“U” is at the center of hoUse. A house becomes a home when YOU become visible, when your needs are met, when the house maintains you. How does a dwelling take on that “youness”?

Who?: Take a quick assessment of your household, whether a single dweller or more. What interests drive each person? What personalities are expressed? Does each person have opportunity to enjoy and express themself in your home? In what kind of setting does each person feel the best, e.g., nature, city life, oceanside, art gallery, sports arena?

What?: When you’ve made your assessment, what information emerged? Did you learn something new about yourself or a housemate? Was a discovery made that shows you a change to be made for that person’s comfort to increase in the home?

Where?: Now that you have some specifics to work with, where can each person’s needs be met? Once we move into a house, space gets allocated for the activities of daily living. However, if you have a creative streak or your child is especially artistically driven, is there a space dedicated to these activities? Or, do they need to ‘catch as catch can’ at the kitchen table between meals? Use the following solution and adapt it to the other needs that were identified in your assessment.

How?: A creativity zone, even a movable one, can be designed into daily living which allows that person to access their arts and crafts resources easily. Shelving and/or cabinetry can added for storage, along with a work surface.

Pegboard systems or hanging shoe organizers can be added to the inside of passage doors to store small items.

A lightweight wood panel can be installed on a door with over-the-door hooks. Then, a Velcro tab system could work for attaching items for easy removal. To implement this idea (on a tight budget or not) simple, empty food cans can be spray painted or left plain. These make great little storage containers.

Products for organizing and storage are plentiful. Get creative in how to access the creativity in your household.

When?: Start now. After reading this column, create a list of questions to ask about your household. Who lives here? What do they enjoy? What do they need to relax more or play more in this home? Where in the home can needs be met? Where can I get the resources/products needed? How much money will be needed? Who can help make the changes happen? When do I want to begin? Set a date for each task – it can always be redefined.

The YOU Factor: Design and decorating are different processes. Design is focused on form and function – meeting needs, creating comfort and access, enhancing resources to create beauty. Decorating is the final layer where personality and style are expressed.

Personality can be stylized in many ways. If there’s a musician or music lover, frame or decoupage sheets of music or sheet music covers as an artful display. Additionally, the instrument of choice (or a replica) can be displayed on a stand or hung on a wall. A sports fan can express their personality through adding team colors to the living environment, along with a touch of memorabilia creatively placed on walls or shelves. A baker might creatively display baking utensils and aprons. You get the idea.

Our homes are sanctuaries and repositories of memories. Create the spaces needed for your home to be “younique.”

Cheryl von Tress Design specializes in homes, offices, gardens and cafes in Southern Oregon and Northern California. www.cvtdesign.vpweb.com.