Designing Homes for Real Life: Lessons from Growing a Business and a Family

Dec 21

There’s a version of design that looks perfect online — pristine spaces, untouched furniture, no cords, no clutter, no signs of life.

And then there’s real life.

The kind with schedules, messes, shifting priorities, and seasons that change faster than you expect. Building a business while growing a family has reshaped the way I think about design — not as something meant to impress, but as something meant to support how people actually live.

Life Changes Faster Than Design Trends

Trends move quickly. Life moves faster.

What works for you today may not work a year from now — and that’s not a failure of design. It’s a reminder that homes need flexibility.

Designing during a season of personal change has taught me to prioritize:

Layouts that adapt
Storage that actually functions
Materials that can handle wear
Spaces that evolve instead of being “done” forever

A well-designed home should grow with you — not require constant reworking.

Function Isn’t the Opposite of Beauty

For a long time, functionality was treated like a compromise.

But designing while preparing for motherhood made something very clear to me: function is beautiful.

Clear pathways. Thoughtful storage. Durable materials. Comfortable seating. These things don’t take away from design — they elevate it.

When a space works, it feels calm. And calm is a luxury.

The Best Homes Are Designed Around Routines

Design doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It exists around routines.

Morning chaos. Evening wind-downs. Weekend gatherings. Quiet moments. A home should support all of it.

Designing with real life in mind means asking:

Where do things naturally land?
How do people move through the space?
What moments need ease instead of friction?

The answers to those questions shape better design than any trend ever could.

Perfection Is Overrated (And Not Sustainable)

A home that’s afraid to be lived in isn’t finished — it’s frozen.

Growing a family has shifted my perspective. I no longer design for perfection. I design for durability, warmth, and intention.

Spaces should feel comfortable enough to live in, not fragile enough to tiptoe around.

Building a Business While Building a Family Changes Your Priorities

Running a design studio while preparing for motherhood forces you to get honest — fast.

Time matters. Energy matters. What you choose to take on matters.

That perspective carries into my work. I design with empathy. I plan for longevity. I respect my clients’ lives, budgets, and bandwidth.

Because design should make life easier — not more complicated.

Designing for Real Life Is Designing with Intention

Real life isn’t perfectly styled. It’s layered, evolving, and personal.

Designing homes for real life means creating spaces that:

Support daily routines
Allow room for growth
Feel grounded and welcoming
Reflect the people who live there

That’s the kind of design that lasts.

Final Thoughts

Designing homes while growing a business and a family has reminded me that the most meaningful spaces aren’t the most perfect — they’re the most thoughtful.

Homes should meet you where you are, support where you’re going, and allow room for change along the way.

That’s real life. And that’s real design.

Sara St Paul