A place to call home

Making your home into a comforting cocoon is easy to achieve if you follow these design manifesto prompts.

- WORDS by ALI HEATH

Creating a cocooning home begins with a reality check. It starts with your feelings, the rest is down to lifestyle, choice, budget and a sprinkling of personal magic. Return to the points outlined here when you are feeling overwhelmed - or shut your eyes, point and see what advice you land on. The chances are it might just be the prompt you need.

Which words express how you want to feel? Most people never stop to consider this, but it has a major influence on the design outcome.

How does your home currently feel? What needs to change? What works?

What homes do you love? Look to films, history and real life.

What styles do you like? Classic or contemporary, bohemian or Scandi, modern rustic or colourful, minimalist or maximalist? Research and decide what appeals.

Impact of travel on your style. What resonates and what has influenced your look?