Home design suitable for the whole family

PROPERTY NEWS - Your home is the place you set out from into the world each day and where you come back to rest and recuperate.

It's where memories are created, where everyone in the family can be themselves and feel totally comfortable.

A well-designed home should accommodate years of love and growth, keeping pace with all the changes families go through.

So, rather than spending your budget on what you need to fill a space with, you should focus on creating the spaces in suitable sizes and make sure they connect effortlessly with each other.

Materials, fixtures and finishes should be selected for durability and low maintenance.

Even in a small home, it's possible to ensure the available space is functional.

Create rooms with simple shapes that are easy to furnish. Draw furniture to size onto floor plans to determine the positions of windows and doors.

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Create multi-functional rooms. You may be able to use edges and corners of rooms as more intimate spaces, including day beds, reading nooks or desk space.

With modern open-plan living designs, kitchens are on display, so keeping them free of clutter is essential.

If your home has no room for a butler's pantry, consider installing a pull-out pantry unit that slides out of the cabinet. Then, you can easily access the contents and shut it when a quick tidy up is needed.

Review the regular activities of family members - particularly when leaving and arriving at home.

For example, where do you put your bags down and charge your devices? Create storage solutions that help hide these activities from view. For example, power points inside cupboards are ideal for charging cellphones and tablets out of sight.

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When your children are young, it's convenient to have them close to your bedroom. However, you may not always want bigger children right next door. If space allows, a study near the master bedroom can be used as a nursery while the children are small.

Children tend to stay at home longer nowadays, so it makes sense to size their bedroom at 3,2m x 3,2m plus their built-in cupboards. This will comfortably accommodate a single bed and a desk.

A renovated or newly built home is an excellent opportunity to shape your space exactly as you want. However, designing a functional, durable family home that will be loved by many families will help you sell quickly at a good price when the time comes.

Because tastes and trends change over time, it's usually best to opt for middle-of-the-road when it comes to permanent fixtures. Add personal touches with your finishes and soft furnishings, which can easily be changed over the years.

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