What is the difference between a house and a home? One of the main distinctions is that a home has personality. That’s why even though hotel rooms are beautifully presented, they’re designed to please as many people as possible, and lack the character and warmth that personal style brings to a space.

In designing your own home, it’s important to consider functionality in conjunction with aesthetic elements. Lauren Pearse from Rylo interiors encourages clients to look at the whole picture and think about interiors and furniture at the same time as design planning. This helps you to achieve an end result that encapsulates your tastes and interests and is suitable for your lifestyle.

Love art? Then keep the walls clear for room to hang your collection. For the entertainers among you, you’ll want an outdoor space to host all your friends and family. Speaking of family, consider its size when designing. A family room is no good if there’s not enough space for everyone to gather. If you expect your family to grow in future, consider the addition of another bathroom or a guest powder room.

Once you’ve thought about the architectural aspects of your home, then you can start planning your interiors. Lauren’s clients often provide her with a list of their must-have pieces with measurements. There are no rules for what must-have pieces can be as they’re very much personal; it could be an artwork, a chest of drawers, or a particular sofa. Knowing what you consider essential to your home will help you to build the space around it.

Lauren highly recommends taking these steps before beginning renovations. Custom renovations can be expensive affairs, and designing a home for items that don’t exist in your collection or for a lifestyle that isn’t your own will not only be costly, but unsatisfactory.

With a bit of forethought, you can make your house a home you’ll love.

Visit an Andersens store near you for more ideas and help with your interiors.