“Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.” – Plato
We know that beauty and beautiful surroundings make us feel something, but why does creating beauty in your home matter? While cluttered, confusing spaces can invoke feelings of anxiety and overwhelm, did you know that beauty and order in the home can actually contribute to your overall health and happiness? According to the Good Home Report, a study on how our homes affect happiness, “if we were to divide up our overall happiness into percentages, our homes account for 15% of our total. That’s more important than general health and fitness (14%), our salaries (6%) or our career choices (3%).”
This isn’t surprising given that our homes are a deeply personal sanctuary away from chaos and the often frenetic pace of life. As Nate Berkus says, “your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.” Since 2020, there has been a huge demand for both home organization and design services, reflecting a desire for people to feel good in their homes. According to scientific research in the field of neuroaesthetics, the beauty of a well designed space can positively impact your health, happiness and sensory experience. According Jay Dee Dearness, whose PhD focuses on the intersection of beauty and design, “true beauty in design is when functional and aesthetic elements work so seamlessly with each other it feels like poetry walking in the space. ”
Having a beautiful home doesn’t have to be expensive. When it comes to the Danish concept of Hygge (loosely translated to cozy well being) it’s really about presence – “being present in your daily life to recognize moments that feel cozy, charming, good, sweet and special”. Learning to slow down and enjoy simple pleasures – your first cup of coffee in the morning, fresh flowers in a beautiful vase, or simply noticing and being aware of your senses in your surroundings all contribute to a beautiful life.
So what can we do to promote beauty in our homes? Here are some ideas:
- Subtract the unnecessary. If there’s anything that annoys or overwhelms you on a daily basis, remove it or put it behind closed storage. This allows the things you love to shine.
- Surround yourself with the most meaningful objects that represent where you’ve been and where you’re going.
- Put a single beautiful flower in a bud vase by the sink.
- Play up the features of your home that make you the happiest – maybe it’s a beautiful window with a view, maybe it’s a cozy fireplace, maybe it’s the way the light streams in your favorite reading nook in the afternoon, maybe it’s the kitchen where everyone always gathers.
- Choose at least one space in your home to make as beautiful as possible so you can retreat there when you need inspiration, calm and peace.
Spending time and energy making your house more beautiful is a worthy goal. If you need a little help, we love nothing more than transforming spaces so you can live a more beautiful life.
xo
Mary