Why Your Home Matters More Than You Think.

The study which surveyed 13,489 individuals and conducted 78 in-depth interviews across 10 European countries found that 73% of people who are happy with their home are also happy in life.

Their results identified five core emotional needs that our homes must meet for us to feel truly content – comfort, control, identify, pride and safety.

The top 3 of these needs - pride, somewhere you are genuinely proud of (44% of home happiness), comfort (25%) a home that provides both physical and emotional comfort that goes beyond basic functionality, and identity (17%) a home that reflects the occupant’s personality, values and personal stories - did not come as any surprise to us here.

However, one of the study's most interesting discoveries challenges assumptions about size. While we all crave spacious homes, the research showed that the feeling of spaciousness is three times more important than actual size. Twenty percent of people don't feel their home is spacious, regardless of its actual dimensions.

This is where professional space planning becomes invaluable because it’s a tool that can allow us to make a restricted space feel bigger without altering proportions. Take our clients Stuart and Claire's renovation for example. Unhappy with a home that felt cramped and didn’t reflect their family, our solution was to relocate their kitchen from a dark north facing front room to the back of the house. Here we were able to design a fluid open plan kitchen/dining/snug space for them, install large Crittal windows for garden views, and use a colour palette they loved. Although the footprint of the house remained the same, we had created the feeling of spaciousness through natural light, garden views, and creating flow between zones.

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A variety of reasons and problems bring clients to us, but common ones include, that they feel their home does not reflect them (pride/identity), is not working well whether in terms of layout or function (comfort) or because they are struggling to articulate or find their own style (identity). That’s why we start each new project exploring our client’s colour psychology and style preferences using our in-depth questionnaire, as well as making sure we understand a client’s lifestyle and daily habits. This approach uncovers authentic preferences, even when clients don't have the design vocabulary to express themselves and allows us to design a space that truly reflects their style.

Of course, not everyone is ready for a full design project. Yet 1 in 4 of us in the UK aren't satisfied with our living spaces. So here are 5 simple ideas to boost your home happiness:

1. Invest in what makes You proud – focus your time and budget on elements that will make you feel proud. This might be a statement wall, a gallery of meaningful artwork, or a beautifully organized space.
2. Do your own ‘Self Expression’ audit - walk through your home and ask: "Does this space tell my story?" If your personality feels lost in generic décor, find personal ways to display your passions and interests in your home to make your space reflect who you are and more personal.
3. Maximize your sense of space – from using mirrors strategically, to choosing light colours for walls there are many easy ways to make your space feel airier. Declutter ruthlessly and ensure good lighting throughout. Sometimes rearranging furniture can make a room feel significantly larger.
4. Take control - even if you rent, focus on changes you can make – removable wallpaper, lighting additions, textile choices, and furniture arrangement. The key is having areas where your decisions create visible impact and bring you happiness.
5. Design for real life! – Consider how your or your family lives – do you need homework spaces, entertainment zones, somewhere to exercise or quiet reading corner? Are everyone’s needs being met? Design your layout and home around your real behaviours, not idealized ones you might see in magazines.

Whether you're ready for a complete transformation or looking to make targeted improvements, the key is understanding that every design decision should serve both form and function while reflecting you.

A home isn't just where you live – it's where you thrive. And in a world that demands more and more of our attention, creating a space that truly serves as your personal sanctuary isn't a luxury, in our opinion, it's essential for your wellbeing.

*The Good Home Report (2019)