51. Designing Functional Zones for a Smoother Fall Transition

Ashley: Hey there and welcome to Charm and Circumstance. I'm Ashley Morgan with Ashley Morgan Interiors. And I'm gonna warn you, obviously my voice sounds a little different. Today I am recovering from something, so and I film these episodes in a different sequence sometimes than I publish them. So it's might be like a little hit or miss for a while. But hopefully we'll be back to normal soon. So today is probably gonna be a short episode anyways. And I thought it was timely with actually this week, the week that this is airing is the week that all the kids go back to school here in Lexington. And so with the thought of kids going back to school, it immediately makes me think of I guess worst case scenario. and Maybe that's a personality flaw. but of running out a door from the kitchen into through the mud room, into the garage, grabbing things, things like flying and being dropped and maybe some raised voices at kids, remember this, or having to run back in. my gosh, like I've probably had to run back into my house. Like up to four different times in a row in one trip, forgetting things, which is beyond frustrating. and so, anyways, this whole back to school this time of year makes me think of the chaos that exists in these areas of our homes that are like become these war zones. Of functionality or lack thereof as these different activities are taking place. And so I thought I would dedicate a week of editorial content to this topic of the specific functional zones that exist in our homes and how interior design actually addresses those shortcomings, those needs that we all have, whatever they may be. So really, you know, whether it's your children heading to school or you constantly travel for work, been there, and so that requires some specific functional zones, or just, you know, your typical like work schedule and getting back to a routine of different nightly meetings or events or whatever it may be, we're definitely getting into the time of year where things start to pick up again and get a bit busier and more maybe chaotic. so as life gets busier, our homes are put to the test, right? suddenly backpacks appear, shoes are everywhere and start to multiply by the door, especially as we have to expand what all those shoes are from snow boots to rain boots to all the different layers of jackets and coats. phones are constantly being charged and mail piles up and somehow everyone's looking for their keys at the exact same time. If your kitchen island has become command central for everyone's stuff, you're not alone. Now most people think the answer is to get organized, but I think the answer is a little different. I think our homes need to be designed around the way that we actually live. Because here's something that I've noticed after years of designing homes. These functional zones, they're all telling us something a little different. If shoes are always ending up by the garage door, Then it's telling you that's where you need shoe storage. Everyone drops the mail on the kitchen island and your home is telling you you need a mail station. Instead of fighting at your family's habits, let's design around them. Today I want to walk through several functional zones that I think can make life a bit calmer, more organized, and honestly a bit less stressful. So we're gonna start with the busiest place in your home. The door that everyone actually uses. It may not be that beautiful front entry door. It's probably the garage entrance. That's the one that everyone comes through every single day. Shoes, backpacks, purses, laptop bags, sports equipment, dog leashes, water bottles, keys, mail, it's a lot. One of the best investments you can make here is creating a true landing zone. this doesn't necessarily require that bougie custom cabinetry mudroom. A simple bench gives everyone somewhere to sit while they're putting their shoes on. Hooks at different heights make it easy for children to hang their backpacks and coats on their own. and closed cabinets hide the visual clutter. and if you have room, I love incorporating designated drawers that contain organizers that are specific to those smaller items, the ones that are always lost. The sunglasses, keys, lip balm, waste bags, There's little things that we're always searching for. This is the key. Make it incredibly easy to put things away. If it takes too much effort, they're not gonna do it. I say they, because I'm assuming it's not you. Can we talk about paper for a minute? Because where does it all come from? School forms, sports schedules, birthday invitations, receipts, mail, bills, catalogs. Before you know it, your kitchen island looks like a post office exploded. Now, obviously, in today's age, there is so much that is done. digital so maybe you don't have a crazy paper problem but we definitely still have mail coming in and like even the kids artwork can be bless it a nightmare right you've got to decide and purge right then and there or it piles up and gets so out of control So instead of letting paper travel through the house, give it one singular destination. So I love having shallow drawers again, if you can incorporate drawers into those cabinets that are designated for like to do or to sign or to file or to shred. If drawers aren't an option, then a beautiful wall-mounted organizer inside a pantry or a mudroom Can have the same effect. The important thing is that every single paper that comes into the house has a specific place to go before it can go anywhere else. Alright, so let's talk about technology. If I walked through most homes today, I'd probably find charging cords in five different rooms. On the kitchen counter, one by the sofa, another by the nightstand, maybe one dangling from an outlet in a hallway. Instead, create one family charging station. That's it. If you're renovating, I love a drawer with the built-in outlets. If you're not, a cabinet with a power strip works just as well. Add cord organizers so everything stays neat and label chargers if multiple family members use the space. One thing I strongly recommend is keeping this space outside of bedrooms if at all possible. It encourages healthier screen habits and it gives everyone a central place to plug in tablets, laptops, and smartwatches overnight. While we're talking about technology, let's talk about where children actually use it. Personally, I'm a big believer in creating a tech zone that's part of the family's everyday living space. Maybe it's a built-in desk near the kitchen, or maybe it's a workplace tucked into the family room. Maybe it's a homework station sitting along one wall. The design doesn't have to be complicated. It's just a comfortable chair, good task gliding. Maybe a few drawers for school supplies. hidden outlets so cords don't become a tangled mess. And if possible, of course, keep that screen facing the room as opposed to a wall. So it encourages accountability while still giving children the independence to work on assignments and enjoy. appropriate screen time. Okay, so let's fast forward a few years. Teenagers don't want to sit in the family room every evening. And honestly, that's okay. You know if you've had them. So they need their space to be with friends. And if you have the room, think about creating a comfortable gathering place. Maybe it's a finished basement or a bonus room or a loft. Maybe it's even just one end of a family room. And here's what I would include. Comfortable seating that can be arranged, a coffee table big enough for games and snacks, and one that's durable enough for them to put their feet up on and possibly sit on. Soft lighting instead of those harsh overhead lights. Ugh. Charging outlets, plenty of them. A mini refrigerator if space allows, and plenty of durable fabrics that can stand up to everyday use. The goal is simple, make your home a place where teenagers want together while still keeping them connected to the rest of family life. Alright, so now let's talk about the other end of that child spectrum, and that is toys. When my son was really little, and actually even before I had him, I knew that I did not want to walk into my house and see toys everywhere. I was okay with like I don't know, like quality toys, like wooden toys or, you know, just something that was even just had some kind of aesthetic appeal but not a bunch of like plastic crap toys. I did not want that right inside in view of everything in like the public areas of my home. I'm not saying that I didn't let my son bring toys down to the living room and play and all that. I did. That is not where they stayed. Like they were there while he was playing with them and then they were back where they belonged in the playroom or his bedroom, whatever it was gonna be. And so I knew I always wanted a designated spot for toys that I didn't have to look at from the rooms that I would frequent. So if you have little ones, you know toys are part of your everyday life. And so instead of trying to hide every single toy, which is impossible, I think, you just gotta create those boundaries. so one large basket for stuffed animals. And you know, if your response is my kid has way more stuffed animals than that, then we should probably think about that. And you know, you can start to institute a one-in, one out rule. if you are overwhelmed by the amount of toys or stuffed animals that they have, then that is probably a good thing to think through. Especially as they start to age out of toys and, you know, they continue to level up in that regard, it can become more of a natural thing, So another feature that you could have in this space would be an area, a basket or bin or something for building toys. storage ottomans for quick cleanup storage. Ottomans are so great in these types of spaces. And I know many of my vendors actually make those. So they're like beautifully made, like quality furniture, and then they have all that storage built in. they also exist for bedrooms like at the foot of the bed and things. So there's a lot of like really high-end options. And I know there's a lot of more like on the affordable side of things, there are options as well. cabinet doors on all that storage, unless they're in baskets on like open bookshelves or something, then cabinet doors are key because again, you get to hide the clutter. Not that it's crazy organized and falling out behind the doors. We don't want that either, of course. But the cabinet doors do add a little bit more peace to the room. Another option too is rotating toys. as parents you start to notice that There are some toys that your kid might not be willing to get rid of if they know about it. but they haven't played with it in forever. And so these little munchkins are turning into these little hoarders. And so you can start to let's call it rotate toys in and out. And I may have done a little bit of this when my son was little. So if I know he hasn't touched something in a while. But I know he's gonna fight me on trying to get rid of it. I will put it someplace else, like a more hidden place that he doesn't know about for a while and let it, you know, it's kind of like purgatory. and so it sits there unless he notices it. But if he doesn't notice it, then what are we doing here? And I would go on and donate it. so that's another little, I don't know, trick that worked for me at least. laundry. This is another big, obviously functional zone. and if you have a big family, I know it's like a three-ring circus. So laundry is never gonna become fun, but it can become easier. So We try to think of the laundry room in terms of stations. So you need that sorting area, a folding surface, a hanging rod for items that wrinkle easily. Clothes storage above for all of the items that you know you need detergents, stain removers, open baskets below for all of the clean laundry that's waiting to go upstairs or to the bedrooms. if space allows, I also love incorporating a small countertop where you can fold the clothes immediately right there instead of having to carry them elsewhere to do. that folding. those little conveniences save surprising amounts of time. and you just sense that it's easier so you're more willing to do it. And let me tell you, I am telling you I have the smallest laundry room that exists. Like it couldn't be any smaller. And so if you are in that boat, I feel your pain. I I know what that's like, but I also don't have, three kids to fold clothes for. So mine isn't this dire emergency situation like some of you might be facing. So anyways, those are the ideal things that I like to incorporate into a laundry room if at all possible. So as you walk through your house this week, pay attention to where life just naturally happens. Where do the backpacks land? Where does everyone toss their shoes? Where do phones end up getting charged? Where does the mail collect? Your home is giving you clues. So instead of asking, how do I keep everyone from doing that? Ask, How can I design this space so that good habits are actually built? That's what really good design is. It isn't about making people change. It's about creating a home that quietly supports the people who live in it. So as we settle into this next season of life, remember that beautiful homes aren't just lovely to look at. They're easy to live in. The best designed homes make those everyday routines feel almost effortless because they've been thoughtfully planned around real life. Thanks so much for spending part of your day with me. if you enjoyed today's episode, I would love for you to leave a review or share this episode with a friend who is maybe overwhelmed by the habits that have been created in their own home I'll see you in the next episode, friends.