How to Know What You Need From Your Home

My Guiding Principles for a Functional Home That Meets My Needs

My last House Call essay was all about focusing on what we value about our homes (and how they support us). In it, I shared the five guiding design principles I reference for any project. Today I want to take this exploration a step further and write about how we can create homes that give us what we need—in a way that goes beyond aesthetics alone.

Have you ever been in a horrible mood only to make a decision that feels good at the time but makes your mood even worse not long after? I used to do this a lot. I knew something was off but ended up making choices that only exacerbated the root cause of my discomfort. I’ve found that the experience of being overwhelmed and unable to clarify what we need extends well beyond our mental health. It can impact our relationships, our work lives, and, in the case of today’s topic, the way we design our homes.

Making a massive project like a home renovation more manageable means focusing on the right things. This is easier said than done! With so many options to consider, decisions to make, and eye candy on Instagram to cloud our judgment, it’s hard to avoid meandering down a path that adds more cost, stress, and confusion to an already stressful project. And if you’re doing your renovation slowly, you’ll need to preserve your stamina in order to stay excited and focused throughout the process.