Kim Heslip, Owner of Nest and Flourish Interiors, offers her tips for designing a home that grows with you.
Whether you’re starting a family, preparing for an empty nest, or planning for retirement, our homes should evolve with life’s changes.
Thoughtful design that prioritises flexibility and longevity is a sustainable approach that can save time, effort, and money down the line.
As an interior designer with a background in nursing, I create environments that not only look beautiful but also support health, comfort, independence, and wellbeing. I approach design with a deep understanding of how our surroundings affect us, and a passion for accessibility and inclusion.
Here’s my top tips for creating a home that can adapt and change through all of life’s phases:
Designing for a growing family
For young families, flexibility is key. As children grow, their needs change rapidly, so having adaptable spaces is essential.
- Consider open plan living that allows for easy supervision of young children and scope for furniture rearrangement as your needs change.
- Reserve at least one living space, which can be closed off from the rest of the house, for added flexibility, noise control, and privacy.
- Incorporate built-in cupboards and shelves, hidden compartments, and storage ottomans, beds and sofas to help keep clutter at bay and maximise space.
- Playrooms can evolve to become study spaces, teenage hangouts, or a second sitting room for parents to relax.
- Creating an outdoor living area can provide additional space for the family to spread into during the summer months.
Futureproofing for aging in place Aging-in-place design ensures that your home remains comfortable and accessible throughout your life, it applies to all people of all ages but is of particular importance as we get older.
If your house has more than one storey, where possible, incorporate a downstairs shower room and a room on the ground floor that could serve as a bedroom if required.
If you are reconfiguring doorways and hallways, making them wide enough to allow for mobility aids or assistance in later years can help to ensure you will be able to move around your house independently for as long as possible.
Non-slip flooring such as hardwood, textured tiles, and low-pile carpet helps with accessibility and fall prevention.
Smart home technology that controls lighting, thermostats, blinds, entertainment systems and appliances enhances accessibility and ease of use.
Designing with longevity in mind
Thinking about accessibility helps to future proof our homes and protect our bodies from strain so we can remain fit and healthy for longer. Consider how you move in your home and where possible reduce the need for stooping, bending and reaching.
- Choose drawers, or cabinets with pull-out storage, as opposed to deep cupboards.
- Opt for a built-in oven at a comfortable height.
- Add a storage drawer underneath your washing machine to raise it off the floor and make loading and unloading easier.
Investing in timeless design
When planning for long-term living avoid
trends and focus on timeless, high-quality
materials that will stand the test of time.
- Neutral colours never go out of fashion and can be livened up with coloured accessories that are easily replaced should you want to refresh the scheme.
- Think about “cost per use” when budgeting for furniture. A good quality sofa or mattress may seem expensive, but when you consider how much time you will spend sitting or laying on them it may be worth the investment.
By planning ahead and incorporating thoughtful design elements, you can create a home that meets your needs today and continues to support you in the future.
If you’re ready to design a home that prioritises accessibility, longevity, and wellbeing, Nest and Flourish Interiors offers services from colour scheming to full bespoke interior design and project coordination.
Contact me at Nestandflourish.co.uk to arrange a free, no-obligation discovery call and explore how we can create a home tailored to your needs now and for years to come.
