The Beauty of Seeing the World in Shades of Yellow
Do you love yellow, and the look of Global Style Design? Fill your home with your favorite color, and the rich colors, exotic designs, and hand-made works of art that bring the beauty of different cultures to life in your space. Varying shades of yellow and gold are used in Bohemian style and Modern Global styles.
Yellow is used in various shades and saturation levels in many different cultures. Warm shades of yellow are much loved in Indian-style designs. Yellows, particularly golden yellows are often found in Turkish rugs. Golden yellows are popular wall colors in Morocco. Bright lemon yellows to earthy golds are popular in Mexican-style design.
Throughout time, in many parts of the world, the color yellow has been regarded as the color of wisdom. It is optimistic and may help with concentration. It is energetic, bright, cheerful, playful, and carefree.
Yellow can create a sense of warmth and coziness, but be careful not to use too much. Some research has shown that too much of a good thing can make people lose their tempers more often and can make babies cry. Although I can see how a lot of crying babies could make people lose their temper more often too!
Use your judgment and consider how yellow makes you feel. Try soft yellow wall colors and save brighter yellows for accents, or use brighter yellows in smaller rooms to test it out.
Get the Look with a Great Yellow Paint Color
Get the look of various global styles with a great shade of yellow on your walls, combined with global style art, rugs, pillows, and lighting. See examples in my Edesigns below. I share some of the products I used to help you get the look. Most contain affiliate links, meaning I make a small commission if you buy something for sharing with you at no additional cost to you.
You can go light or dark and dramatic.
Go Light
This Bohemian Style Bedroom Edesign uses a light yellow wall color with yellow accents in the pillows and furniture, and yellow/gold accents in the rug, art and mirrors.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
This Bohemian Style Living Room Edesign uses a light shade of yellow on the walls and touches of yellow in the accents and gold in the rug. Yellow accents harmonize with the more prevalent yellow/green accents in the pillows, art and dining chairs.
Edesign and Fractal Art by Northern Lights Home Staging and DesignEdesign and Fractal Art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Get Dramatic
This Modern Global Style Living Room Edesign gets dramatic with a rich gold wall color and rug, often found in many global styles. This design uses a complimentary color palette, based on blue and yellow as its compliment on the color wheel.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and DesignEdesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Get the Look with Yellow Accents
Here is another version of the modern global style bedroom Edesign above where yellow is primarily used as an accent in the pillows and furniture, planter, and also in the brass accents.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
In the Bohemian style bedroom Edesign below, yellow again was used primarily as an accent in the mural and the bright yellow/gold rugs.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Are You Ready to Create Your Perfect Space?
Are you ready to create your perfect space with Global Style design? Let’s tell your unique story and find the alignment of art, science, and energy that makes you happy. Let me help you take that trip to your perfect space in a Ferrari instead of a stagecoach. Try my Aligned Design consultation and let’s get started.
Edesign and fractal art home decor by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Check out My Fractal Art Studios
One-of-a-kind eco-friendly fractal art fashions and home decor.One-of-a-kind fractal art home decor, art prints, and more.
The Beauty of Seeing the World in Shades of Orange
Do you love orange, and the look of Global Style Design? Fill your home with your favorite color, and the rich colors, exotic designs, and hand-made works of art that bring the beauty of different cultures to life in your space.
Orange is used in various shades and saturation levels in many different cultures, and shades of orange are a natural color of the desert and of rocks in many areas so shades of orange can be quite common, such as when you see terracotta.
On the color wheel, orange is between red and yellow and can take on aspects of its neighbors. Like red, orange can feel vibrant and get your attention. Like its other neighbor, yellow, it can feel light, creative, and fun.
Orange is a vibrant, happy, expansive, optimistic, and creative color that inspires socializing. It is fun and warm (from the Land of Color). It is exciting and draws attention (which is why it is used for signs).
Regarding global style, brighter orange shades are common in Bohemian, Indian, Mexican, and Moroccan styles on walls, fabric, and decor items. More muted terra cotta colors are also used in Turkish, Mexican, and Moroccan styles on the walls, floors, rugs, and pillows. Greek-style does not use orange very often, but you could add beautiful orange accents, considering it is a compliment of blue which is very common in Greek design.
Get the Look with a Great Orange Paint Color
Get the look of various global styles with a great shade of orange on your walls, combined with global style art, rugs, pillows, and lighting. See examples in my Edesigns below. I share some of the products I used to help you get the look. Most contain affiliate links, meaning I make a small commission if you buy something for sharing with you at no additional cost to you.
You can go light or dark and dramatic.
Get the Look- Turkish Style
Turkish style is warm and inviting, earthy and exotic. There is an abundance of warm earth tones that come from orange terracotta shades reminiscent of desert colors.
In this Turkish-style living room, I used a dark terracotta paint color to highlight my fractal art from my Great Conjunction collection. Learn more in my blog article, Get the Look- Global Style Turkish.
Edesign and fractal art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Edesign and fractal art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Get the Look- Mexican Style
Mexican interiors are full of color, are welcoming, warm and there is often a sense of playfulness and whimsy. Colors are bright. Red is common and yellow is also used heavily in shades ranging from bright lemon yellow to deep earthy golds. Terracotta is common. Blues are commonly used in art and accessories.
In this Mexican-style living room, I used a deep burnt orange paint color to highlight my fractal art from my Great Conjunction collection.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Get the Look- Modern Global Style
In this Modern Global style design, where I was creating a split complementary color scheme to work with the deep blue sofas. Orange was one of the compliments. Learn more about this color scheme in my blog article, Great Paint Color Schemes- Try a Split-Complimentary.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Get the Look- Bohemian Style
In this Bohemian style bedroom, I used one of PPG’s colors of the year, Big Cyprus, which is a terra cotta color. I used blue accents, which is a compliment to orange. Learn more in my article, Great Paint Color Schemes- Try a Split-Complimentary
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Are You Ready to Create Your Perfect Space?
Are you ready to create your perfect space with Global Style design? Let’s tell your unique story and find the alignment of art, science, and energy that makes you happy. Let me help you take that trip to your perfect space in a Ferrari instead of a stagecoach. Try my Aligned Design consultation and let’s get started.
Edesign and fractal art home decor by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Check out My Fractal Art Studios
One-of-a-kind eco-friendly fractal art fashions and home decor.One-of-a-kind fractal art home decor, art prints, and more.
The Beauty of Seeing the World in Shades of Purple
Do you love purple, and the look of Global Style Design? Fill your home with your favorite color, and the rich colors, exotic designs, and hand-made works of art that bring the beauty of different cultures to life in your space.
Purple is not commonly used in many cultures because it was often an expensive color to create. So when it was used, it was often associated with royalty.
On the color wheel, purple is between red and blue and can take on aspects of its neighbors. Like blue, purple can feel calm and relaxing, and is the color of nature, as many wildflowers are purple. Like it’s other neighbor, red, it can feel stimulating, energetic and maybe passionate. Darker shades of purple are sometimes associated with wisdom.
Purple is a symbol of status, wealth, and royalty, and it has also been used in religion, linking it to spirituality and mysticism. Some believe it inspires creativity. Because it is versatile in its meaning, it connects with a wide range of people and is a complex color.
Regarding global style, I have used it in Indian style design as I have found the color used in some beautiful Indian rugs. I think it can work beautifully in Bohemian and Modern Global styles as well.
You can often find purple used in accents in Morocco. In Mexico, shades of purple can be seen on stucco walls, furniture, fabrics, and architectural features. Purples are often found in Turkish rugs, providing inspiration for the rest of the decor.
Purple is not a color commonly used. Be bold, celebrate color, and try it for yourself.
Get the look of various global styles with a great purple paint color combined with global style art, rugs, pillows, and lighting. See examples in my Edesigns below. I share some of the products I used to help you get the look. Most contain affiliate links, meaning I make a small commission if you buy something for sharing with you at no additional cost to you.
Edesign and fractal art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Use Purple and Contrasting Colors for a Bohemian/Mid-Century Modern Look
This Edesign mixes purple with contrasting orange, yellow and green in the art, rug, and accents to create a colorful room that is a mixture of Bohemian and Mid-Century Modern styles. My Spring fractal art collection brings a nice contrast in green to the purple walls and ties to the green outside, helping to bring the outside in. Learn more in my blog article, I Learned to Solve all my Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Be Brave
Edesign and fractal art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Bohemian Style- Change the Look with Contrasting Accessory Colors
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Here is the same room with a paint color that is a little different, again, totally changing the look and feel. Learn more in my blog article, Ways to Use Behr’s 2021 Colors of the Year.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Modern Global Style- Change the Feeling with the Lighting
Whatever purple you choose for your walls, will change it’s appearance based on the light. The light is always the boss. So consider if you will like the way it looks at night and during the day. This Edesign highlights my Deep Purple fractal art. I love the way the people looks in the different lighting. Learn more in my blog article, How to Make Magic Happen in Your Home with Lighting.
Edesign and Deep Purple Fractal Art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Edesign and Deep Purple Fractal Art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Edesign and Deep Purple Fractal Art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Edesign and Deep Purple Fractal Art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Try a Neutral Wall Color with Purple Art and Accessories
In this Edesign, I selected a wall color that is more neutral with just a touch of lavender and highlighted the purple fractal art I created, called “A Passion for Purple”. I also used purple in the rug and furnishings. The neutral wall really makes the purple art and accents pop!
Edesign and A Passion for Purple Fractal Art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Are You Ready to See the Beauty of Purple in Your Home?
Are you ready to create your perfect space with Global Style design? Let’s tell your unique story and find the alignment of art, science, and energy that makes you happy. Let me help you take that trip to your perfect space in a Ferrari instead of a stagecoach. Try my Aligned Design consultation and let’s get started.
Edesign and fractal art home decor by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Check out My Fractal Art Studios
One-of-a-kind eco-friendly fractal art fashions and home decor.One-of-a-kind fractal art home decor, art prints, and more.
Do you love blue, and the look of Global Style Design? Fill your home with your favorite color, and the rich colors, exotic designs, and hand-made works of art that bring the beauty of different cultures to life in your space.
Blue is associated with tranquility, peace, nature, water, and the sky. It is considered by some to be a “cool” color and may affect your perception of how warm or cool you feel in a space.
It may at times evoke a feeling of sadness, which may be where the expression “feeling blue” or having the “blues” came from.
Blue is the majority of people’s favorite color and is considered a “trustworthy” color. It is a nice color to consider for business for that reason if you want customers to feel comfortable and relaxed in your space and to trust you.
Blue means different things in different cultures. If it is in a country’s flag, it is often an important color in that culture. Regions near oceans or lakes, often use blue in their interiors.
As with all colors, individual experiences affect how you feel about certain colors.
Get the Look with a Great Blue Paint Color
Get the look of various global styles with a great blue paint color combined with global style rugs, pillows, art, and lighting. See examples in my Edesigns below. I share some of the products I used to help you get the look. Most contain affiliate links, meaning I make a small commission if you buy something for sharing with you at no additional cost to you.
You can go light and airy or dark and dramatic as in the two living rooms below that both use a monochromatic blue color scheme.
Edesign and custom Fractal Art, “The Sea” by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Edesign and custom Fractal Art, the Sea, by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Shades of Blue in Bohemian Style Design
Shades of blue are prevalent in Bohemian Style designs, which often highlight natural elements such as plants, birds, and natural materials.
Blue is often used in Bohemian Style design. Edesign and original fractal art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Bohemian style Edesign and custom fractal art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Shades of Blue in Greek Style Design
Shades of blue are often used in Greek-style designs. Many areas of Greece are next to the sea, the the designs reflect the connection with the ocean.
Edesign and “Sea” Fractal Art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Note the beautiful painting Rhythm of the Sea | 20 x 53 | ink, oil & acrylic on canvas | by Brooke Harker.
Shades of Blue in Moroccan Style Design
Blue is a common color in Moroccan style architecture, Interior Design and art. Note the blue in the art, representing Chefchaouen, which is a blue city in the north of Morocco.
Moroccan Style Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Moroccan style Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Shades of Blue in Modern Global Styles
Modern global styles are clean and uncluttered, with more straight lines but mixed with patterns and textures from a variety of countries in the rugs, pillows and often the art.
Because blue is generally a relaxing color, I used it for both this Modern Global Style office and Wellness Center.
Edesign and custom fractal art, “Watercolor”, by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Edesign and custom fractal art, “Watercolor” by Northern Lights Home Staging and DesignWellness Center Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Wellness Center Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Are You Ready to See the Beauty of Blue in Your Home?
Are you ready to create your perfect space with Global Style design? Let’s tell your unique story and find the alignment of art, science, and energy that makes you happy. Let me help you take that trip to your perfect space in a Ferrari instead of a stagecoach. Try my Aligned Design consultation and let’s get started.
Edesign and fractal art home decor by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Check out My Fractal Art Studios
One-of-a-kind eco-friendly fractal art fashions and home decor.One-of-a-kind fractal art home decor, art prints, and more.
Do you love the look of Global Style Design? It is filled with rich colors, exotic designs, and hand-made works of art that bring the beauty of different cultures to life in your space.
Is red your favorite color?
Red is often associated with love, passion, fire and heat, strength, power, courage, vibrant energy, and excitement.
Red can be dramatic when used in your décor.
Like all colors, red means different things in different cultures. Often, when you see red as a color in a country’s flag, it is often an important color in that culture.
One thing is for sure. Red is not a boring color and can make a dramatic statement. Be bold and use it as your primary color or as an accent.
Get the Look
Get the look of various global styles with a great red paint color, global style rugs, pillows, art, and lighting. See examples of some of my Edesigns below.
Shades of Red in Mexican Style Design
Shades of red are prevalent in Mexican Style Design.
Red is often used in Mexican Style design. Edesign and original fractal art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Great Conjunction fractal art by Mary Ann Benoit.
Mexican Style Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design Heart of Mexico #3 energy art by Mary Ann Benoit.
Shades of Red in Turkish Style Design
Shades of red are often used in Turkish-style designs.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design Turkish style Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design “Heart of Turkey” energy art by Mary Ann Benoit
Shades of Red in Modern Global Styles
Modern global styles are clean and uncluttered, with more straight lines but mixed with patterns and textures from a variety of countries in the rugs, pillows and often the art.
Notice how the same room looks very different by using different shades of red for the wall color.
“Rose” fractal art by Mary Ann Benoit
See how the whole look changes by changing the paint color and trying a different shade of red.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Are You Ready to See the Beauty of Red in Your Home?
Are you ready to create your perfect space with Global Style design? Let’s tell your unique story and find the alignment of art, science, and energy that makes you happy. Let me help you take that trip to your perfect space in a Ferrari instead of a stagecoach. Try my Aligned Design consultation and let’s get started.
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The Beauty of Seeing the World in Shades of Green
Do you love the look of Global Style Design? Do you love the rich colors, exotic designs, hand-made works of art that bring the beauty of different cultures to life in your space?
Is green your favorite color? Let’s celebrate green, the color of nature. Global style is great for bringing the outdoors in and connecting with nature. Green is a great color to use to get that worldly look and connect the energy between the outside world and nature to your perfect interior space.
An easy way to get the look of any Global Style is with a beautiful rug, and then add some great Global Style pillows for accents.
Get the Look with a Great Rug
Allow the rug to become the focal point for your room and guide the color scheme and your choices for accents and accessories such as throw pillows, art, lighting, and more.
A great way to get started is to work with black and white rugs and pillows. Then you can continue with the black and white theme throughout the room or add pops of color with your wall color, lighting, or other accents.
Because black and white are so neutral, they can work with just about any other color accents you choose and will highlight the beauty of those colors by contrast.
Get the Look with a Statement Piece of Furniture
Get the look with a beautiful statement piece of furniture like the bed in my Edesign below, that becomes the focal point of your room in your favorite shade of green. Pull in other green decor items to work with your statement piece.
Edesign and fractal art home decor by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design Edesign and fractal art home decor by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Get the Look with a Beautiful Green Wall Color
In the example below, the rich dark green wall color sets the tone of the room, and my green fractal art from my “Spring” collection, the plants, and lamp add to the theme. The hot pink is a great complimentary color and works wonderfully with the colors of the outdoor view.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
So Many Shades of Green!
Remember, greens can be saturated or unsaturated , light or dark, and can be green/blue or green/yellow based on how close they are to their neighbor on the color wheel. All will look different.
When putting together a green themed room, why not have a color strategist measure your colors to make sure the greens will work together nicely and to select the perfect colors to harmonize with the greens you love.
Although there is a general rule in Interior Design that all “greens” work together or all hues in the same family work together, that is very general. Some work better together than others, so why not create the perfect harmonies. It is important to make selections that play well together.
Green hues and their Munsell color notation.Notice Green is adjaceht to green/blue and green/yellow on the color wheel.
Are You Ready to See the Beauty of Green in Your Home?
Are you ready to create your perfect space with Global Style design? Let’s tell your unique story and find the alignment of art, science, and energy that makes you happy. Let me help you take that trip to your perfect space in a Ferrari instead of a stagecoach. Try my Aligned Design consultation and let’s get started.
Edesign and fractal art home decor by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Check out My Fractal Art Studios
One-of-a-kind eco-friendly fractal art fashions and home decor.One-of-a-kind fractal art home decor, art prints, and more.
Do you love the look of Global Style Design? Do you love the rich colors, exotic designs, hand-made works of art that bring the beauty of different cultures to life in your space?
Guess what? You can still get the beauty of all those global styles in black and white.
An easy way to get the look of any Global Style is with a beautiful rug, and then add some great Global Style pillows for accents.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Allow the rug to become the focal point for your room and guide the color scheme and your choices for accents and accessories such as throw pillows, art, lighting, and more.
A great way to get started is to work with black and white rugs and pillows. Then you can continue with the black and white theme throughout the room or add pops of color with your wall color, lighting, or other accents.
Because black and white are so neutral, they can work with just about any other color accents you choose and will highlight the beauty of those colors by contrast.
Examples of Global Styles Inspired by Black and White Rugs
Here are a few examples using Edesigns I created primarily in black and white. In the living room below, my inspiration was the beautiful black and white rug. I built the rest of the color palette and accessories around it and used red as my additional color. Learn more.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
In the bedroom below, I used the same rug as my inspiration piece, and used yellow as my accent color. Learn more about this project.
Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and DesignEdesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Black and White Global Style Rugs
Here are some of my favorite black and white Global Style rugs which would be great as the inspiration piece to build any room design from.
Black and White Global Style Rugs
Black and White Global Style Pillows
Here are some of my favorite black and white Global Style accent pillows.
Black and White Global Style Pillows
All Blacks and Whites are Not the Same
Remember, blacks and whites are actually either extremely saturated or unsaturated hues or colors, so all blacks and whites will look different.
When putting together a black and white themed room, it would be wise to have a color strategist measure your colors to make sure the blacks and whites you want to use will work together nicely.
Although there is a general rule in Interior Design that all “blues” work together or all hues in the same family work together, that is not always true. One white for example, if too close in values to another can make one look “dirty”. It is important to make selections that play well together.
Are You Ready to See the Beauty of Black and White in Your Home?
Are you ready to create your perfect space with Global Style design? Let’s tell your unique story and find the alignment of art, science, and energy that makes you happy. Let me help you take that trip to your perfect space in a Ferrari instead of a stagecoach. Try my Aligned Design consultation and let’s get started.
Check out My Fractal Art Studios
One-of-a-kind eco-friendly fractal art fashions and home decor.One-of-a-kind fractal art home decor, art prints, and more.
Edesign- A Trip to Your Perfect Space in a Ferrari Instead of a Stage Coach
By now, you have probably heard of Edesign, which is sometimes called online Interior Design or Virtual Design. It is a fast way to work together with your favorite designer to create your perfect space.
People put off creating their perfect space for the right time, the right house, the right budget, the right whatever. Before you know it, it has never happened and you have lost such a great chance to improve your life. Why not make it happen now?
Edesign is one way to get there fast. It is a collaboration between the designer (me) and the client (you), where we can work together online to create your perfect space, even if you are in another state. Or it can be a convenient way to work together with a combination of in-person and online work.
I always recommend starting with a consultation, such as my Aligned Design consultation, whether we are working together in person or online. It is important to take a holistic look at your whole house or space, both inside and outside to develop a plan before you do any work or spend money on “things”. This gives you the guidance you need to work on different rooms or projects over time and as your budget allows, knowing in the end, everything will work together and create that perfect space for you.
You get to take on some of the fun, and the responsibility by taking room measurements, ordering the products I recommend, and putting everything in place. Because of this shared workload, Edesign may be more affordable, but it is important to invest in quality design and products. You can not get your perfect space by spending $89 for a room from one of the big box online stores that don’t pay a good designer enough to consider working for them.
The video below shows my process of how Edesign works. Different designers may offer different services or work with you in different ways. Most will likely provide all or some of the following services which may include a floorplan, concept or mood board, shopping list, 3D render of the final design, and set up instructions
Most Edesigners will start by getting to know you, your style and tastes, your lifestyle, your design issues, etc. A local designer does this with an in-person visit. I send you a questionnaire or we may do a video or phone call.
Once I know what you like and need, I will start developing a design for you. This usually starts with space planning and developing a floor plan for each room so we know what will fit and how things can be arranged to best fit your lifestyle.
An in-person designer will usually take room measurements of the space and any existing furnishings that you may want to use. Because most Edesigners can’t visit your home, they will ask you to take these measurements and photos for them so they know what they are working with. This information may be requested as part of the questionnaire.
The next step includes developing a concept of a design including furnishings, accessories, paint colors and finishes to create a space that meets all your needs functionally and makes your heart sing with the beauty of the finished design.
While a local designer may present all the pieces of the plan to you in person, with samples that you can see and feel, the Edesigner will provide a concept board or rendering showing all the elements and how they look together.
Example of a RenderingExample of a concept board This one shows all the products as well as a floor plan.
You will then get a shopping list of all the parts for you to order and put in place with any final instructions. Most Edesigners will have a follow-up process to make sure it all looks good and answer any final questions.
Example of a shopping list. Links to products are included.
Hop in the Ferrari
Are you ready to tell your unique story and find the alignment of art, science, and energy that makes you happy now rather than waiting forever? Take that trip to your perfect space in a Ferrari instead of a stagecoach. Try my Aligned Design consultation and let’s get started
When it comes to Interior Design, less is more beautiful and more relaxing. Objects that truly make you happy can stand out more when they have space to breathe.
Edesign and “Unveiling Time ” Energy art by Mary Ann Benoit of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Is your home not resonating with the peace and beauty you crave? Does the term “sanctuary” seem like a distant dream when you think of your living space?
With clutter strewn around and an outdated decor, the daunting task of choosing the right color palette, arranging furniture, or selecting the perfect art piece can feel like an insurmountable challenge. Often, amidst our busy lives, we wonder, “Who has the time to tackle all this?”
Yet, investing that time is essential for your mental tranquility and overall well-being.
Amid the chaos of life, it’s easy for our homes to reflect the whirlwind of our daily routines. Before we realize it, we’re surrounded by dated decor and a mismatch of styles, especially if living with a partner who might not share the same aesthetic vision.
Sometimes, we don’t need new things to create a big change. Just by rearranging what we already have, we can make a significant impact.
I realized this when I decided to replace my carpet with laminate flooring. This meant taking everything out of each room, replacing the flooring, and then putting everything back. It was an eye-opening experience.
One lesson I learned was that I had a lot of stuff that didn’t bring me joy or that I didn’t really need. Moving everything made me realize how little happiness some items were bringing into my life.
Before, I was used to a cluttered look, thinking “more is more.” But as I slowly put things back after the flooring change, I started to rearrange them. I began to appreciate the beauty of having fewer things around – it felt calming. I noticed how objects that truly made me happy stood out more when they had space to breathe.
I realized “less is more beautiful”.
When updating your space, stay open to new ideas. Sometimes, the unexpected choices delight us the most.
Start by decluttering and removing items that don’t bring joy. This creates room and clarity.
Consider emptying a room and reintroducing key items in fresh arrangements. Rotate accessories seasonally for a refreshed look.
If pressed for time, consider hiring a professional. They can quickly navigate through chaos to craft a harmonious setting for you.
Ready to Create the Perfect Space?
My philosophy of great Interior Design, which I call Aligned Design, considers three key factors which are art (creativity), science (color), and energy (connection). The intersection of the three is where the magic happens.
Examples may contain affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission for sharing them with you if you buy something, at no additional cost to you.
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Feel Connected and Relaxed When You Surround Yourself With the Beauty of Nature
One of my favorite reasons is that Global style design is great at bringing the outside in to your designs, to help you feel connected and relaxed by surrounding yourself with the beauty of nature.
What is Global Style?
Global style tells the story of your life and adventures with things you have collected in your travels and local adventures. Highlighting unique, colorful, and beautiful art and crafts is a wonderful way to create your perfect space.
Each piece tells part of your story while creating a rich tapestry of color, texture, art, and history. And you get the added benefit of supporting local and international artists and their communities.
How Global Style Brings the Outside In
Global styles are very connected to their natural environments. They often take their color palettes and design elements from the landscape, plants, and animals of the area.
Art, accessories, and rugs highlight colors and motifs based on natural and unique features of the culture.
This has the effect of creating the feeling o bringing the outside in, or making your interior space feel connected to the outdoors.
For example, I wrote a series of articles showing how the colors and patterns of different global styles were related to their culture and landscapes.
Here are a few examples. They contain affiliate links which means I may make a small commission for sharing with you at no additional cost to you.
Indian Style
Indian style design creates inviting, informal, relaxed spaces filled with bright colored hand spun fabrics with paisley patterns, floor cushions around colorful rugs, intricate mandala motifs and nature-inspired themes with flowers, birds, animals
Indian Style Living Room- Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
See an example of the natural landscape that inspired the design and some of the design elements I used below.
Mexican Style
Mexican interiors are full of color, are welcoming, warm and there is often a sense of playfulness and whimsy. A mix of colorful, exotic Spanish and Indian handcrafted items and practical things add old-world charm. The colors are bright. Red is common and Yellow is also used heavily in shades ranging from bright lemon yellow to deep earthy golds. Terracotta is common. Blues are commonly used in art and accessories.
Mexican Style Living Room- Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
See the landscape that inspired the design and some of the design elements I used below.
Moroccan Style
Moroccan homes use bright colors, such as red, blue, orange, turquoise, pale ocean blues and green mixed with gold.
Moroccan Style Living Room- Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
See the art of the landscape that inspired the design and some of the design elements I used below.
Turkish Style
Turkish style is warm and inviting, earthy and exotic. There is an abundance of warm earth tones with pops of beautiful color. The colors and textures of the land have inspired much of the art, colors, and culture.
Turkish Style Living Room- Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
See how the colors in the landscape inspired the design and some of the design elements I used below.
Greek Style
Greek Interior Design is simple and elegant, inspired by nature, and looks light, bright, airy, and clean. Imagine lots of white with beautiful vivid blue, green, fuchsia, and gold accents, and a clean, de-cluttered, rustic look,
See how the colors in the landscape inspired the design and some of the design elements I used below.
Colors of Greece by Dimitris-Kiriakakis on unsplash
Bohemian Style
Bohemian style tends to be more general, selecting elements from many places and mixing and matching them into one glorious, colorful but harmonious whole. In other words, make it your own!
Bohemian style celebrates warm earthy colors, metals and jewel tones. Bohemian decor often uses deep browns, greens, grays or other neutral colors for base colors, then accessorizes with saturated purple, fiery orange, and electric blue and other jewel tones
Here are some examples of pieces I used for this design. Elements of the outdoors are incorporated in my fractal art inspired by bioluminescence in the ocean, pillows with plant motifs, bird accessories, lotus plant light fixture, and more. Learn more about this design in my article, Get the Look- Global Style- Bohemian.
What Story Does Your Landscape Tell?
Look around. What are the colors, shapes and inspiring things about your landscape that you can connect to your indoor spaces?
What are the main things you see from the windows into your main living areas?
Consider your surroundings. Do you live in the mountains, a forest, on the ocean or in a city?
What is your view?
What are the prominent colors and how do they change with the seasons?
Some of my Landscape Stories
Here are some of the colors, shapes, and inspiration from my landscape here in Seward Alaska that shape what I try to bring indoors into my space and my designs.
View from my window.
The colors of summer, with lots of beautiful fireweed.
How Can You Bring the Outside In?
It is easy to get started by picking art or accessories that have nature-inspired designs. Look for things that reflect the area you live in or a place you love to go. Maybe you are inspired by the scenery, water, plants or animals. You can also use your selection as an inspiration piece to build your color palette.
Art and Accessories Inspired by Water
Live near water? Here are some pieces of art inspired by the ocean or other water bodies you might like. Try a watery color scheme of greens and blues.
Art and Accesories Inspired by Plants
Live near a forest or have trees and shrubs in your yard? Try lighting, art, or accessories based on plant motifs.
Art and Accessories Inspired by Animals
Abstract Art Inspored by Nature
Before I became a designer, I was a wildlife biologist in Alaska for 20 years and 10 years before that in Arizona. I was always fascinated by the beauty of nature, the colors, the patterns of the landscapes, plants, and animals. Whether it was the amazing patterns I could see of the section of a plant under a microscope to the big picture view of doing wildlife surveys in a plane, those experiences influence the fractal art I create today. It is all related to nature in some way. Check out some of my fractal art below and visit my stores on Society 6 and Vida to see more.
Why Connecting with Nature Matters
As humans, we want to be connected with nature and other living things such as people, animals and plants. This longing for “connection” with other life forms is called “biophilia”.
As humans, we have always been connected to nature, for survival, sustenance, spiritual renewal, and inspiration. Mother nature is the best designer there is, with her endless abundance of beautiful color palettes, shapes, patterns, and textures. Spending time in nature is good for our health and wellbeing.
Look at your surroundings and find the colors and inspiration from the outdoors that it meaningful to you, and bring some into your space.
Ready to Connect to Nature in Your Home?
My philosophy of great Interior Design, which I call Aligned Design, considers three key factors which are art (creativity), science (color), and energy (connection). The intersection of the three is where the magic happens.
Connecting to nature and biophilia is part of the energy of great design.
Start with an Aligned Design consultation to create a plan to create your perfect space.
Examples may contain affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission for sharing them with you if you buy something, at no additional cost to you.
