Mastering the Art of Traffic Flow in Home Design

When we’re designing spaces, our first concern should be the people who use and inhabit those spaces. Whether it’s a library, a public swimming pool, or a home – the basic principle applies: foot traffic matters.

When we understand foot traffic, we can place furniture and fixtures accordingly, using them to direct traffic, and to avoid the low-level stress that comes with knowing that you’d like to move to another part of the space, but you’re being prevented from doing so in the way that you’d really like.

Through this understanding, we might put together amazing entranceways, or break down the boundaries that separate one room from another. But exactly how can this be done?

Define Clear Pathways

To begin with, we should seek to identify the main routes people will take through a given space. We should support these thoroughfares, moving furniture such that they can be comfortable navigated. You might find that there are bottlenecks that naturally reveal themselves only when the space is being used again and again. You might find that you can’t get past the fridge door, for example, when it’s open. What’s important is that the major pathways have been marked – you can always tweak later.

Create Functional Zones

Think about what you’re going to be doing in a particular area of the home. Then define these areas according to that function. If there’s an item of furniture, or a fixture, that isn’t quite supporting that function, then it might be time to reassess it.

In certain cases, purpose-built furniture can make a significant difference to the function of a given room. This applies particularly to storage, which can help to free up space elsewhere in the home, and help to preserve the sense of flow. Wardrobes purpose-built for smaller bedrooms, for example, can help those spaces to realise their potential.

Maximise Open Space

The more open a space is, the easier it will be for traffic to flow through it. You can use certain visual accents to guide people from one space to the next, and use sightlines to enhance that sense that the everything belongs to a single, cohesive living space.

Focal Points

If we break down the barriers between spaces too much, then those spaces might begin to feel vaguely-defined. We can combat this with the help of focal points. These are statement objects, like fireplaces and designer sofas, to which the eye will naturally be drawn. Ideally, these items should match the intended function of the space, and be supported by the surrounding décor.