Has the last year made you rethink how you are living your life and what is important?
Has it highlighted all the things that are NOT working in your home now that you have been spending so much more time there?
Have you realized what is important if you have required your home to act as your workplace, sanctuary, gym, school, and more?
Why not refresh, get inspired, and create a healthy, beautiful home that can handle all the things you need it to do for you now.
Imagine a home that looks great, feels great, and supports you so that you can be great:).
Aligned Design
My philosophy of great Interior Design, which I call Aligned Design, considers three key factors. These are art, science and energy. The intersection of the three is where the magic happens.
The “Art”, is what most of us think of as “Interior Design”, and includes beautiful furnishings, decor, lighting, finishes, color and architectural details, all artfully arranged to look beautiful and function perfectly with our lifestyle.
The “Science”, is about using color science to take your color to the next level. Color has power and affects the way your design looks and how you feel. Using color science, rather than just subjective opinion on what looks good together (the art), provides another level of expertise that takes your space from looking good to spectacular. Science contributes knowledge and products for sustainable and eco-friendly designs that help you stay healthy and protect our planet.
The “Energy” is all about connection. Connecting to yourself, your story, who you want to be and what you need in your space to support that journey. Connecting to the energy around you in and surrounding your home (Feng Shui) and to nature (biophilia). This connection creates another level of “feeling good” that is hard to put into words, but when you feel it in your space you will love that it is there.
Most designers offer parts of these “pillars” of great design. My unique philosophy is that they should be considered together in a holistic way, and that alignment is what “Makes Magic Happen” to create your perfect space.
Consider the following ideas to create that Aligned Design in your home in the coming year.
Create a Plan
Start with a plan, which considers art, science and energy and gives you guidance before you buy any decor, paint a room, start replacing your flooring or anything else. You are much more likely to get the end result you want if you start with a plan. A plan will save you money in the long run and will help you stick to your budget.
Take Your Time
A great plan perfectly suited to you happens in stages and takes time. Be patient. It is better to purchase items you love and that are part of your plan as you can afford it rather than fill your house with things that are “good enough for now” so you can be done quickly. You will soon grow tired of purchases you do not love or that are of low quality.
Out with the Old
Start creating your perfect space by getting rid of the clutter, so you can make room for a new life and new things. Less is more. Do you have so much stuff that nothing has a chance to shine? Do you have things that make your heart sing that you want to give a place of honor?
If you have more things than room to display them beautifully, put some things away and change out the items you want to highlight in different seasons for variety.
Who Are You and Who Do You Want To Be?
What is your story? What’s your style? What makes you happy? Where are you going in life? What would you love to be doing even if you did not get paid for it?
It is easy to fall for pictures of rooms in magazines or online and think, “I want that”. To create the perfect space for you, tell your own story! Pictures may serve as inspiration, but the items may not fit well in your space, fit your lifestyle, or work with what you already have. Find things that are meaningful to you, give them a place of honor and make them focal points of your design.
Where are you are going in life. Who do you want to BE, so you can do the things you want, and have the life you dream of? How can your space to support you in your journey? Not sure? Take time to figure it out. It matters! Recently I took a class that helped lead my through my own transformative journey, and I realized how important my own personal space is in supporting that. See my article, Tips to Design Wellness into a Spectacular Life for ideas.
Does it Bring You Joy?
It is better to buy what you love, even if it is more expensive and it takes longer to get all the pieces you want than to rush to finish by buying cheaper items.
The things you love will make you happy over the long-term, while you may lose interest in the other items quickly. Classic items will stand the test of time, compared to the latest trend which will fade as quickly as your interest in it.
Joy can come from more than just “things”. I think joy comes from your feeling of connection….to who you are, who you want to be, to nature, to the energy within and surrounding your environment. Use color, inspiration from nature and Feng Shui to create spaces that give you a sense of well-being.
Make Magic Happen with Color
Color makes magic happen, affects the way you feel and is easy to change. Painting is a cheap way to make a dramatic difference. Try rich colors. You can always experiment with it in smaller doses such as in a powder room.
Or use neutral colors for your walls and brighter colors for your accessories or art. Neutral colors for the walls and furnishings allows you to change the other colors in the room such as accent pillows, art and accessories as often as you like for variety.
Get help from a color strategist that use color science to determine the perfect colors for you that also work with your finishes and furniture.
Take Care of Yourself and the Planet
Consider eco-friendly natural materials when looking for furnishings, pillows, rugs, art, accessories, bedding and mattresses, paint and more. You will feel healthier and better in your space and it is good for the planet as well. See my article on Eco-Friendly Interior Design to learn more.
Layer Your Lights
Add magic to a space with layers of light. Find beautiful fixtures that add overhead lighting, mixed with lamps at mid-level and task lighting. Accent lighting on art and under cabinets look great. Put all your lights on dimmer switches so you can control the lighting just the way you like it. See my article How to Make Magic Happen in Your Home with Lighting to learn more.
Look Great, Feel Great, Be Great
By aligning art, science and energy with Aligned Design, you can create a beautiful, colorful home that looks and feels great and energetically enhances your life.
When your space is better, you are better. When you are better, the world is better.
When your space looks, functions and feels great, and supports your dreams, you are happier, more peaceful and productive and contribute to making the world a better place.
You will know your space is better because it looks more beautiful, reflects your style, tells your story, feels bigger, flows easier, your colors inspire emotions and stop you in your tracks with their beauty. You feel healthier while caring for the environment. You feel more relaxed, get better sleep, feel more positive and productive, feel more connected to nature as if the outside is in your space. You are inspired to transform to your dream life and have space for learning, silence, reading, working out and doing that only you in all the world can offer. You see, hear, feel the positive changes and it gives you a sense of well-being and inspires you to be your best.
Imagine how that would feel:)
Create Your Aligned Design
Are you ready for your house to look great, feel great and support you to be great? My Aligned Design consultation considers art, science and energy to give you guidance to create the perfect space for you.
Curious about your Interior Design style? Take the quiz and find out.
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Hi Mary Ann ~ Thank you for another great post that helped me to think about how I want my space to be/to look in 2021. One thing that I am 100% aligned with you on is the impact of layering lights.
I do do this in my own home, and it makes the biggest difference. Dimmers are key, as well.
I hope your New Year is magically aligned with all you have worked for and hoped for — and that it is your best year yet.
Leslie
Thank you Leslie! Lighting really does create the magic, along with color. Wishing you a wonderful New Year too, and hope the coming one is the best year for us all!
I love this concept of aligned design, Mary Ann, it is so important to consider when designing a great space! And it speaks to the very personal nature of great design. “Imagine a home that looks great, feels great and supports you so that you can be great” is my favorite line and sums it up perfectly!
Thank you so much!! The more I learn about design and grow in my own personal life, the more things “align” and I realize what is important to me as a designer and how I think I can really help people tap into the things that will make their homes, and their lives great:)
I agree- I am so ready to say good bye to 2020!! Your consultation option sounds like a wonderful service for your clients!
Thank you so much Christie! Here’s to new and wonderful things to come in 2021!
Great perspective! I love to start with a design plan also, so all the layers are aligned well!! Peace and joy into the New Year–
Thank you so much and the same to you!
Such a great philosophy! And I too am ready to launch into a new year.
Oh thank you so much! Here’s to a great new year ahead for all of us!
This is wonderful Mary Ann. Aligning the design, specific to the client, is what creates the magic. Anyone can ‘copy the look’ from a magazine or photo, but what connection does that bring to the owners? I’m a huge advocate for taking time to determine the feel and look for a home.
Great tips – as always!
Thanks Sheri, yes I agree, creating a design perfectly aligned with the individual to create the perfect space for them makes the magig happen. Thanks for reading!