Space Planning Principles to Live By

Let's talk about space planning, which leads to the basic layout of a room. But first, it starts with an in-depth analysis of how the space is to be used, taking into account all who live in the home and even some visitors to the home. Rooms and spaces within rooms are zoned to account for different activities that take place in a space. For example, a large open-concept great room may have a zone for living (watching TV, reading a book, holding a casual conversation, etc) and a zone for dining (both day to day eating as well as dinner parties). Circulation zones that show how people will move through the space are defined in the space planning process; you don't want furniture to get in the way of people's expected movements. The space plan is finished by adding the furniture, decor, accessory, and artwork details.

Some times, there are conflicts that need to be resolved during the space planning process. For example, perhaps a quiet area to read a book would be nice but there may also be a need for a place for the kids to do homework. As another example, perhaps adding a focal point to a room would not fit within the overall redesign and redecorating budget. For the last example, there may not be enough room for both circulation and the intended functional use of the room. These are all items that must be reconciled in the final space plan.

Over the next few posts, there will be some space planning principles shared here on this blog. These principles apply to living spaces, dining space, entry ways, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and more. Check back for detailed space planning design principles for each of these rooms.

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Space Planning Principles for your Entryway

See these principles in action on our Houzz ideabook.
Planning a new entryway or planning to redecorate/redesign your existing entryway? Below are some space planning principles to keep in mind for the entryways.

In terms of rooms, the entryway, or foyer, gets easily overlooked, but it should be one of your first considerations. It’s needs to be both functional and fashionable: a place to enter the home from the outside on a day to day basis, a place to direct people to other areas of the home, and a place to give a first impression to guests.

The front entry is where your front door is located and the back entry could be directly from a garage or could open onto a driveway (this entry could be the primary day to day entry of the home, depending upon it’s use). The back entry does not usually include sliding doors or french doors from a bedroom, living room, dining room, or kitchen; however, it may typically be included within a laundry room.

Here are a few space planning principles …

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We hope this post finds you and your families safe and healthy during this unprecedented time. While everyone is trying to figure out how to navigate the current situation (including us), we wanted to let you know that we are here for you when you are ready.
Quick Business Update Due to Santa Clara County's and California's shelter in place orders, OVOLO can not attend any in-person meetings, including the taking measurements for projects. We want to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of our company, clients, and community at large so we are following the letter and spirit of these orders.

With that being said, we wanted to let you know that we are here as a resource if you want to connect via phone, videoconference, or email to talk about DIY projects, future projects, design ideas, etc. We can also still send you design documents, perform space planning analyses, hold design consultations, and so much more during this time. Please don't hesitate to reach out to l…

Why hire an interior designer? What's the cost?

Hint: the cost to hire and interior designer is generally more than this. Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash
When do most people think about when hiring an interior designer? Aesthetic choices: paint colors for the wall; curtains, blinds, or shutters; a new sofa and rug; fabric patterns for pillows; and so on. But there's a lot more that a designer can add to a home. A professional designer can go beyond mere cosmetics to ensure that the whole room feels harmonious through and through, from the space plan (floor plan) to the finishing details to yes, fabric and wall color choices. The designer also deals with a whole host of stores, vendors, contractors, electricians, painters, other artists, and more depending upon the project.

A good interior designer will take your needs, personality, tastes, and lifestyle into account, not just thrust their own style upon you and assume your needs for the project. A good interior designer will also take the time to build relationships and listen to…

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