In managing our own spaces, decisions are made at every turn and corner. These decisions can be affected by so many factors — our personal taste and preference, the context wherein our space is used and situated, as well as the opinions of everyone involved including stakeholders, co-owners, and anyone else who will share that space with you. For example, out here in London, we have to make our spaces more conducive to make the most of the gloomy weather and consider more artificial lighting in case natural light won’t be enough to cut it.
Why does longevity matter?
One of the biggest factors you should consider when making decisions is longevity. In the end, anything that lasts us longer and serves their purpose for longer ends up being more worth our money than something that will have to be replaced much sooner.
While designing
Most of these decisions are done in the design process and this goes into every factor of your space. From big details like the color scheme and structure up until the smallest of details like the tiniest centerpiece of a side table, people will barely even notice. There are plenty of decisions that have a lot of thought put into it regardless of whether or not people realize it.
Take the window, for example. Double glazing windows out here in Bromley where weather is a bit more varied than elsewhere is a well-thought-out decision in that it considered the weather and the longevity of this material and how sturdy it’s going to be in the long run.
During construction
However, not all details are worked out in the design process. The decisions you’ve made during the design phase are not final either. A lot of issues when it comes to construction usually deals with last-minute changes in availability or possible mismatches in pre-decided details that would cause you to have to make decisions on the fly.
This makes it incredibly beneficial for you to keep a hierarchy of the options so it will be much easier for you to choose the best available option for the long-run at the moment. for you to keep a list
For future upgrades
A huge obstacle when it comes to improving a space rather than starting from scratch is discerning whether or not it’s time for an overhaul or a replacement. When it comes to weighing costs on either option, the difference is stark, to say the least. Make sure to consult experts like architects and engineers to provide you with well-informed advice that may end up costing more money but will be worth every pound later on.
Maintenance and regular work
The most important work that is done is the one done most frequently. Regular maintenance makes all the difference. Regardless of how much money you invest in your materials and your design decisions, without regular maintenance, they would still go through wear and tear much faster than you expect them to.
In the end, longevity is the goal of every design project. We want our projects to be worth it and to last as long as it possibly can.
