Why Interior Design?
Interior design, to me, is all about personal expression. My room growing up as a child was really the only thing I had complete control over. It was an easy way for me to self express, to play with color, to arrange and rearrange based on my mood- to create. I took meticulous care of my space- I was never one to leave the house without making my bed. Maybe it was because it was on the list of chores, but as they say there’s nothing better than coming back to a made bed- it sparks something within- of course it’s organized and more aesthetically pleasing but it was also representative of relaxation. The ultimate form of self care.
And that’s what interior design really is about. It’s self care. How is your space? How does it make you feel? Do you know where your things are? Think about this- the rush that comes over you when it’s time to go somewhere and you can’t find.. your keys, or a certain item and you start racting around. This small ripple from not having organization in your home has now had a direct impact on your next experience. The adrenaline rush, the nervous system activation… I don’t know about you but it legit brings out my absolute worst qualities. Then comes the shame spiral about the reaction. But the point is… actually, mindfulness. But with your space.
As I write this, I’m sitting in my office/zen den/ future library. It’s this beautiful sun room, windows on all sides of me- tall windows too. I’ve intentionally lit a candle (made at candlefish in charleston- great experience, amazing scents, best candles), I’ve turned on some chill lofi beats music I like to work to, I am sitting at my wooden desk, with my ergonically situated laptop. I have an infrared heater at my feet, and I’m sitting on a higher dose PEMF mat (helps my back pain, and has different energetic settings from meditation to focus), The room is calm, cool, and earthy. It’s tidy and I know where everything is, and the things I need and use a lot are within reach of my chair. When I sit down and initiate the ritual that is my writing time, I know how I want to feel. Relaxed, warm, and focused.
The room is also where I practice yoga, meditate, pull tarot cards, read about the moon cycle and the astrological tidings. So I have a yoga mat, a big comfortable chair (room for at least one cat), a soft light and lanterns for the evenings to shift the vibe (don’t get me started on overhead lights.. just yet). There are roughly 11 plants of varying sizes from teeny air plants to a 9 foot fiddle leaf. As a fiery person. a pitta, I really like for my spaces to feel cool, calm and soothing. I have prints from my travels and from local artists from the outer banks ( I may live in the mountains, but I’ll always be a beach girl). I have this amazing moon phases painting from a best friend as a birthday present by my yoga mat to keep me aware of where I am in the cycle of my life. It’s warm, cozy and inviting. The space keeps me grounded and inspired.
Just like all of us, this room will go through different phases and iterations. It’s been a yoga studio, a library, a cat cuddle zone, and it is currently an office and playroom combo. Although I never identified much as a creative- my pen to paper/ brush to canvas skills were fine… but my method of creation was always in the physical space. The space that I had control over. Probably why I loved having a doll house as a child. The fun wasn’t in the playing, it was in the creation, the process. It was so rewarding to create something beautiful.
Eventually I had more control than just of my bedroom, I had the blank canvas of my first home. It’s easy to get the basics and plop them into a functioning space. But when we are given the priviledge of creating a space intentionally- now that’s a gift. Being able to think about what purpose the space has, what you want to do in it, and how you want to feel there- that’s the joy.
When I learned there was an entire branch of Ayurveda dedicated to creating your space I wasn’t surprised at all. Ayurveda is all about intention. Taking the time to think about and be conscious of what you choose to do, but maybe more importantly how are you choosing to do it? Taking the time to think about how these broad stroke Ayurvedic principles apply to your physical space is one easy avenue to bringing yourself back into alignment and purpose. And what could feel better?
