Unlocking a house’s full potential, or helping clients fall back in love with their homes, are both core parts of our work here at Hygge and Cwtch Design Studio. Often, the most powerful way to do this is with well-considered, intentional space planning. The way a space is used and the flow in and between rooms can be truly transformative. And believe us, bigger isn’t always better…

Why space planning matters

Good space planning is at the heart of creating a home which works for you. We’re big believers in thinking outside of the box and making creative decisions to suit the individual. What works for your neighbour might not work so well for you! 

So before any design decisions are made, putting a practical foot forward and considering your own requirements will stand you in good stead for the rest of the design process. Done well, it will also save you from making costly mistakes, giving you confidence before a renovation and bringing joy long after.

Space planning for wellbeing

Back in 2023, we wrote a post about designing within the footprint of a home, with the emphasis on nailing the flow, balance and connections within a house. Two years on, this rings as true as ever. At the studio, we’re seeing more and more enquiries for support with space planning. This suggests to us that people don’t want to move, they just want their homes to feel more fit for purpose. They want to love their homes again.

At Hygge & Cwtch, our goal with space planning is always to create a sense of comfort, productivity, spaciousness and the opportunity to declutter which works wonders for our mental health. Living in a home which feels easy to move around, contains plenty of storage and provides moments of quiet and calm is simply essential to our wellbeing. Designing layouts which deliver on this is what we do best.

Small additions for big impact

We always start our space planning work by looking within the existing footprint. We offer feasibility studies which involve us looking at the space available and figuring out how it could be tweaked to work better for the homeowner.

However we do acknowledge when a house could benefit from a little extra square footage. Sometimes, a new room is required which just can’t fit elsewhere. Sometimes, improving flow and comfort of a house simply can’t be achieved in the space available.

The approach for planning the ideal extension all comes down to understanding how the homeowner lives. Considering how the extra space would impact their lifestyle and the way they use their home. We focus not on how much space we can add but on how much they really need. We will also consider how that additional room will impact the rest of the home.

A small utility room to house the laundry can free up the kitchen to become a place of connection and calm.

A home office can significantly aid wellbeing through the physical separation of work and home.

The smallest of downstairs WCs can simply make family life more comfortable.

A mini studio can open up a world of enjoyment, peace and creativity.

So when we plan extensions, we’re never thinking about going big. After all, a small addition could be all it takes to completely change the way a homeowner lives.

Extending with intention

When it comes to extensions, we believe that it should be done strategically and with integrity. Open plan living has seen a huge rise in popularity over the past decade. Brilliant for maximising space and fostering connections, the concept of open plan is going nowhere. However our approach for clients who come to us with open plan living in mind is to show consideration and restraint. No huge bolt-on extensions without thoughtful purpose. Just spaces which connect and flow, creating balance between open and closed living.

We have definitely seen a shift lately back towards smaller, closed rooms, and we’re not the only ones who have noticed as it’s well-documented by the likes of Grand Designs Magazine. Practical, cosy, homely rooms are making a comeback.

This shift signals the movement into more intentional living. People are thinking more about how they actually enjoy using their homes and what they need from a house. Investing in our homes to work better for us now and how we imagine they will work for us in the future. The answer looks different for everybody but the power is in thoughtful, considered space planning.

Space planning with Hygge & Cwtch

Our space planning feasibility service takes into account all of the above, and more.  We’ll provide creative options for re-imagining your space within the existing footprint of your home and garden, or by adding an intentional extension if needed. This service takes away the second guessing of what could work and can potentially open up ideas that you’d never considered before.

So if you want to fall back in love with your home and explore its potential with us, get in touch for a chat, we’d love to talk.