Have you noticed that your design feed has become a bit homogenized? Your feed is full of carefully designed monoculture spaces like boutique hotels or luxury rentals that could be literally anywhere in the world. These flawlessly styled, neutral-toned, perfectly lit spaces are lovely, but slightly clinical and are examples of aesthetic known as “AirSpace.” AirSpace is engineered to photograph beautifully for social feeds, but lacks personality, creativity, and true livability. We’ve got some tips for bridging the gap between the idealized visuals and the reality of designing functional spaces that are infused with the warmth and depth that makes them places clients can’t wait to come home to.
Warmth Beyond the Thermostat
AirSpace falls short most dramatically in the areas meant for human connection. A spotless family room or immaculate open kitchen might look pristine on a screen, but if the space doesn’t invite genuine interaction, it feels more like a set from a TV show than a home. Real warmth lives in the deliberate balance between functionality and personal storytelling.
Authentic warmth is visceral, tactile, and grounded in real life in living spaces. It begins with choosing a color palette that feels calm and provides a backdrop to showcase elements in the space like the wood grain of the cabinetry or the distressed leather of a vintage ottoman accessorized with a wool throw. Attention to details like decorative hardware can give rooms more depth. Chunky knobs and architectural cabinet pulls that look substantial and feel solid in your hand create a sense of grounding in a gathering space.
Styling personal items is a go-to strategy to add warmth, but those defining pieces don’t have to be a permanent collection. It’s also important to encourage clients to embrace evolving these spaces throughout the family life cycle or throughout the year. We aren’t only talking about seasonal decor or swapping the baby photos for school portraits (although a progression of images is compelling!) We are talking about changes that reflect lifestyle evolutions. For example, that nook in the family room that made a great space for a wine bar might not have the same appeal as the family grows. Repurposing that wine bar into a mini library with a collection of favorite books not only looks great but also encourages conversation. And unlike AirSpaces with their defined heights and perfectly matching book spines, personal mini libraries can be put together any way the client likes: by color, by subject, by size—there are no rules!
Clearing the Air(Space)
When it comes to bathrooms, AirSpaces are typically dramatic spa-like retreats. Not only are they large, but there is no clutter on the vanity nor visible toilet paper! In real life, bathrooms are one of the hardest-working areas of the home. They have to stand up to daily use along with temperature and humidity changes. And don’t forget the need to maximize storage in small spaces. While aspects of an AirSpace bathroom may not be attainable, it doesn’t mean some of the bespoke features can’t be part of your bath space.
No matter what size the room, taming clutter is the number one way to elevate the bathroom. Cabinetry-style vanities offer flexibility for optimizing storage in any size bathroom. The U-Shape Rollouts and Drawer Boxes from Hardware Resources™ makes the most of the storage area under the sink by maximizing the perimeter around plumbing, carving out clean pullout storage for bath products and grooming essentials.
Have you felt the pull of the “AirSpace” trap in recent client briefs? What is your favorite unexpected, deeply personal artifact you have used in a project to inject real soul back into a room? Let’s talk in the comments below!