Home Design Olympics

Home Design isn't in the Olympic Games.  But what can the 2024 Paris Olympics teach us about home design?

At times, the ideas I get for HousePlansHelper come from looking at other fields of design and then seeing what they might have in common with home design.  So, I thought I’d think about all I’ve seen of the Olympic Games over the past two weeks and what it might teach us about home design.

I’m sure I’m not the only person who has been struck by the genius of the 2024 Olympic Games Organizing Committee when they made the decision to make the city the stage rather than building a host of new arenas.

This very decision brings two themes immediately to mind:  Sustainability and multi-functionality. 

I also enjoyed the branding and imagery of the games.  This video gives great insight into how the imagery was inspired by both city landmarks and the sports themselves.

So what does all this mean for home design?

Using and preserving what you have in your existing home is always a sustainable choice when it comes to home design. 

Making each space work harder to house several activities helps us builder smaller more affordable homes both to build and to run, with less of an environmental footprint .

The ‘look and feel’ of the games reminded me how important it is to inject our own needs and personalities into our homes.

Here’s a series of musings I had about the Olympic Games and Home Design.

Sustainability

If you take a moment on Google to look up the statistics on carbon emissions and environmental footprint you’ll learn fairly quickly that the building industry is up there.  One way you can help is by minimizing waste and building smaller.

Designing your home so that it requires less energy over the long term is also key.  

I’m not going to say more here because it’s such a huge topic but I just want to encourage everyone to go for gold in terms of sustainability in your home design.

Multi-Functionality

All of the pages on room design on HousePlansHelper will speak about the activities that go on in a room.  When you’re designing your home, be sure to think through and imagine all the ways a space can enhance your life.

• A guest wc or a hallway can be an art gallery or a library.
• A dining room can be a table tennis or pool venue
• A living room can be a bridge hall or a band rehearsal space.
• What sports or games could you play in your outdoor space?

Think of all the things and the furniture you’ll need for your activities.

What furniture will always be in place and what will you need to put up and take down, storing it the rest of the time?

Look and Feel

Sound Design

Think about the bell at the athletics stadium that they athletes get to ring when they win gold.

I think sound design is an often-neglected element of home design.  As well as thinking in terms of managing sound with soundproofing, think also about introducing positive sounds.

• What sound does your door bell make?
• How about a bell or gong to signal when dinner’s ready
• How about a chime bar set up to sound each time a door is open or closed?

Monogram

We all recognize the pattern made from unmistakable French Louis Vuitton insignia.

I would bet that that inspired the design of the basketball court.

Why not develop a family monogram?  Use AI tools, hire a designer on upWork.  Find a printing service to get it run up as a stencil to use where ever you like, maybe even get a wallpaper printed!!

Colour

I am a fan of colour.  All the Olympic venues are drenched in the Olympic Colours.

As it happens there’s a trend in colour drenching right now.  Why not add a bit of colour to your home?

Backdrops

Some of the events in the city have a very layered backdrop.  There’s the area itself and then peeping over the top of the stands there’s a landmark and the sky.

This reminded me of the importance of at a minimum, focal points.  And if you enjoy decoration, really think about the layers you can create with decorative elements such as views through your windows, paneling, wallpaper, mirrors, plants, screens etc.

Closing Ceremony

So that’s all for now.  I’m writing this before the closing ceremony takes place.  I wonder what that will be like and what ideas it might give me for home design.

For now, explore the site for help on your home design and home project.