior.
I’m guilty of it myself in my excitement to get a room finished but going back to the purpose of this blog, there needs to be a starting point with which we can begin to understand and then create a more holistic living/working environment to improve our own health and wellbeing.
Ideas for Interiors 