After a long day out, it’s so nice to come home, kick back and unwind. There’s nothing better then walking through the door and getting that deep down feeling in your tummy that says, ‘all is well’. When someone tells me that their house doesn’t make them feel good, that’s when I say we need a design intervention.
Too many times we think it has to be the latest style or the most up-to-date appliances, when really, it’s more basic than that. We crave certain comforts and they’re tied in to our senses. We react on a very deep level, often without even being consciously aware.
To make your house an inviting place that you want to come home to, we recommend you decorate with the five senses in mind.
Sight: Okay this is a big one, but let’s break it down to the basics. Our eyes see so many images that our home should provide a peaceful respite. Start with lighting. Get as much daylight going as you can. When evening comes, skip the overheads and keep light soft and tranquil with lamps.
Personalize your space with meaningful objects, such as photos, trip mementos and family heirlooms. Not only are these pretty to look at, they evoke emotions of happy times.
Bring in colour that makes you feel calm and content. Don’t worry about the trends or the colour of the year. Not much good using these colours if they make you feel edgy. Choose colours that make you feel happy and make sure everyone gets to pick their bedroom colour.
Hearing: What sounds make you feel good? Soft music, no music, the washing machine going. My father-in-law loved the chime of clocks and he said it always made him feel safe and cozy. Think about the sounds you surround yourself with.
Smell: Lilacs, a newborn baby, basil, evergreens, apple pie cooking…Smell is so incredibly important, yet it is so overlooked as a decorating essential. Create atmosphere by adding scents to your home. Be careful though, using too much fragrance is simply gross. Do it naturally and in small doses.
Touch: Ask anyone who’s ever worn a scratchy shirt or had a tag rubbing how uncomfortable the wrong fabric can be. Comfort very much depends on the feel of things. Make sure your home has comfortable seating, fluffy pillows, good blankets, and cozy places to curl up in.
Taste: The kitchen is the traditional hearth of the family. A place where we feed and care of our families. Nothing makes a home more comforting than knowing that it’s full of delicious food and wonderful treats. It’s an important skill to be able to look at a pantry full of staples and know how to whip up a batch of scones, make a mac and cheese from scratch, or follow an easy recipe for molten chocolate lava cakes. Teach everyone in your family how to make a few signature dishes. Even young children should be given the opportunity to feel the pride that comes from feeding others.
Keep the pantry cupboard looking neat and tidy. Organize it so it functions well and looks pretty. Every time someone opens the door and sees the bounty, they’ll feel content and safe.
Rooms that satisfy our senses inspire feelings of comfort, joy and security. In my mind, this is essential for wellbeing. My middle son, he’s the artsy one, gave me the best compliment last week. We were back and forth on the idea of going away for Family Day Weekend, and finally I decided that maybe we should just stay put as we have been rushing around like crazys. I thought the kids might be a little disappointed, but middle boy looked at me with puzzle on his face and said,
‘Mom, you’ve set up the house so nice, it has everything we need. Why would we want to go someplace else?”.
Enjoy the holiday weekend… and most importantly, enjoy your home. If you’re not feeling the love, give us a call. Together, we can make your home a place that makes you feel good.