I was thinking about the work I do and how transforming a home can truly change the life of a family. So I decided to do a little research about our homes and how impactful they are in our lives.

We spend a lot of time in our homes.

I think you might be surprised to learn just how much time we actually spend in our homes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 87% of their life in their home! That is crazy, right? And working from home is becoming increasingly popular. My husband and many of our friends and contemporaries work out of a home office. According to my research, 46% of those with an advanced degree work from home. It doesn’t surprise me that I get frequent requests for beautiful home office spaces.

Your home should be beautiful, organized and functional.

The most important return on investment in design is what we call a “lifestyle enhancer”.   A beautiful and functional home can provide an improved quality of life and long term gratification and pleasure. You can’t really put a price tag on memories, life events, milestones and intimate moments that your home provides. So many special events happen in our homes, with the people that we care most about. It makes sense to create a beautiful and functional space for all of these special memories to unfold.

I’ve heard that a cluttered closet or a cluttered home can mirror what is going on in your life. When you purge your stuff and organize your home, it can carry on to other areas of your life.  While I might not agree with everything Marie Kondo says, the whole concept of filling your home with items that spark joy does resonate with me.

Functionality is also important. When I design a home, I really take the time to learn what the function of each room will be for that particular family. It really differs from family to family. It’s important to create spaces that really make sense for the life you are living. For example, don’t feel like you need a formal living room if that is a space you will never use. Think outside of the box and use the space in a way your family will truly enjoy.

We do most of our socializing with our family and friends in our homes.

Birthday dinners, summer barbeques, Halloween parties…some of my favorite events each year take place in our home with our friends and family. Entertaining and sharing our home with friends is something my entire family enjoys. Social connection is so important. It truly can improve physical health and psychological well-being.

This is pretty crazy…a recent article in Psychology Today, said that the lack of social connection is a greater detriment than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure. Strong social connection leads to a 50% increased chance of longevity and a strengthened immune system.  In other words, socializing with friends is good for your health!

Most of our self care takes place in our homes.

Everyone talks a lot about self care and how important it is to our well-being. I definitely agree! Our home is the place where most of this happens. In our homes we can relax, meditate, take a bubble bath, read a book, take a nap.  There are many studies that show the benefits of self care including:

-Better productivity
-Improved resistance to disease
-Enhanced self-esteem
-Increased self-knowledge
-More to give to others/being your best self