We are living in interesting times. We have fluctuated between staying at home during Covid and then feeling excited to get back to traveling. We have returned to activities such as going to the gym, restaurants and mingling with friends and family.
Now that we don’t have to stay at home, I find many people are enjoying staying at home, having parties, watching movies from their large screen tv’s, and learning a more meditative lifestyle.
Nesting has become not only a comfortable act but also a necessary healing one. People feel a stronger connection to their homes. The effects of the past few years have stayed with us, and I have no doubt will continue to affect our future design decisions.
The feeling of being “at home” has become more precious and we have made changes that reflect that. This comes from the intimate relationship between us and our most personal place, our home.
It has been said that this relationship is a love affair that shapes us, just as we shape it. We spend a great deal of time and money decorating our homes. We express our creativity and needs in the desire to receive connection, comfort, and pleasure. This is why when we decorate our homes, we bond with it. The decoration is actually coming out of us and becomes an extension of who we are.
We worry how our home looks, however, how it makes us feel—emotionally and physically- is what it is all about. The arrangement of the furniture in our rooms can matter as much as when we look to our living spaces to nourish us or buffer us from stress. What’s important is that it provides opportunities for both privacy and for socializing with family and friends. It’s the emotional value of our home that counts. Our home is the foundation. It is a place that is always there for us, and we know we can always go back to it.
The individual person’s touch is key. Look around your home and notice if every room has something that touches your heart. It could be a picture in a special frame, a souvenir from a trip or an heirloom from a relative or gift from a friend. These personal memories, being near things, nurture and influence our comfort and belonging.
Think about the things you have created in your own home that give you a feeling of serenity and peace. What could you do to make your home more soothing? You might simply put bath oils and candles by your bathtub, or piles of soft pillows on your bed. Some studies suggest that the desire for a special haven is a deep physical need. We need a secure base which lowers our levels of stress hormones.
Our moods can change by letting the sunshine in. Too many of us suffer from mood or sleep problems related to inadequate light. Open your window treatments and benefit from views of the backyard. Nature is healing.
Small wonder that the term “healing environment” came about, and that our homes are considered just that. Our bodies relax and rejuvenate when we are calm and at peace. Our home supports and nurtures us, making it the most significant environment that influences how we feel and is the only environment we can truly control.
Keeping that personal connection with your home is the core of your foundation and is shaken when that connection is broken. It certainly is understandable when we hear people say, “There’s no place like home.” Always keep your home in your heart even when you aren’t there.
Remember, rooms have no feelings, YOU do!
Barbara Kaplan, creator of the Bajaro Method for personalized Interior Design, offers individual interior design consultations for guidance, ideas, and solutions to make your home truly yours. Contact her at Barbara@BarbaraKaplan.com