When thinking about
polished floors, cushions in place, an exquisite flower
arrangement, crisp and folded napkins on the table, take
time to think about comfort, family time and kids activities
also when decorating or designing your house. A lively place
full of warmth and chatter is what makes a 'House' a 'Home'.
There are times when we overlook some important details
to give that 'Designer Touch' to our houses. Household accidents,
unhealthy personal conditions and lack of family activities
are the result.
To avoid such a situation, take care to make your house
a comfortable and healthy place to live in. Look around
you and observe carefully if any difficulty and threats
are being posed due to faulty placement and wrong choice
of objects. Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Rubber Mats: Though not much decorative, rubber mats
are the best things to have outside your bathroom or near
the kitchen sink. They will help avoid slipping and add
safety to your home. Never use any kind of rugs at the
top or bottom of stairs.
2. Work Delegation Diary: Keep a diary in a conspicuous
place and write down in it, the daily chores of all members.
Make sure everyone takes turn feeding the pet, mowing
the lawn, dusting the furniture and setting the dinner
table.
3. Sitting Space: Keep some extra, light-weight chairs
or stools that can be carried to any place to make immediate
sitting space. Garden sitting space, preferably under
a tree or any other shade, is a lovely idea for spending
family time. Get cane chairs or a bench placed in your
garden. Chairs and a table in the porch is another great
idea.
4. Door Knobs: Round door knobs give your room a nice
appeal, but are down on the Comfort-level. Children and
Elders suffering with Arthritis etc. find if difficult
to grip them. They are also difficult to grasp with wet
hands. They can be replaced with Lever Handles both on
the inside as well as the outside for ease and comfort.
5. Showers: Though showers are top on Elegance list and
Hand Showers are blamed for 'spoiling the look' with their
long hose, there cannot be anything better than an adjustable
hand shower with a hose for bathing big dogs and kids.
6. Lighting: Make sure that all your rooms have ample
light. Reserve subtle lighting and other lighting effects
for special occasions and parties. Good, clear light helps
maintain everyone's health care easier and is especially
good for school-going children and elderly people.
7. Artifacts: The next time you see your little kid hardly
daring to breath when passing by your favorite antique
lamp for the fear of breaking it, you know its the time
for a revamp. Place glass objects and other breakable
treasures in safer areas so your family members can move
freely without worrying about spoiling your decor.
8. Comfort Level: At all times, keep in mind that your
home needs to be comfortable and not rigid. Things get
monotonous when they are 'too perfect'. A cozy nook by
the window with a small coffee table, extra pillows thrown
in for a comfortable tête-à-tête, a
sparkling fireplace with a warm rug sprawled across are
some examples.
9. Family Space: A 'Home' is all about a family! Include
in your design/decor, special 'Family' places like a sufficiently
large dinner table, a card table for indoor games etc.
Like I said above in 'Sitting space', a mini dining table
or wicker table-chair set in your garden or under a tree
in the backyard is a lovely idea. If you have a spare
room for your crafts, make a separate shelf for Family
crafts like Scrapbooking. A Wall Gallery of photos is
a great way to bind family members - past and present.
You know what works best for your family. So develop
this list further according on the needs of your family
and watch your pretty house take the shape of a 'Pretty
Home'