To answer the question, I had to interview individuals about the decoration of their living spaces. I began by creating questions about influences/ inspirations, colour choice, essential furnishings and arrangement of these, consideration given to male preferences in a couple’s/family’s home and also the importance given to usability versus the aesthetic appearance of the living space. I interviewed two married women, who both had different decor preferences, and a single middle aged man. Carrying out the interviews , I felt I was able to make certain assumptions about the decoration of their living spaces but it was interesting to hear how they decided on the choices they made. There were similarities but there were also differences, which could be put down to factors such as gender, inspirations and preferences. They all liked natural/ light colours influenced by nature, online sources, interior books and visiting shops for advice. They mentioned these colours created a sense of brightness and space in their rooms. They all said that the colours they chose were bright and cheery and reflected their personalities as well as capturing the right mood and atmosphere they wanted in their living spaces. One woman said that she was a ‘summer person’ and wanted warm welcoming colours. Dark colours would pull the walls in and not give enough light. All three said that they had to use light colours as the natural light was too dark. These neutral colours are also in fashion and have a more timeless effect and are often shown in magazine and store designs, which could be influencing. This shows the link with the role of advertising and the way companies display and promote designs to influence consumers. Both women said that the animals influenced their choice of carpets and seats. They chose darker coloured seats and had richly patterned carpets to hide animal hair. This shows the desire to keep their living spaces clean, but at the same time they still picked colours for these items by pulling out colours from other furnishings so that the room still matched.
All three of the interviewees had clear ideas about what they wanted their living space to look like and they weren’t totally happy with their present styles. They were all considering how they could adapt and make improvements, showing how important it is for the designer to have a natural feel for trends and realise the significance of the consumer’s role. It can be difficult to predict how consumers value different objects. All three wanted to create a living space which was personal and individual. Designers have to be aware of consumers’ needs to personalise their space and make it their own. One woman said that her decor was influenced by the style of the house. As it was an older styled house she felt that contemporary objects wouldn’t fit in. She had a modern candle holder which she felt was out of place in her home. The other woman liked the accidental look, placing something ‘quirky’ in the room that was not expected. When picking her colours she would go for similar colours but not completely matching ones. The man had a Feng Shui book, which would influence his future decisions about layout.
Consumers place different meanings and values on objects which cannot be directed. Both women had meaningful photographs and ornaments in their living space, which held memories. There seemed to be a stereotypical pattern in that the women both had a collection of ‘valuable’ items which created more clutter in their homes, whereas the male preferred to have a minimalist look, keeping it neat and tidy, therefore making it easier to keep clean. The man mentioned the importance of his television, which affected the arrangement of the seating so it could be viewed from all seats. Whilst the women had TVs, neither said they were significant, which could suggest consideration being given to the men in the homes. All three mentioned the importance of having comfortable seating in their homes, showing they wanted a restful homely living space.
All three interviewees said that the aesthetics and the usability were equally important. They all wanted a homely atmosphere, which looked pleasing, but didn’t want an ‘unlived in’ look. The way people personalise their spaces gives an idea about what they are like. It was clear that the women preferred a more ‘cluttered’ look and the man a minimalist look without clutter. One woman admitted being unable to throw anything out, referring to her space as ‘creative clutter’. The man preferred things neat and tidy, making it easier to keep clean. If his space wasn’t practical it would ‘get on his nerves’. It could be suggested that men generally like order and neatness and women clutter the space because they consider objects have memories which they don’t want to part from. It was really interesting to find out whether they considered male and female preferences when designing their living space. One woman said the choice was entirely up to her when decorating, but the other, although she probably had greater influence on decisions, would consider her husband’s view before purchasing. When it came down to price both women said that they could persuade their husbands to agree.
They way people decorate their homes can lead to assumptions about social and financial circumstances. Consumers have to consider what they can afford and this can influence the way they decorate their living space. There has to be a balance between what is wanted and what can be afforded. It is something the designer and companies should consider. When I was at the interviewees’ homes it was evident they were willing to pay to get the style they wanted. One woman had an expensive object carved out of wood, which she just wanted to add to the style and look of her room. The other woman had certain cushions in her living room to create an ethnic look but which didn’t entirely fit in with the colour scheme of everything else. The male was definitely more technically minded with his up to date gadgets – his large screen TV with surround system, his state of the art laptop and his iPod being essential in his living space. Consumers have to go with what they can afford, which definitely impacts on how they decorate their living space. Inspirational desires aren’t always possible when price is considered.
Seeing how individuals decorate gives an insight into what they are like. For example colours are very connotational and all three of the interviewees said that they liked natural colours that created a sense of brightness and space, which reflected their friendly personalities. What people consume can also suggest what kind of taste they have and their individuality. Decoration of living spaces is influenced by many factors- personality and personal choice, advertising, social experiences and affordability.
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