“House” it is to the designer,
“Home” it is to the dweller.

In architecture school, all aspiring architects are taught the basics of designing a house. But in the outside world, these basics fall a little short. The reason is that a house is the most personal archetype there is and personal tastes vary as much as the number of people who dot the earth. So the difference between a good architect and a great architect is that while the former designs a “house,” the latter aspires towards designing a “home.”

In case what you have been handed over is a house, then don’t lose heart. Elaborated below are quite a few factors that come in handy for the seamless transition to a home.

1. Colours:

Colours have a distinct way of conveying personalities. Whether light or dark, whether monochrome or a plethora, whether subdued or in-your-face, they very well get across the phase of life you are living. And what better than your home to say it out loud with paints!

2. Materials:

There are umpteen options of materials to choose from when decorating your home. Depending on your budget and needs, you can pick what to live with in your personal space.

3. Furniture:

No matter how pretty your walls, flooring & ceiling, it is ultimately the furniture that gives your body close comfort. Your choice of furniture says a lot about how comfortable you want to let yourself as well as your guests be. This is where the distinction between formal and informal furniture sets in.

4. Plants:

Indoor plants have many health benefits in addition to being aesthetically pleasing. The degree to which you are willing to incorporate them in your everyday life is a big marker of how you want to tackle stress.

5. Privacy:

How much of the outside world you want to invite inside is a big marker for how private your home is going to be. Whether they are big glazings or free-running amalgamation of indoor and outdoor spaces, it mirrors your choice.

6. Personal memorabilia:

Be it huge-scaled family portraits or small fridge magnets, don’t shy away from stamping your precious memories on your home. These displays of good times are what will lift you up when times aren’t that great.

Just like there is no hard and fast rule in any creative field, so is the above list not exhaustive. Nevertheless, it is guaranteed to surely give you a great start in the direction. In case you have other creative ideas about it, do let me know. Meanwhile, try out the above for rightfully turning your house into your dream home.

(The author is an Architect and Interior Designer with eight years of experience.)

Source of the featured image: https://decoholic.org/