What do we mean by "Function" in interior design (and why is it so important for a happy, healthy home?)
Each room in your home has a specific function: for sleeping, for cooking, for socializing with friends, or for vegging out in front of the TV.
Most of the time, each room carries its function pretty well. Put a couch in your lounge and you can relax. Fit a stove in the kitchen and you can feed the family. But it’s not always that simple.
With the rise in working from home, our rooms are having to perform more functions than ever. The kitchen’s now an office. The bedroom is now a yoga shala.
And this is where things can get tricky.
Try to squeeze too many functions out of a room, and it’ll fail to do any of them very well. And when we can’t transition from one part of our day to the next, it can leave us feeling uncomfortable and pretty stressed out.
Luckily, with a little bit of thought and some easy interior design updates, you can improve the functionality of your spaces. And your mental wellbeing, too!
What does functionality mean in interior design?
Good interior design is beautiful. But it has to be functional as well. How the space will be used should form the basis of any interior design plan.
Function first, that’s our motto. Then comes the fun stuff — like paint colors, furnishings, and accessories.
Let’s imagine a kid’s bedroom. It probably has a couple of different functions: it’s a place to sleep, a place to play, and a place to store clothes and toys.
These functions need to inform your design choices. Furniture needs to be durable. Storage should be low level so little people can access it easily. Lighting needs to work for both playtime, storytime, and bedtime.
When a design is both beautiful and functional it really complements the way you live. And helps you to create rooms that are truly fit for purpose.
Understanding the functions of your home (and why everyone should do a functionality audit)
Okay, let’s take a minute to think about your home. Ask yourself a couple of questions about the various rooms and spaces you spend time in.
Where do you spend most of your time?
What do you do in those rooms or spaces?
Where specifically do you sit / lie / stand in those rooms when you’re using them? Why?
Are there any rooms or spaces that rarely get used? Why’s that?
Your answers to these questions can help you to better understand the current functionality of your home. And here’s why that’s so important:
Function helps you to make the most of the space you already have
Most of us aren’t lucky enough to have tons of spare space in our homes. So space optimization becomes key.
When you assess the functionality of your rooms, you’ll discover areas for improvement. However small, oddly shaped, or lacking in purpose a space feels, a focus on function can help you to find and realize its potential.
Function can improve your wellbeing
Isn’t it satisfying when something just works? The same goes for the home — when a room is functional it makes us feel good.
Surfaces and storage solutions make life easier. Well-placed furniture helps you stay in your flow. And when a room supports the activities that take place within it, there’s nothing holding you back.
When our spaces work with us, rather than against us, we feel so much more comfortable spending time in them. It can provide a real boost for our wellbeing!
Whether you want to make a few small changes or you’re planning a total redesign, focusing on function can reduce feelings of stress or isolation within a home. At the same time, it can promote positive feelings, like calmness and comfort — things we could all use a little more of, right?
4 easy ways to improve the functionality of your spaces
Feel that your home lacks functionality? Here are a few easy ways to give your spaces more purpose.
Clear out the clutter
A few treasured objects can bring personality to a room. But your belongings should never be allowed to overwhelm the functionality of a space.
Don’t feel burdened by items because they were gifted to you, or because they happen to be family heirlooms. You can hold onto the sentiment without holding onto the actual object (or without it being on show).
Also try not to buy new furnishings or accessories just because you like the look of them. Ask yourself if the item is aesthetically pleasing and fulfills a function within the room. Only when an item ticks both boxes should you head to the checkout!
Go minimal with furnishings
Any furniture you aren’t using, like ever, can be sold or given away.
Furniture takes up a lot of space. And can end up being a real enemy of functional flow. If it’s not serving a purpose, pass it along to someone else who can make use of it instead.
And don’t be afraid of empty space. There should always be space within a room for life to actually take place — to do an exercise video, to play Lego with the kids, or to have friends round for a movie night…
Lean in to a multi-functional space
Be honest with yourself.
If your kitchen needs to allow for food preparation, dining and the day job, it doesn’t have to perform all of those functions at the same time. During the day time, it’s a work space. During the evening, you can move your laptop off the dining table and replace it with a simple but stylish table setting.
Having lighting that adapts to each function and mood is another simple but very effective way to embrace multi-functionality.
Make use of awkward spaces
Alcoves, bay windows, shallow closets… These spaces often have unrealized potential.
They can be used to house storage units, extra shelving, a cozy reading corner or even a fold-away workstation. With a little creative thinking (and a spot of Pinterest scrolling) you can come up with plenty of ideas to improve the function of even small and awkward spaces like these.
The TITANIUM SPACE ethos of function and form
Could you do with a little help finding the perfect balance between beauty, function and form? Then contact the Titanium Space team to arrange a free consultation. We specialize in creating beautiful, functional spaces that make the most of what you’ve got! And we’d love to work with you.
Enter your details below to get access to our companion Functionality audit, reference guide.
