The popular phrase,”living your best life” often points to personal fulfillment, reaching one’s potential, helping others and other similar ideas that lead to a more meaningful and enlightened life. Navigating all the challenges that life sends our way (external and internal) is difficult.
What does this have to do with interior design? Our interior environments contribute significantly to our well-being, and can play a huge role in supporting how we create our best lives.
https://marymount.edu/blog/designing-for-well-being-the-role-of-interior-architecture-in-mental-health/
There are any number of books, podcasts, postings and more on how to figure out what living your best life means to you. Before starting to make changes in your home, identify what your goals are, for making your life more meaningful.
Living more sustainably might be on the top of your list, or it could be living closer to nature (humans are naturally inclined to connect with the natural world – the biophilia hypothesis) and bringing in more colors and patterns from the natural world.
https://www.veranda.com/luxury-lifestyle/a60399384/nature-inspired-textile-trend-spring/
It could be that you want more space for pursuing what’s most important to you, and that could entail a renovation, updating or up-cycling of furnishings or other changes.
Amy Crosby Photography
When I work with clients, I collaborate with them; the most crucial feature of any design project is making sure my clients feel that we are meeting their goals for their project. This involves our mutual understanding of what is most important and it is my job to provide my expertise and guidance to achieve client goals.
Amy Crosby Photography
When you start to understand what your best life might look like, how can you evaluate if your space supports that? Get into the details! Here are two main questions to get you started!
Let’s start with reviewing your daily routine; If you have identified what goals you want to achieve, that will move you to living your best life, how do they translate into your daily routine?
Then, once you map out that daily routine – will your current space support that routine? Review each area/room in your home to understand how well each space will work with your routine.
- For example, if you want to meditate every morning, do you have a quiet space to do that? Do you need a dedicated space, or could you carve out an area in an existing room that can be transformed as you need it?
https://sawatta.com/
- For example, if you want to meditate every morning, do you have a quiet space to do that? Do you need a dedicated space, or could you carve out an area in an existing room that can be transformed as you need it?
- Another example: with the pandemic, many of us started working from home, at least temporarily. If creating a home office/workspace is something that will move you closer to your life goals, evaluate if you can repurpose one of your existing rooms, or if you need to carve out new space. Are there other spaces that you might want to re-purpose?
https://www.neptune.com/products/hebden-trestle-table
- Another example: with the pandemic, many of us started working from home, at least temporarily. If creating a home office/workspace is something that will move you closer to your life goals, evaluate if you can repurpose one of your existing rooms, or if you need to carve out new space. Are there other spaces that you might want to re-purpose?
- A third example: If cooking together as a family most nights is something you don’t currently do, but you want to add to your routine, do you have the space in your kitchen for multiple prep areas? Do you need more storage (in the fridge and in cupboards or on shelves) than you currently have for fresh foods and staples? Do you have ample seating for everyone to share a meal near the kitchen, for informal meals, or do you only have a formal dining space, that you don’t use often?
https://easypeasie.com/blogs/peapod-blog/family-cooking-nights-simple-recipes-for-busy-weeknights
- A third example: If cooking together as a family most nights is something you don’t currently do, but you want to add to your routine, do you have the space in your kitchen for multiple prep areas? Do you need more storage (in the fridge and in cupboards or on shelves) than you currently have for fresh foods and staples? Do you have ample seating for everyone to share a meal near the kitchen, for informal meals, or do you only have a formal dining space, that you don’t use often?
Having a understanding of how your current space supports you and what you would like to change will help you evaluate what changes are most important and how significant they need to be (minor updates all the way up to a complete renovation). Budget, time-frame and other considerations need to be factored in as well, and if you need help, be sure to call on building professionals, like me!
