If you think standing is a passive activity, think again. All successful redesign projects begin with active standing. While you may not risk tweaking an ankle or pulling a hammy, you will be giving your brain a tough workout. And your efforts will not be in vain because active standing will help you turn that problem space into the perfect space.

How it works: Begin by standing in the center of the room. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Next, stand on one leg and rub your tummy while taking in the room’s feng shui. Haha, kidding! I’d like to think at least one person reading this feels embarrassed now. What I really want you to do is take a notebook and pen, or your phone, and turn in a slow circle looking all around the space. Record your thoughts to the following questions:

1. Things I like about the room (big windows, high ceiling, etc.)?

2. Things I don’t like about the room (feels small, too dark, worn carpet, etc.)?

3. Primary user(s) of the room?

4. Activities that will happen in the room?

5. Future activities that may occur in the room?

6. Secondary users and any activities that may occur in the room?

7. Storage needs for the room?

The point behind active standing is to help you think through everything and avoid that dreaded moment of regret after the space is finished. It can happen to the best of us. However, I promise if you take the time upfront to think through all the possibilities for your space, your regrets are much more likely to be small and seldom.

Considering who will be using the space is critical. Consider this, if you are redoing your living room and dining room and older family members will be visiting, you may want to avoid deep, plush carpet or a hard floor with throw rugs. Both are known to be tripping hazards.

Other obvious considerations are kids and pets. When we replaced our floors a couple of years ago, we factored in our two big lovable German Shepherds. We knew we wanted hard floors but also realized the doggies would most certainly scratch up the wood. We decided vinyl plank was the best option. Besides being durable and standing up to dog claws, it’s also easy to clean when, not if, they make a mess.

Activities can dictate the kind of lighting and electrical needs for your space. Will you need to plug in gaming consoles, cable boxes, or soundbars? Do you have enough outlets placed smartly so you can rearrange your furniture without having to rely on a mess of extension cords and electric strips? I don’t know about you, but seeing a tangle of cords ranks high on my list of pet peeves!

I hope these examples have helped you see the importance of active standing. It’s the most important first step in any redesign project so make it a habit.

Now what will you do next to love where you live?