‘Placemaking’ is a dynamic process that involves transforming spaces into vibrant, engaging environments that reflect the needs and aspirations of the inhabitants. Let’s reimagine your home through the lens of the art of placemaking:
Whether you’re a large company, a smaller community, working from home, or even just a stay at home parent, investing a lot of time, effort and money into making a space a place can pay off in so many ways! A place people want to be, want to use and love to talk about, yet, seldom do we think about how we want our homes to be.
What do we want our home to feel like? What does our home say about us? Why do we want to spend time within the walls?
At The Lighting Company, we want to help you make your house a home. Whether you’re a new owner or looking to spruce up the space, we hope you’ll find the perfect inspiration for your next home renovation makeover. Maybe you’re downsizing but don’t want to compromise, perhaps you’re personalising your first home.
This is where you begin your journey to a beautiful home.
The Lighting Company is a delightfully different style of retail shop. Shoppers love the mood and feel of the space we’ve created. Our Taunton store, just on the high street, whilst there’s lots of different styles of interiors and lighting on display, the ambience we’ve created is distinctly ‘The Lighting Company!’ Calm, happy, excited and inspired are words that have been used when people talk about a shopping experience with us.
We are privileged to be classed as an inspiring shop, so we wanted to share our steps to curating the perfect space that we used with you.
Firstly: Identify the purpose of the space.
Considering the room and what it’s for is a great place to start. Is it a room to relax, socialise, work, sleep, or maybe to inspire creativity? Understanding the primary purpose ensures you keep that goal in mind throughout your design process.
Knowing this can determine everything, from the colour of the furniture, to the lighting, to the rug size.
Create Zones
Some spaces such as living rooms may have multiple purposes. If you’re designing an open plan studio or a small apartment, sharing your living room with a work from home office space or integrating a dining room can help to maximise the use of the space that you have.
In these cases zoning the area will help make each space useable independently, whilst still being part of the overall aesthetic you decide to create. When zoning a space consider the furniture layout, positioning it for purpose, for example if you socialise more than watch TV, consider having your sofas facing each other.
Consider even a quiet corner for reading or a play corner for the kids toys that could be screened or tidied away for more grown up relaxing and hosting. Decorating your space isn’t just about the furniture and walls, it’s also about how you organise your belongings in a way that fits with the aesthetic and utility of your home.
This may not be the maximalist concern, but for the minimalists out there, can you find under-bed storage? Or a storage box that blends in with your living room for those kid’s toys or knitting needles. Why not explore sofa ranges with built in storage?
Build in Flexibility
If for example you have your home office in the lounge, consider how furniture can be moved so it’s useful when you are not sitting at the desk. This could be by having a spinning chair or maybe a more stylish desk that matches your lounge decor. Keep the theme through your office accessories to help the area blend in and chose a desk with lots of draws to hide away your stationary and work clutter.
Switching items such as a console table, which can double as a display area, instead of an office style desk. When doing this keep a focus on comfort first as it’s easy to forget if you overly focus on visual aesthetics and utility.
Now the practicalities of zoning and purpose of the space has been established it’s time to think about ambience.
The mood, vibe or Feng Shui, whatever you’d like to call it, is the emotive feel of the place. Try figure out how you want your space to feel by writing yourself a mantra such as “I want my home to feel welcoming” or “my home will feel joyful.” When you go shopping for your interior, repeat this to yourself when you want to buy something, does it make you feel joy or is it a fleeting want.
Silly as it sounds, the reason you love your home is the feeling you get from it. So make it as you want it and make it yours! Explore some trends to help you get the look you’re after. If it’s colourful and fun, calm and relaxing or dark and moody, there’s a trend to perfectly chime with your personal style, use our blogs to stop your inspiration block!
Turning a house into a home involves more than just furnishing and decorating. It’s about imbuing the space with light, warmth, comfort, and personal touches that reflect your personality and create a sense of belonging. Taking a sensory approach is super helpful sight, sound, smells, taste and touch all come into play.
Here are some steps to make a house feel like a home:
- Create Comfortable Spaces: Focus on creating cosy and inviting areas where you can relax and unwind. With this in mind, integrate soft blankets, plush pillows and comfortable seating arrangements transform a room into a sanctuary where you can recharge and rejuvenate. Relaxed living is trending again! Reflecting a desire for calm and tranquil simplicity in our lifestyles. It’s now ok to lounge a little longer in bed, it’s not lazy, it’s relaxing. Bedrooms are for relaxing but so is the “lounge”, cushions and throws can travel from one space to the next. If you’ve created a cohesive design between two rooms, then you’re able to be versatile with using your decorations. If you’re looking to change up your look without breaking the budget, why not shift your furniture around and swap some cushions from each room?
- Mood Lighting: Lighting is by far the best way of creating ambience. You can change the mood easily by switching on a lamp and dimming your ceiling light. If you’re looking for some spring inspiration, then consider throwing those blankets into the attic and bringing out the lighter decor. As we move into the spring, doesn’t forget your outdoor lights. If you’re working on a tight budget, perhaps invest in a portable lamp that can be used indoor or out. Worried about racking up your bill when creating a new lighting plan? Check out how to save your money while still looking stylish.
- Functional Lighting: Lighting isn’t always about aesthetics, but also function and utility. A reading nook is infinitely more useable on a dark day or night when a floor lamp sits beside the seat. With hanging ceiling pendants, the kitchen island becomes not just a focal point, but a utility space. You need task lighting such as food prep or homework, where the user can see what they are doing. Consider what task the light is lighting before buying and use our guide on how to light your space to help you do that!
- General Lighting: This is the overall ceiling light or wall lights, popularly known as the “big light”. This is very basic lighting, but this lighting can easily overwhelm the room. Always use a combination of lighting, general, functional task lighting and mood lighting.
- Infuse Personality: Inject your personality into the decor by incorporating elements that reflect your interests, hobbies, and passions. Why not have your easel on display? Or a basket for your wool and fabrics? Whether it’s displaying your favourite artwork, showcasing collections, or incorporating quirky decor pieces, this is what makes the space uniquely yours. Incorporate items that hold sentimental value, such as heirlooms, or travel souvenirs. Surrounding yourself with meaningful objects adds a personal touch and fosters a sense of nostalgia and connection. Your home is a reflection of you so let your natural style shine if you like others will too.
- Embrace Imperfections: Embrace the imperfections and quirks of your home, if you have a funny little dog leg turn in the hallway, make it a feature and add some decor, consider plants to fill up the awkward space. These unique characteristics add character and charm, making your home feel unique. The Japanese have a word Wabi-Sabi which means the acceptance and celebration of imperfections. Bubbles in a glass or a finger print on a hand made pot, the little differences that make the whole item more desirable and one of a kind.
A home is more than decorating, a home is how you use the space, how it looks, smells and sounds.
“ Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful”
William Morris
William Morris was an interior designer and maker, he’s renowned as a founding member of the British Arts and Crafts movement. Along side this he has created wonderful designs for wall coverings. We are thrilled to stock a range of wallpapers by William Morris at Home. Featuring striking designs such as Strawberry thief and more, recoloured in contemporary hues. Explore the collection for William Morris wallpaper inspiration.
- Establish Routines and Traditions: Cultivate routines and traditions that give your home a sense of rhythm and familiarity. Whether it’s Sunday brunches with family, movie nights with friends, or morning rituals like brewing coffee and making breakfast, these experiences create a sense of continuity and belonging. Above all, consider having time for yourself, from yoga to cooking.
- Put yourself in different shoes: Imagine yourself as the others living in your space. Are you coming home from a 9-5? How would you like your space to feel and look if you’d had a long day? What hobbies do you have and could be more easily accessible? Are you a young child who’s been in school all day? Does your study space nurture productivity and encourage retention? Is your bedroom set up right to sleep? Are you a stay at home parent? Do you have everything that you need to set yourself up for a big day? Is there something you can add or take away from your space that will make your life that touch easier?
- Nurture Connections: Create spaces that facilitate connection and togetherness, whether it’s a communal kitchen island for cooking and conversing or a cozy living room for gathering with loved ones. Prioritise spaces that foster meaningful interactions and strengthen relationships. Consider how your layout can affect the feel of a room, if you socialise a lot then you could consider having your sofas and chairs facing each other, or if your family enjoys a movie night then stocking up on some more blankets to create comfort would be ideal.
- The KonMari method: Look around or imagine your home, do all of your belongings (the non-essentials) spark joy? Are you a trinket collector but frustrated by the clutter? The KonMari method, in essence, is if it doesn’t spark joy then throw it away. If you’re struggling to choose where to start with your spring clean, this can be a great mindset. Overconsumption is encouraged in today’s over-night delivery culture, but it’s not always the best way forward when creating a home. Be sure that you really want the item before buying, perhaps leave the purchasing for a few days and come back to it once the impulsive feeling has warn off.
- Bring Nature Indoors: Incorporate elements of nature into your home to create a sense of harmony and tranquility. From fresh to faux flowers, potted plants, naturals like wood and stone, connecting with nature adds vitality to your space. Natural materials such as rattan, bamboo and wood are often kinder to the environment. These sustainable materials grow again providing a constant supply without damaging the environment. Explore sustainable lighting.
- Signature Scents: We talked about bringing in all your senses when creating a home. So now on to a more delicate subject: how it smells! A nice smell really does help. There’s smells that calm you, such as lavender, ideal for the bedroom as studies show that it helps you sleep. Or try zingy smells that may lift your mood and get you ready for a day in your home office. If you need guidance on home scenting, call our friendly team on 01643 707 505 or visit our Taunton store. My home’s signature scent was my cockapoo, so we switched it up to a musky Whiskey from our scents range.
- Touch: Soft sumptuous throws or rough concrete textures all evoke a feeling, make sure to incorporate textures that you love. Get home late at night after a long shift? Make sure to stock up on extra blankets for a comfy evening when you get that well deserved personal time. Silk lampshades, throws and cushions are ideal for the bedroom, while stone accents may be best for bathrooms. These delightful bathmats are made of stone and absorb water perfectly meaning they are dry for the next person to use the space, ideal for busy families, so soft fabric are not the only way to appreciate tactile materials.
- Sounds: The sounds that you hear will effect your mood. We all know that waking up in the morning to the birds and sunshine verses the clap of thunder and rain really decides your morning mood. The sounds we play in our store are very calming, perfect for pondering your interior design project. Choosing the right tunes can be detrimental to how you experience your home. Check out our playlist to show how sound can affect your mood, join us for some “Cosy Home Vibes“.
- Maintain Order and Balance: Keep your home organised and clutter-free to maintain a sense of calm and balance. Designate storage solutions for belongings and regularly declutter to create a harmonious environment that supports well-being. Bang on a housework playlist and bolster yourself for an epic tidy up! Why not make cleaning up fun? Set yourself up for success and get yourself excited about where you live by decorating to your wants and needs.
By incorporating these elements, you can transform a house into a home that not only reflects your personality and values but also serves as a sanctuary where you can truly be yourself and create lasting memories with those you cherish. If you’re looking for more tips on how to make your house your home, then make sure to check out our collection of blogs where we explore trends and give you helpful tips on lighting your space!
Contact us on sales@lightingcompany.co.uk, give us a call on 01643 707 505 or message us on our contact page!
Be your home large or small, new or old, we hope some of these tips help you enjoy it!