COVID nudged a lot of us into reimagining our homes. But beyond stylistic updates, adding office space and shaping up the backyard, there are smaller tweaks that can make a world of difference in how we feel and function.
Enter my best friend since grade school, Taylor Spellman.
I’ve written about her before because she’s full of insights and inspiration. She runs her own interior design firm in New York and has a TV show, “One Week to Sell” (8-9 p.m. Fridays) on HGTV.
Taylor and I have been talking a lot about design decisions lately. As my family and I are getting ready to move to a new house, she’s been helping me conceptualize our fresh digs. I want the space to be beautiful and appealing, but I’m looking for something deeper than that, too.
I also want it to be conscious. I want it set up in a way that makes me feel proud, inspired and connected. I want to take joy in the process of putting it together and end up with a space that brings our family together and just makes us feel good.
It’s possible to feel like your house gives you a hug when you walk through the door, she says. It may sound corny, but I want that.
If you do too, here are three tips from my BFF:
1. Get intentional about your bedroom.
Taylor suggests minimizing noise and going for generally gentle vibes in our sleeping quarters.
Noise involves everything from mindless television to excess stuff. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with having things or watching TV, but it’s so easy to casually have the tube on in the background, scroll social media, have clothes on the floor and an unkept closest in view, all in a room with somewhat random and unintentional décor.
Despite how that description may have sounded, none of it is “bad.” It’s real life! But as Taylor has been reminding me, each of those little “noises” has a sound, and in a bedroom, sound doesn’t facilitate R&R. It’s disruptive.
So, décorwise, Taylor suggests being intentional about which items we bring into the bedroom. Things like a few books on the nightstand, cozy blankets, a sound machine — these are all great. Keep it simple. She also likes to keep closet doors closed, the TV off unless we’re specifically (and eagerly) watching it, and clean, calm colors. Beige, white, sage green and light gray are good options. Like the photo above.
2. Make room to chill.
It’s important to have space for reflection, Taylor says. Basically, you need a place to chill — an area for reading, or journaling, or enjoying an afternoon cup of tea. Maybe it’s where we meditate or sit to contemplate life.
The idea is to have a beautiful and inviting area for restoration. It’s not your bed — that’s for sleeping — but it could be in the bedroom.
This doesn’t need to be a large setup. It can be just one chair or part of the couch. It could be a corner on the floor by the window. But it should feel comforting. This space is like a friend. It’s where we go to collect ourselves and recharge.
I used to have a “Zen den” in our current house, but that got the boot when my kids came along. Now, I don’t have a designated space for getting myself straight and my mind in order. This probably isn’t the only reason why I’m often losing it, but who knows. I’m going to bring it back.
3. Create connection around dinner.
I wrote a cookbook about mindful eating, and I’ll be the first person to tune out and chow down in front of the TV. At the end of a long day, it’s often quite appealing to me to turn my brain off and consume. But making this a habit isn’t really a recipe for feeling great in the big picture.
I kind of forgot about that until Taylor brought it up.
She suggests creating a beautiful space for conversation and connection around dinnertime. Sit at the table, light some candles, maybe use cloth napkins. She likes to bring something from outside into the experience, too. Perhaps fresh flowers on the table or even a few pretty leaves. She does an incredible job making her table welcoming and lovely, and it’s amazing how much this encourages high-quality engagement (and slower eating). She points out that a lot of joy can be found at the dinner table. It’s worth setting up in a way that we feel drawn to being there.
In all, these tips are easy to implement, and I think they’re useful for feeling more grounded and set up for success.
For more inspiration, check out “One Week to Sell,” where Taylor and company hit all these notes. They go into a home on the market and get a feel for who would be best served by the space. Then they go about staging it in a way that the rightful owner will walk through the door and immediately feel that metaphorical hug.
I think you’ll love the show — and Taylor. Now let’s go love our homes!