8 secrets your home reveals about you: An architect explains the 'Bedroom Rule'

As the most intimate sanctuary in the house, the bedroom is all too often relegated to the back burner. Along with the bathroom, what should be your sleep sanctuary is frequently left half-finished, undecorated or cluttered with unwanted items, featuring bare walls and temporary wardrobes. 

From De la Cruz's perspective as an architect, this choice usually reflects "a lack of attention, rather than a lack of resources". 

"Because the bedroom is our most private space, it easily becomes the last area we focus on. The fact that nobody else sees it means we lack the incentive to make it beautiful and cosy - which actually says a great deal about how we value our own well-being."

As our primary social space, the living room is naturally where we tend to focus most of our attention. Quite often, we treat it almost like a stage set for visitors, curated with the furniture we love and the specific books we want to display. It is how we project our image to the world - a story we actively build about ourselves. 

Because of this, it is incredibly common to pour all our energy into decorating the most public spaces in our homes. "It is so important not to overlook our more personal rooms, like the bedroom or the bathroom, because that is where our connection with ourselves actually happens," explains the architect. "True happiness is built in these private rooms; your home design shouldn't just target aesthetics created for other people."

Are we actively driven to reflect our true selves in our decor, or does it happen entirely spontaneously? In De la Cruz's experience as an architect creating clients' dream spaces, the process is a bit of both. 

"There is certainly a conscious element at play when we choose a lamp, a piece of art or a specific layout that represents our tastes and values," the architect explains. "But there is also an unconscious dimension: many of our decisions stem from past memories, silent emotional needs or long-held habits."

A home naturally reflects the socio-economic position of the people who live there; it is often the very first thing people notice. From the location and square footage to the quality of the building materials and furniture, our financial blueprint undoubtedly shapes our surroundings. But there's more to it than that.

"Beyond the money itself, what is truly revealing is how those resources are managed," De la Cruz explains - and what you splash out on reveals what you believe is most important in a home. "The ultimate goal is to create a home defined by what is meaningful to you, rather than what is simply expensive."

A cluttered room doesn't automatically mean you are a naturally disorganised person. When you are emotionally overwhelmed, finding the mental energy to tidy up is incredibly difficult. Both order and disorder can mirror our internal mood or simply be a conscious lifestyle choice. 

In his experience working with clients, De la Cruz notes, "Order is a reflection of our mindset, but it is also something we actively construct... Architecture and interior design play a key role in creating spaces with organisation in mind, whether through an integrated storage solution or a clear flow of movement in your home. This is the best way to help everyone find their own unique balance."