Extending your home? 7 design elements that will have a big impact.

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When we think of design, our mind moves to aesthetics, but good design is not just about creating winning looks. It’s getting the function working beautifully to suit your everyday needs and making that form look great. Because let’s face it, we spend far more time living in our homes than standing outside on the street admiring it.

Here are some design elements to think about while planning your extension that celebrate both function and form, and will add style, value and comfort to your home.

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Visual connections

Did you know that what we look out on can have a direct impact on how we feel?  Create visual connections where possible, and if you do not have long-distance views to gaze out upon, work with what you do have. And invest a little. There are so many low maintenance landscaping options available today. A green wall looks so much better than a fence 1metre from your window. 

Smart storage

Storage, we always want more right? Where possible, take your joinery cupboards to full height. It will give you a smart, high-end look and deliver valuable, usable space at no extra cost. Building bulkheads is just as expensive as making your joinery full height, but you can’t store a suitcase in a bulkhead.  Sure, you might need a step stool to access it, but it’s just dead space otherwise.

Lighting design

Clever lighting design can deliver the wow factor and lift the quality of any home. It can change the moods of a room and even alter the feel of size. Consider different feature lighting options to create functional zones throughout the home and always go with warm over cool lighting to create a welcoming ambient space. With the ability to achieve so much, it’s worth spending a little more on your lighting choices. 

Double glazing

Double glazing is a game-changer. It comes with a price tag, but the acoustic and thermal benefits make the upfront cost worthwhile. Double glazing traps the heat between two layers of glass reducing the loss of warmth. It means better energy consumption for your home and lower heating bills. Live near a busy road? It will also go a long way to ensuring you get a good night’s sleep with its highly effective noise-reducing capabilities.

Continuity of design

This ties a home together. Try to keep a continuity of range and brand across your home or at the very least in each room. For example, buy a toilet and basin from the same brand, so that the ceramic is the same colour. Look for tapware that has the matching toilet paper holders, towel rails, and robe hooks. Finally, matching door hardware throughout a space is the attention to detail that really finishes a home.

Multi-purpose design

Having large rooms for everything we want is the dream, but the reality for most of us is that space and budget can be a challenge. Being able to multi-purpose a space gets a lot more out of it. For example, have you considered utilising a hallway space as a laundry room? There are some clever doors available now that ensure the hallway can be left clear of obstruction and with your laundry facilities convenient close yet discreet.

Privacy matters

We’ve all had that awkward moment of walking in on someone in the bathroom. When designing the layout of your bathrooms, make sure your toilets are placed to optimise privacy. Try putting your basins in front of the door and use the door to conceal the person using a toilet. It’s a little design tip that your family and friends, will appreciate.

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Planning your extension? Before starting the design process, it’s essential to understand the purpose of your home extension or addition. Are you renovating to improve your home life? Or is it for must-do maintenance? Are you adapting your home for a growing family, or is it for investments reasons?

Susan Goldsack, Principal Architect at The Perfect Space, says ‘whatever the reasons, understanding the purpose for your alteration or addition helps you make the right design decisions and control how much you invest into a property. Whilst it’s valuable to know what features can improve a sale, it’s better to design for what you like and what suits your everyday needs rather than second-guessing the next owner.’

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Extending or renovating? Our talented design and build team at The Perfect Space can transform your home and your lifestyle with stunning architectural solutions and inspired functional design. Call us today on 02 9907 4568 and book your free consultation.