DESIGN NOTES
Health and wellness are a high priority for many today, especially in the home, which is why interior designers are placing a great emphasis on the renovation or remodel plans for the home. Natural light brings a wealth of benefits for your family and also gives the home a beautiful warmth. We want to share some reasons why you should consider designing with light and give some tips on how to do it.
Bringing The Outdoors In
It is safe to say that we spend more time indoors than out since most of us work indoors and get home after dark. This means we can suffer from a lack of vitamin D, something essential to the well-being of everyone in the family. By allowing more natural light into the home, you can bring a little sunshine in, which means you need to focus on the areas where you spend the most time, such as the office or kitchen. Light is an important element in the design, so be sure to talk with your designer about how to bring more light into your favorite home spaces. See a mountain retreat that utilizes natural light.
Beat The Winter Blues
While winter is a beautiful season, it is no secret that it also comes with shorter daylight hours. Lack of sunlight is known to heighten the chance of depression, so it is important to make sure there are plenty of areas in the home that have natural light. Consider having a sunroom, or multiple windows in the kitchen or living room. Nothing chases away the blues like a bright spot in the home.
Natural Light Increases Productivity
For those who work from home, it can be difficult to stay motivated, especially if your home office has no windows or is poorly lit. It can feel like you are trying to operate in a fog. Allowing natural light into a workspace increases your ability to focus and helps you become more productive. This is also important to remember with children who have homework; by the end of the day, they are feeling tired from all that’s gone on, so it’s helpful if they can have a place to do their assignments, making sure they stay on track.
Natural Light Design Tips
It’s important for the wellness of your family that you incorporate natural light into the design of your home. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
- Mirrors: Sometimes a room only has one window, and it is not feasible or practical to add any more. Mirrors are a great way to maximize the light you have. Consider placing one where the sunlight can bounce off into other areas of the room.
- Window treatments: We agree that a well-done window treatment can add class and elegance to a room, but sometimes, they can also hinder the amount of light that comes in. If you want to allow more light into the room, choose lighter fabrics or even a simple valance. They can still give the desired effect while letting enough light into the area.
- Color: Bold or dark hues and shades can hinder natural light from doing its best since dark colors absorb light. We understand that white rooms are not everyone’s style, but a light palette such as gray, pastels, and even eggshell white still offers color without blocking natural light.
If natural light is an important factor for you, be sure to discuss it with your designer so you can evaluate your space and make plans to utilize it to the fullest for the wellness of your family. Here are a few other reasons natural light is good for your family’s well-being.
Connection has become a priority in the home over the last couple of years. It can be considered the most basic function of the home, as this is where we gather with family and friends to celebrate, congratulate, and comfort one another. Designing with socializing opportunities has been at the forefront of design for decades, exemplified by spaces such as sitting rooms and large dining tables. This need for connection has made a strong comeback, and designers are once again looking for ways to bring families together. We want to have a home where we can relax and easily engage with one another, but many homeowners also desire spaces that are unified while still retaining a unique character of their own. Let’s talk about how to create a home with connecting spaces.
Several variables are involved in selecting the perfect tile, including material, pattern, and color, as well as factors that influence style and placement. Tile is also a versatile and durable design element, making it a suitable option for frequently used areas. Let’s explore how you can incorporate tile in the home.
The kitchen tends to be one of the busiest areas in the home, and over the last year, it has become more than just a place to cook food. It has evolved into a multifunctional space where everyone gathers to perform a wide range of tasks. With so much at stake, planning a renovation requires careful thought and well-designed plans. Many designers caution against following the latest trends, but there are a few additional design mistakes they also encourage their clients to avoid. If you are considering a renovation or a new construction project, here are our top five biggest kitchen design mistakes to avoid.
Countertops are often underappreciated and underrated in the design world. They are the true workhorses of any space, as they are used regularly and withstand a great deal. We chop, pound, knead, spill, and more all over these smooth surfaces, yet they continue to function day after day. Unfortunately, they are not meant to last forever. Experts recommend replacing them every 10 to 15 years, especially if signs of wear and tear are evident, such as stubborn stains, chips, or cracks.
Sometimes, certain areas of home decor have been influenced by trends that are no longer in style and can make the space feel dated or even uninviting. Rooms also serve a specific purpose, and those can change over time. If your children are no longer living with you, their bedroom can be transformed into a craft room or even a guest suite. There are also some new things that are making their way onto potential homebuyers’ lists. We have done some research for you and discovered some of the top new items being used in home design.








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Greenbrook Design