The perfect home: what is it really?
These are the things I've found many people want in their homes – and why
The first time I tried on a virtual reality headset, it was in a kitchen showroom as part of a launch party. I’d definitely had a Prosecco, I know that. Thinking about it now, it probably spurred me on to don the rather large goggles in a room full of people I didn’t really know and experience this new realm of interiors for myself.
As I remember it, as soon as I put the headset on, I was immersed into a brand new kitchen. And if I looked down, had a virtual pair of hands with a lovely manicure (such detail) with which I could open up drawers and cupboards and check whether there was anything in the oven. So clever, no doubt about it. In fact, what I found is that you get so into it that you quickly forget that anyone looking basically sees you bending down pretend opening doors or pointing at the non-existent IRL view to the garden. It’s an amusing sight to see, having been the onlooker myself. I’m sure there’s a photo of me ‘opening the oven’ somewhere, which is probably best left hidden.
The technology of virtual reality is, I think, a game changer for the interiors industry. And some shops and showrooms do offer it as part of the service these days. What better way to see what your home could look like before you’ve made a single change to your existing spaces? And before spending a penny.
Why am I talking about this? Well, I’ve been watching the latest series of Your Home Made Perfect on BBC2, in which, if you haven’t seen it, renovators get to see their ‘perfect home’ through these very goggles I talk of, choose their favourite design and hop skip into life on site with a clear vision of what the end will look like. It got me thinking not only of my own experiences with virtual reality, but also about what we think of as ‘perfect’ when it comes to our homes.
In an ideal world, which, let’s face it is where anything perfect resides, my ‘perfect’ home would be clean and tidy all of the time with excellent storage and organisation that everyone adhered to (I’m even rolling my eyes as I type this, a girl can dream). I’d have a lovely big kitchen with a seamless link to the garden where there’d be an outdoor cooking area (also perfectly clean, unlike the somewhat unloved BBQ that’s currently there) and I’d have a beautiful main bedroom with a gloriously peaceful ensuite in my loft (which is currently full of boxes and winter coats). I’m 100% sure there are many other things on my wishlist, which after 10-plus years of working in interiors publishing is as long as the arms of all the people I know.
What we all know (or should) is there is no such thing as perfect, no matter what you see on Instagram or in those very magazines I worked for and still with. A truly perfect home should come with imperfections that tell the story of the people who live there – whether that’s a bit of mess, toys scattered or shoes flung off by the door. That’s what, in my humble opinion, turns a pile of bricks into a home.
And I guarantee you of those spaces you see on the Grid or in the media, they’ve been curated, styled and edited to show them off in their absolute best light to appear quote-on-quote perfect. That often means no plug sockets on show (cue a cleverly placed chopping board), no washing up liquid by the sink (unless it’s a fancy one), properly folded or carefully rolled towels and beds that may have been made with an extra mattress or duvet to give the illusion of sumptuous comfort. Great for inspiration, absolutely, but it’s good to remember it’s not all real life.
So, back to reality (not the virtual kind this time) what would make your home perfect? In my experience, what is perfect to one is not to another. It’s all about priorities. Perfect is in the eye of the beholder, you could say. But, these are the things that I hear time and time again from those on the quest to create their dream spaces…
Space for all the family (and friends too)
I reckon this is the top thing I hear from homeowners who are renovating their spaces. And more so since Covid. Entertaining at home was growing in popularity before the pandemic, but now it’s taken on a whole new dimension – and our homes need to reflect that. Added to the fact that many of us need areas for home working as well as all the day-to-day family requirements, our homes are working harder than ever. True open-plan living has given way to ‘broken-plan’ design where you still have that feeling of openness in living spaces like the kitchen-living-diner, but there are some clever dividing tricks to create some separation. This could be as simple as a large sectional sofa or more structural like pocket doors, partial walls or a kitchen peninsula zoning the cook zone from the rest of the room. The key: make sure there’s plenty of seating spots for all eventualities.A boiling water tap
Definitely on my wishlist. Great for a quick cuppa, for filling up a pasta pan in a jiffy or just for clearing the worktop of a kettle. Win, win, win.Light – and loads of it
My kitchen-diner has large sliding doors and it was one of the features that drew us to the house when we bought it. It makes the room lovely and light and everyone who comes to visit says what a nice room it is to sit in. It’s the part of the house that you’re drawn to and I think the light has a lot to do with it. It’s lovely in the morning when I’m catching five minutes with a cup of coffee and it’s nice at the end of the day as the sun sets and you get the last of the rays. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve read or written a feature where ‘we wanted a light-filled space’ was a key point. And I can see why.A calm bedroom
I’m going to say that this one is linked to point number one. If there’s so much going on downstairs, upstairs needs to bring some Zen-like balance. A bit like a mullet, but for the house (I don’t know where my mind went with that one, but I’m rolling with it). I’ve come across a few renovators who’ve done the bedroom first as a place to retreat to when chaos ensues, which I think is a great idea. There’s also the desire to create a boutique hotel-inspired room that feels like a treat to be in. We’ve just put paint samples on the bedroom walls and plans are afoot to begin a redesign in there. The colours are all warm neutrals. Why? To create a calm feel, of course.
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