Make the Best Out of Your House Design

Posted by admin on September 15, 2010 Design Inspiration

Your concepts help the architect to bring your dreams to life, writes Lydia Namono. Every home needs an artistic impression that speaks volumes about the home owners through reflecting their style. Designing a home is part of creating that impression. Your possessions always speak volumes about you and that is why you want to be sure that they are saying the right thing. Designing a home is just one of those aspects that require attention if you are to derive that pride of ownership over it. According to Mr Lincoln Murangira, a freelance interior designer, designing a home deals with manipulating spaces in an attempt to make the best out of it. But how can you make this possible?

Defining your needs
Begin by feeling that you need to have a house. This involves determining the room size, style, deciding on whether to have a dining room and living space, a guest room, balcony and the number of bedrooms.

Since different people have different tastes, you need to make your decision about what you want. Mr Murangira notes that it always starts with evaluating your aspirations about the kind of home you would want to have. These are all drawn in your mind.

“Different rooms have different themes ranging from interests, colours and creativity. The right theme makes your home enjoyable; displaying that style which you are proud of,” he explains.

Your design may be contemporary; one that is of the present time that makes you feel classy, for instance, bamboo as a finish material when flooring. The design may give you an African feeling where you get African wall paper, paintings, wood carvings, and animal skin. It may also be creative such that you come up with something unique.

Draw a budget
In designing your home, the size of your budget is the most important element because it determines the design you will select. Therefore, it is advisable to select a budget which is proportional to your income.
He adds that your house style dictates your budget. The more complicated the design, the higher the cost of budgeting and the simpler the design, the cheaper it is. However, Mr Murangira says that a trendy design is more costly than an ordinary one. In other words, the more you are willing to invest, the better the design.

According to Mr Martin Luther Kabodha, an architect with Darc Group Limited, it is advisable to build your house in phases such that you don’t feel that your budget is overstretched. You should also include the cost of the materials you intend to use as well as labour.
“Materials vary in terms of cost, durability, aesthetics and nature. However, it is advisable to use durable and maintenance-free materials for your home in order to minimise costs you would have spent on repairs,” he says.

Choose competent professionals
Consulting a competent architect and interior designer will enable you see your dream house come to life. Such experts interpret your dreams into reality. The plan is then taken to the Kampala City Council for approval to check whether it conforms to the standards of what a basic house should have.

Arrangement of spaces
The overall appearance of your house as well as the site on which it is located describes how the space is used. This requires sketching the house plan to establish the locations of different units within and outside the house. Mr Murangira says that in designing, less is more.
In other words, when designing, you are able to maximize space by manipulating colours; thus, you should be prepared to integrate your colours in a way that brightens up your home. “It is advisable to select bright colours because they brighten up the room; making it look more spacious compared to dull colours which make the space smaller,” Mr Murangira explains.

For instance, children’s rooms are filled with bright colours like white, pink and blue to keep them lively. Consequently, the way you arrange your furniture also enables you save a little more space.

Home design factors
After coming up with a concept, there are factors to consider when making a home design.

Lighting effects
The aesthetics of lighting is what some people may undermine yet it affects the appearance of a room. The style of lighting has a psychological effect on people.

“The lighting should be able to tickle the home owner by adding a magic touch to the home,” Mr Murangira says. He adds that this may be through using wall hanging lights instead of bulbs direct from the ceiling. However, it should be enough to enable you comfortably walk through a corridor without harming yourself.

The ventilation
Mr Kabodha says that the design should include good ventilation to create a well aerated house.

House level
The house should be raised to a level whereby water cannot easily get in as well as dangerous creatures such as snakes.

For instance, the length of the windows which is considered stylish is one way in which the snakes or flooded water may easily get in after a rainy day. Therefore, it should be designed with the protection against such hazards.

Water points
The bathroom and toilet should be placed in proximity to each other to minimise costs of connecting the water and sanitation services in the house.

Avoid keeping poisonous plants in the house. These not only compete for oxygen, but are also fatal.

Developing the design
Here, structural and mechanical works start. Specific thoughts about different house elements are explored such as stairs, cabinetry, fireplaces and built-in furniture.

Then drawings are prepared that describe some of the important technical details. Floor plans, elevations and sections through the house are developed. The drawings of the house should indicate the details of the floor plan and elevations.

The floor plan shows you the location of the wash rooms, doors, walls, partitions, and stairs while the elevation shows the inner walls in a space. The area of both the floor plan and elevation is measured and configured to a size that will fit on the drawing paper.

Construction documents
The above plans are then reviewed before they are put in place. The home design plan is translated into the costs for the contractor to handle. The details about the specifications of the places where the materials are to be placed are also included.

Creating lasting impressions
Mr Murangira shares some tips about having a successful home design process. lExplore with the colours. Deal away with the conservative colours and opt for something different.

lMaximise space. Establish the length and width of the room by analysing the square footage per person, the layout of the home and furniture. A small area requires you to include a sense of control and order to enable so as to maximise the best it has to offer.

Additionally, you should examine the potential uses of the room, the furniture requirements, luggage compartment needed and individual interests.

Use creative ways of lighting. Lighting enables you to meet your needs and intentions. Many people in Uganda are used to direct light. However, he says that it is too plain; failing to create a difference in the minds of the home owners. Evaluate the materials. For instance polished wood, metal, glass, and leather all reflect light by improving the brightness of a room.

Designing a home is requires you to know what you want from the beginning. As you progress, it is advisable to explore new options in an attempt of being unique without offending others.

Make the Best Out of Your House Design

Comments

One Response to “Make the Best Out of Your House Design”

1. sara says:

   February 27, 2011 at 12:35 pm

   hi.i just want to have some plans of amazing homes.