Be it a small apartment in the city, a townhouse in a suburb, or a bigger house in the countryside, the main change that we have seen in interior design over the past few years has been a request for living spaces that focus on both aesthetics and functionality.
In general, an interior designer needs to consider people’s needs on a physical, emotional and visual level when they are designing a space.
So, when do you notice bad design?
In most cases, it is when you are in a room and find it difficult to utilise, fit-out or move around. When that happens, it is easy to see how the designer or architect did not focus on how humans move around the environment and instead focused just on the aesthetic or how to produce it all at a lower cost.
Bad design can also be a space that wasn’t designed to serve a meaning or a purpose, or when a specific demographic was not considered for the space.
When you are the interior designer bought on board to work on a residential complex, poorly designed spaces will result in low property sales, so it is essential that you consider all the needs of the target demographic in your plans.
An article in the Financial Review detailed the increase in females buying property year-on-year, compared to a decrease in the male demographic, with interesting statistics showing how females are more interested in buying a house before getting married. This demographic is constantly asking for adjustments on their floorplans or houses, as architects or designers overlook the needs of this target demographic.
These are some of the aspects in a home that women focus on and expect to be both functional and pretty:
Bathroom and Laundry Functionality
Bathrooms are the most used room in a house, while the laundry room is the one that requires the most functional design. These rooms are often overlooked and do not tailor to a female demographic. How big is the laundry room? How much space does the laundry machine or dryer require? Where do the towels go? Where is the storage space for the appliances that women are likely to use daily, such as the hairdryer or hair straightener?
Kitchen Usability
The kitchen has increased in popularity due to Covid. Before Covid, families were eating out more often. However, even if a lockdown is not likely to happen again, more homebuyers are now requesting a well-equipped, well-designed kitchen.
Built-in Joinery
All our clients request a generous amount of storage. Minimalism is beautiful to see but it is often hard to achieve when you have a family, pets, and everyday life to deal with. Simple additions like built-in joinery and storage so that homebuyers don’t have to buy additional furniture, will always be appreciated.
At Lorena Gaxiola, we go one step further by conducting market research beforehand, so we have enough data to ensure our designs meet the needs of the target demographic. Contact us to find out more.
