Designing for best use of space

Clever design can make the best use of space, even in smaller houses. We suggest some ways to optimise the areas in your home.

Ceiling height

The standard height of ceilings is usually 2.4 metres. But some people choose up to three metres. This can give the house a feeling of space, grandness and elegance, but it will probably add to your building costs.
 
However, according to real estate agents, homes with higher ceilings generally fetch better prices than similar quality homes with the standard ceiling heights.

Consider mixing the ceiling heights, for example having lower ceilings in your bedrooms and adding height in the living spaces. Higher ceilings will require heating with circulation systems to spread the heat and air evenly.

Storage, home offices, and kids spaces

As we all know, kids like to make a mess and generally lots of noise so, if you have the space, consider an area which the kids can call their own. One way to make a small child’s bedroom more useable is to put the bed on a platform which leaves space underneath for a desk or toy area.

Plan good storage and cupboards into your house design.

In the past, a home office would be put into a bedroom or any available free space. Nowadays, a home office is almost essential as work often spills over into the home and many more people work at home. The home computer is used by all family members for homework, work or entertainment. If you can, have a separate office included in your house design. It allows a quiet space for real work, but also separates noisy computer games from other living areas. And it creates a clear separation between work and home.

If you are renovating and don’t have the space for a separate office, consider screens or partitions and, for aesthetic reasons, have storage to keep files and equipment out of sight.

Data cabling

It is important to think about home entertainment, communication and computer needs when designing your new home or renovating. Televisions, DVDs, VCRs, music systems, telephones, faxes, computers and security systems will need the appropriate wiring, cabling and power points to be installed when the house is being built.

To avoid messy cabling, all these appliances can be controlled on one flexible modular system. You should design for the future, for example, you may have more than one computer at a later date. It is more cost effective to get the cabling sorted out when you first build.

Make sure you have enough power points for all the appliances you are likely to be running.

Designing for spaciousness

The size of your house does not have to limit the home’s sense of space. This can be achieved by clever design – the flow of the rooms, lightness and airiness achieved by careful placement of windows and walls, ceiling height, storage and interior decorating.

Obviously, the fewer walls, the greater the sense of spaciousness, but smaller areas can be easily created for separate activities without sacrificing the sense of spaciousness. Use moveable screens, panels and large doors to either close off or open out a room.

Other devices to create a sense of separate spaces within a large area without compromising spaciousness include step-downs, different ceiling heights, different flooring, projecting bookcases or wall units, and lighting. A good designer should have ideas but also look for ideas from magazines, books and the internet.

Garages

Consider your future needs when thinking about garaging.