Serene spaces
Walking in the front door can feel like sanctuary. Alternatively, it can be a stressful environment of its own, filled with reminders of domestic jobs and repairs needing to be done, mess, clutter, noise, arguments with household members and other problems.
While few of us have a perfect home life, it is possible to modify our personal domains to make them more of a refuge. Rather than fork out on sanity breaks in luxury hotels and day spas, why not spend time and effort on making our own home into a rejuvenating retreat?
Ancient, holistic principles of design
Understanding how the various elements of interior design impact our moods and emotions is key to creating a peaceful, nurturing home, says holistic interior and building design consultant, speaker and university lecturer Anthony Ashworth.
Rather than focusing on how your home looks when decorating, put the emphasis on how it makes you feel, he says. “If we have a think about the word homely, it’s soft and holding, it’s comfortable. It’s not a showpiece; it’s not a place manufactured from a series of decorating decisions based on design trends. I really tell people to trust their intuition and to honour how they feel.”
Ashworth, who has
