When buying a home, one of the most important factors to consider is the interior design aspects of apartments. Elements of interior design are now all the more critical, given how the Covid pandemic has resulted in longer stretches of working from home.
Well-designed homes will not just offer space. Instead, such homes provide spaces that are thoughtfully designed and inherently flexible. With work-from-home now widely accepted and likely to remain a norm for some time, the need for quiet and private spaces within the home has increased. Many office tasks are now being performed at home. Consequently, it is worthwhile to evaluate prospective homes from this perspective. Ask yourself the question – ‘Is the apartment designed well enough so that I can, if required, turn existing corners and areas into personal workspaces?’
Multi-functional spaces within rooms (which in turn can serve as a self-sufficient ‘microcosm’ of the home) are expected to be the way forward. Ideally, each room must be able to fulfill the different needs of users throughout the day – from rest to rejuvenation and fitness to work. For example, the kitchen can also serve as a workplace, when not used for cooking and the parlour can double-up as an indoor workout area or meditation zone.
Ergonomics is important because when you’re doing a job, an awkward posture, extreme temperature, or repeated movement can impact your concentration and productivity and ultimately, the quality of output. Simple things, like having a plug point for your coffee kettle next to your desk, or being able to conveniently stack up your files on a desk and have space for a snack, are essential attributes to consider when evaluating the interiors of a new home. Your interior design ideas and plans will thus need to consider your ergonomics needs and that of your family. This is especially important in the case of senior citizens or differently-abled users.
Optimal window-wall ratio ensures maximum ventilation and daylight while avoiding the discomfort of glare. All smart spaces and rooms should be designed in such a way so as to allow the outside in, in a pleasant manner at one with nature.
Provisions for smartly designed storage space is integral to good interior design ideas and interventions. With our lives now centered around our homes, the modern Indian family is increasingly reliant on gadgets and domestic appliances which require functional yet discreet storage space. Lofts, floor-to-ceiling cupboards, wall study and hobby walls are some interesting options.
