Your home is exactly that: home. It is your safe space, a sanctuary from the stresses and rigours of everyday life – be they work-related stresses or the simple fact of living in such difficult times. When we come home, we do so to shed a layer and become our best, most relaxed selves.
Interior design is already an important consideration purely for personal enjoyment purposes, but there are deeper mental health elements to good design that make it all the more imperative for you to consider your home’s potential.
In later life, you might not have the spare funds to make radically positive changes to your home; this is what makes financial products like lifetime mortgages so useful for extra injections of cash, as you invest back into your home and create a truly beautiful space. What is it you should be investing in, though?
Antique or Sculptural Furniture
Antique furnishings hold history in their cracks and crags, show signs of lives well-loved, and can bring untold character to your own living spaces. A statement furnishing such as an ornate armchair, mid-century sofa, or mahogany dining table can provide practical utility, whilst also boasting craftsmanship and heritage.
By the same token, you could look into upgrading your fireplace to something with a sculptural or otherwise bespoke design; think sleek and modern, or alternately grand, and marble-clad, Whichever you choose, a statement fireplace can become a powerful focal point of your living room or den.
Artwork
Why stop at furniture when it comes to bespoke pieces, though? You could also invest your money in artwork, and do so according to your own specific and discerning tastes – by, for example, taking yourself down to auctions as well as car boot sales. All that truly matters is that you care about the things you buy, but it can help to have something of an understanding of what you’re looking at and for.
Piano
If you have the budget – and more importantly, the space – you could benefit from making an especially bold statement by adding a piano to your home. Not only is the piano a sophisticated instrument and a beautiful thing in and of itself, but you could benefit greatly from the sounds it provides you – that is if you know how to play.
Luxury Rug
Rugs are crucial investments, and perfect for pulling a room together. They also aren’t the cheapest, with quality rugs and tapestries commanding a pretty penny. The joy they can provide, though, is well worth the cost. They are excellent for bringing colour and texture to a space, and also for keeping your spaces warm and cosy in the colder months.
Statement Lighting Fixtures
Even small changes can make a big difference, as is the case with lighting. Swapping out your conventional lampshades for something a little more luxurious can change the character of your room, whether softening the mood or giving another focal point. Consider incorporating statement lighting fixtures such as oversized pendant lights, sculptural floor lamps, or decorative wall sconces.
