Room Makeovers: The Magical First Step You’ve Been Skipping!
In this solo episode, I dive into the concept of 'Slow Style,' a thoughtful approach to home design that emphasizes developing your signature style over time. I discuss my personal love for tinkering with home decor and how it reflects my evolving needs and inspirations. The episode offers actionable advice on creating a deeply connected vision for your home, starting with the fundamental question: 'How do you want to feel in this room and why?' I explain that Slow Style is not about the pace but the attitude towards developing one's personal style, and how this approach can work for both those who love to tinker and those needing significant, immediate changes. Key points include understanding the importance of a vision, avoiding impulsive purchases, and making design choices that align with how you want to feel in your space. The episode aims to help listeners create intentional and lasting home environments that are uniquely theirs.
Watch This Episode On YouTube HERE
Download the free “Envision Worksheet” HERE
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Today, it's just you and me. No guests, no interview. In this episode, I'm giving you a peek behind the scenes of my thought process and sharing an actionable lesson on creating your dream home. We're starting with how to actually create a vision for your home that's deeply connected to what you want to feel and experience there.
My Love for Tinkering
If you know me at all, you know that I like to tinker with things. I tinker with my home. I change up the wall colors, move the furniture around, or switch up what I display on surfaces or the artwork on my walls. This constant tinkering happens for two reasons:
1. The more time I spend in a room, the more I notice what feels off or what's missing, especially if my life has changed in some way.
2. I'm constantly inspired by what I see happening around me—whether from visiting a new hotel or restaurant, flipping through a design magazine, or even exploring wallpaper samples for no apparent reason.
The Essence of Slow Style
If you enjoy tinkering like I do, then you are a great candidate for the Slow Style approach. The essence of Slow Style lies in developing and refining your signature style through a process that unfolds over time—hence, the name "slow." This isn't about living in unfinished rooms for years but rather about continually evolving your space as your preferences and life circumstances change.
For instance, you might get a room looking and feeling the way you want it to, and then over time—maybe just months or years—you add or subtract things. Perhaps you bring back a souvenir from a vacation, buy new artwork, or even just rearrange what you already have. This ongoing process helps you learn about yourself and what you truly love and dislike about your home.
Starting with a Vision
Creating your dream home begins with a clear vision. This is deeper than just collecting pictures on a Pinterest board; it's about understanding what you want to feel and experience in each room. When I work with clients, I ask them to fill in the blanks: "In this room, I want to feel or experience _______ because _______."
The more specific and personal you are about how you want to feel, the clearer your design choices will become. For example, suppose you want to create memorable family moments because your family lives far apart. In that case, that will guide your choices in layout, furniture, and decor to make your home more inviting and communal.
Diverse Needs, Diverse Solutions
Everyone's needs are different, and that’s why the Slow Style approach is so versatile. Whether you're a small-time tinkerer or someone looking to make significant changes, the principles remain the same. Creating a vision ensures that your decisions are not only beautiful but functional and long-lasting.
For example, some of you might want to nurture friendships with authentic people because past relationships have been toxic. This might mean creating cozy, intimate spaces that encourage real conversation. Others might want to organize their home to feel more in control of their lives, which could involve streamlining storage and simplifying layouts.
Practical Steps to Implement Your Vision
Once you have a solid vision, it's essential to assess every design decision by how well it supports that vision. This includes considering:
Functionality: Ensure that each element in the room not only looks good but serves a purpose.
Aesthetics: Choose colors, materials, and patterns that evoke the feelings you’re after.
Arrangement: Consider how furniture is arranged and what activities the space will accommodate.
Beyond Impulse Purchases
While there's nothing wrong with occasional impulse buys, they shouldn't dictate the overall design of your space. A well-thought-out vision will guide you in making choices that have staying power, preventing roomfuls of regret.
When you're ready to tackle a room, start small. Focus on one space at a time. This makes the project more manageable and allows you to refine your vision without feeling overwhelmed. Create a vision board, but don't just fill it with products; fill it with feeling-based prompts and inspirations.
Filling in Your Vision
To help you get started, here are a few ways others have filled in the blanks:
- "I want to feel connected to my family when they visit, because no one lives close, and I'm worried we’ll lose those bonds."
- "I want to create family memories through small daily rituals, because the kids are getting older and we don't spend as much time together."
- "I want to host meaningful discussions in this room, to maintain my identity beyond daily responsibilities."
These specific, personal reasons are the bedrock of your vision, guiding your design and decor choices to create a space that truly reflects your desires.
I hope this has given you some food for thought and that you're starting to see how your vision can lead to intentional design choices. Take a moment to sit in your room and ask yourself what you want to feel and why. As always, I welcome your thoughts. Did this resonate with you? Was it helpful, or did you find it too basic? Email me directly at zandra@slowstylehome.com or visit our website slowstylehome.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
Stay tuned for the next post where we’ll go deeper into connecting your vision with concrete design choices. Until then, happy tinkering!