Living Environments

Objective 13 & 14

Housing in Your Life

Why is housing so important to people?• Helps to meet

physical, emotional, and social needs

Housing Decisions

Several different types of homes

Location of home Expenses

Managing Care and Upkeep

Chapter 25

Caring for Space

No matter what size the home, it is very important that the space is kept clean

Keeping it clean helps:• Save money – taking care of items helps

them last longer

• Save time – don’t have to spend time looking for items

• Improves well-being – clean spaces makes people feel comfortable and proud

Establishing a Routine

Keeping a routine helps to keep your living space tidy

Assigning tasks makes it easier to keep things clean or rotating tasks within family members would also be helpful

Neatness and Cleanliness

Suggestions to keep areas clean:• Make your bed everyday

• Put items away when not in use

• Put clothes and shoes away daily

• Clean dishes right after using them

• Take out garbage’s when needed

Cleaning indoors

To help keep the inside clean:• Check walls for dirt or finger prints

• Wash windows

• Dust furniture

• Vacuum, mop, or sweep floors regularly

Preventative Maintenance

Making sure that structures and equipment in the home are running properly

Should be checked routinely (usually once a year)

Items to check:• Building exterior

• Furnace or air conditioner

• Fireplace or wood burning stove

Cont.

These items should be checked every six months:• Smoke detectors

• Refrigerator

• Clothes dryer

• Garage door

Home Sweet Home

How a home is taken care of affects everyone in the house

Help your family – and yourself – by using your space responsibly

Safety in the Home

Chapter 25

Assessing the Dangers

Since home environments are ever changing, it is important to know what accidents can occur

Some common accidents include: • Fall and bumps

• Cuts

• Poisoning

• Fire and electrical problems

Preventing Accidents

Many accidents occur due to carelessness

Watch out for those with physical limitations like young children and the elderly

Steps to Make a Safer Home Avoid overloading outlets Install smoke detectors Keeps objects off stairs Install safe railings Install lighting in dark areas Lock up hazardous materials Use non-skid mats Keep medicines away from children Clean up spills Secure loose rugs

Taking Responsibility

“Childproof” your home – protect young children

Offer assistance to those with special needs – help reach for high items or climbing stairs

Prepare in advance for such emergencies as fire and severe weather – stay on the first floor, provide a bell for help, check regularly on the person

Designing and Organizing Space

Chapter 24

Design for Living Space

To make a room more attractive and usable, it is important that people use basic elements and principles of design

The Elements of Design

There are 5 elements of design:• Line

• Shape

• Space

• Texture

• Color

Cont.

Lines• Every room is influenced by windows and

moldings

• Horizontal lines can be created with low beds, long dressers, and shelves

• Vertical lines can be created with a tall bookcase or striped wallpaper

Cont.

Shape:• Shape’s of objects affect the room’s

atmosphere

• Matching usually sets the tone of the room

• Curves add softness

• Square and rectangular provide solidity and stability

• Variety of shapes brings an informal look

Cont.

Space:• The way space is used can make the room

appear smaller or larger

• Arranging furniture along a wall gives a feeling of openness

• Moving furniture to the center of the room makes it cozier

• Bright colors give the appearance of space

Cont.

Texture:• The texture of silk gives a formal look

• Rougher textures like grained woods, baskets, deep rugs give an informal and comfortable look

• Textures can be combined to give a pleasing look

Cont.

Color:• Color has a powerful affect on a person’s

mood

• Warm colors (red, yellow, and orange) are bold and cheerful

• Cool colors (blue, green, and purple) are quiet and soothing

Principles of Design

Set of guidelines to make lines, shapes, textures, space, and color work together

The principles of design are unity, variety, balance, emphasis, proportion, and rhythm

Cont.

Unity and Variety• By choosing one color and one style of

furniture, it helps to create unity in a room

• This doesn’t mean that the room has to be in one color but that everything plays off of that color

• By adding color and making the room more interesting adds variety (combination of different but compatible styles and materials

Cont.

Balance and Emphasis• Balance means that objects are arranged in

even, pleasing ways on each side of an imaginary center line

• Formal balance is symmetrical; informal balance is asymmetrical

• An object that is the center point of the room receives emphasis because it receives more attention than the other objects

Cont.

Proportion and Rhythm• Proportion is the way that one part of a design relates

to size, shape, or space to another part of the whole

• If a room is decorated with small objects, adding a large piece of furniture would make it out of proportion

• Rhythm is the regular repetition of line or shape in a room

• Striped fabric or pictures hung at regular intervals help to create a flow in the room

Organizing Your Space

By keeping in mind the elements and principles of design will help a person to organize their space

When rearranging a room, creating a floor plan to visualize space and look at active areas will help to keep the room organized

Making a Floor Plan

A floor plan is an illustration of the arrangement of furniture, structural elements, and design elements in a room or home

It is a map seen from a bird’s-eye view

Considering Traffic Patterns

When organizing space, it is important to consider the traffic patterns

Traffic patterns are the most direct routes that people use to move through the space in a room

Do not forget that some items need extra space in order for them to function!

Creating Different Areas

One key to organizing space is to group similar furnishings together• Examples:

• Study area might include a desk, computer, lamp, chair, and book case

• Music area might include CD’s, stereo, or a comfortable chair

• Hobby or fitness area might include weights, hobby equipment, CD player, or any other equipment needed

Design Solutions

Most people do not have the money and space to create their dream room

There are ways to work around this so that a person can create a room they desire

Space for Storage

Almost everyone needs more storage space The key to creating this is to make the items

convenient, accessible, and the area attractive Here are a few steps to create space:

• Group similar items together

• Keep often-used items within easy reach

• Keep items clearly visible

• Compartmentalize space

• Use walls and doors for storage

Decorating with Accessories

Small items that add visual appeal are called accessories

They can improve the look of a room in a fairly inexpensive way

Some accessories are just for decorating like paintings

Some please the senses like plants or a bright colored quilt

Cramped Quarters

In the smallest rooms, avoid too much furniture and furniture that is too large

Fewer items make a room look larger than it really is

Bright, light colors and mirrors also make the room look larger

Flexibility and Sharing

Since many rooms in a house are shared with one another and allow for more than one activity to take place, it is important to be flexible when it comes to decorating

When sharing a room, it is important to create a small space that is all about you and be respectful of the other person’s belongings