My 7 Authentic Design Principles

Hopefully you have had a chance to dive into your introductory guide and you are starting to realize that the relationship you have with your space is a powerful one. I mean really powerful! Crazy huh?

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This week, lets continue to bring your space alive with My 7 Authentic Design Principles!

You see… (and yes, you are going to be hearing me say this a lot!)

Your space matters!

Picking a paint color, deciding where to put your desk, the texture of your bedding – these might seem like small decisions, but they all add up and create a profound effect on your quality of life.

 I imagine, on some level you already know this, right?  You love the feel of luxurious hotel sheets.  You appreciate your friend’s perfectly edited and displayed souvenirs. You notice how you feel when your meetings are held in a blue conference room rather than the white one with florescent lights.

The truth is…each individual element you choose to include in your space affects you in some way.  It’s not often we think about how lighting can change our experience and make us happier or how that scratchy pillow can make us uncomfortable, but these are things that really do impact us every day.

When working with clients, I often help them step back and really see their space, sometimes for the first time. They might be bumping into the same table every single day (it’s literally blocking them!) without even noticing it.

These tiny, everyday things affect your well being; every element impacts your body, your mind, and your emotions.

 But how, exactly, does one make their space feel sumptuous, supportive, and inspiring?

Here are the seven basic design principles I use to bring my clients’ spaces (and my own) into greater alignment with them self and their life. Take a look!

1.  Color: Color affects everything – energy, mood, motivation, inspiration, our relationships, our ability to relax. The colors you choose should represent your developmental stage needs, as well as the needs of your family and lifestyle.

2.  Lighting: Lighting brings your home to life. It wakes it up in the morning and puts it to bed at night. It creates different ways to be present in different times and places. Bright, white light in the morning helps you get motivated to start the day; warm, dim light in the evening can create a cozy, romantic mood.

3.  Living Elements:  Even if you’re a serial plant killer, I’d encourage you to find a few sturdy house plants. Living elements connect you with the cycle of life and each living being will bring a different energy into your home.

4.  Sight Lines and Flow:  In every space, invisible paths are carved by our daily routines. What do you see when you sit in your favorite chair? Are there obstacles that you (literally or figuratively) run into every day? What things quietly annoy you so often that you no longer notice them

5.  Feel:  Textures really help set the mood and tone of a space. Imagine a home where the sofa or dining room chairs are covered in plastic. What message does that plastic send? Now imagine a space with a soft, cozy sofa, covered in pillows that were embroidered by your grandmother. Feels different, right?

6.  Smell:  If you’re familiar at all with the concept of aromatherapy, you know that different smells have the power to motivate, relax, celebrate, comfort, and heal. Smells are also deeply linked with memories – both positive and negative. Want to relax before you head to bed? Light a lavender-scented candle. Want to feel energized before you dig into a big project? Take a whiff of some grapefruit or basil

7.  Sound:  Don’t overlook the importance of sound. Each sound, both interior and exterior, has a meaning. If you live near a busy street or if you’re blessed with noisy neighbors that drive you nuts, consider investing in a white noise machine.  Music can totally change the mood of your space as well – something upbeat and happy for the beginning of your day, something slow and interesting for cooking and to help wind down at night.

BONUS:  Energetic Cleansing: Finally, some people may find it a bit woo-woo, but many people take energetic cleansing quite seriously. They believe that past lives and other spiritual energies can deeply impact the people currently living and operating in a space. If space cleansing resonates with you, stay tuned as we will be talking more about this.

I really hope you enjoyed those and now I want to hear from YOU!

In the comments below tell me which design principle you relate to most. How is this principle making a positive or negative impact in your home and life right now?

 And Take Action!

In Your Home: Focus on one room in your space and examine it through the lens of one of these principles. Are your needs, preferences and desires being met?

In Your Heart: Examine how these principles may be impacting your mind, body, or emotions. What could you modify or change to make your environment more conducive your success?

Be sure to let me know how it goes!

With love,                                                                                                                                                       Rebecca

If your time is ripe to welcome more beauty, meaning, and intention into your life—inside and out—I’d love to support you.

Contact me for a free, 30-minute consultation to discuss where you are, where you’d like to go, and if working with me is the perfect bridge between the two.