Recently a good friend asked me to be a guest on her podcast, Swimming and Singing, to talk about ways to create a home that nurtures and delights the soul. This was the perfect nudge for me to organize my thoughts on the topic of mindfulness in home design and décor.I think of it as a practice that is both intuitive and deliberate.

I emphasize the word practice because my relationship with my own home is very much a work in progress. After designing homes for clients for over 15 years, I recently gave myself permission to design my own home. It might sound simple and obvious that an interior designer would design her own home, but in my case, I kept getting stuck.

So here are some things I’m learning and practicing along the way that have enabled me to engage in what I refer to as the Joyful Beautification of my home.

Begin with Intentionality

In the design world, we often call this the programming stage, when we ask lots of questions to understand how our clients want to live.  Ask yourself questions about how you want to feel in your home, what kinds of activities bring you joy?  What activities are necessary, and are there ways to do them with a sense of ease and flow.

Think Small! 

With my own home, I kept getting paralyzed by trying to do everything at once. If you are feeling overwhelmed about making changes to your home, I suggest starting with baby steps. The pleasure of a few tiny changes will often spark the energy to keep going at a slow but steady pace. Clear off and organize one surface that you use every day, place a vase of cut stems, and notice how it makes you feel. 

Create Nurturing Moments

For years my Instagram account has featured a Chair of the Week. This is because I see a chair as an invitation to mindfulness. It might be a window seat to listen to records, a sunny breakfast table for your morning coffee, a cozy place to read a book by the fire…What leisure activity do you find to be nurturing and delightful? Consider how you might support yourself to do more of that. A favorite chair can be a great place to start. 

Connect with the Natural World

I am a huge believer in the benefits of connecting to the nature.  I’ve intentionally planted specific trees or vines outside of certain windows to create sight lines that are calming, and that I know will change with the season.  I suggest making it a ritual to open your curtains every morning, and take a few extra moments to notice what is outside your window.  Maybe take a deep breath while you’re at it.

Nurture Your Relationship with Your Home, and it will Nurture You in Return 

I have found that when I neglect my home for a period of time, I convince myself that the whole thing is falling apart.  I know it’s a little dramatic, and that’s my point.  Just by tending to one thing, my entire perspective shifts to gratitude.  Part of it is about the result of having done the thing.  But I believe the sense of flow and satisfaction that comes from the process of doing the thing is equally impactful to my state of mind, and keeps me from getting stuck.   

Consider the Full Life Cycle of Your Furnishings

One act of mindfulness that more and more clients are requesting is to integrate their existing furniture into the design.  I love this request for many reasons.  It extends the life cycle, which is kind to the Earth.  The furniture often has a wonderful story behind it.  It adds a relaxed and inviting quality to a home that can be difficult to achieve when everything is brand new.  In the image below, the couple’s parents had gifted them the vintage Danish Model 64 chair and sofa by Georg Thams.  We had both of these pieces reupholstered and the room came together beautifully with new light fixtures and a few accent pieces. 

Treat your home like any other important relationship, and recognize that there are seasons and cycles to all relationships.  Start with intentionality, give yourself a mini project, and see if the process and the result are energizing to you. 

If you are struggling to get started, or planning to tackle a large project, consider our design services to support you on your journey. 

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