Spaces That Heal: Creating Homes as Sanctuaries
Spaces That Heal: Creating Homes as Sanctuaries
Why Your Home's Energy Matters
Is your home inspiring you? Is it invoking productivity and creativity? Is it a safe place? A place of love and nourishment? If you can't answer these questions with a "yes!" we hope this post encourages you to consider what needs to shift. We believe a home could be a sanctuary - the place where you recharge, connect with loved ones, and feel most yourself. When spaces feel off, when you walk in the door and your shoulders stay tense, when rooms feel heavy or chaotic, your home has stopped serving you. We believe a little bit of attention and touch of design can change that.
The Wabi-Sabi Way: Beauty in Imperfection
During our work on Another Salon, we embraced wabi-sabi - a Japanese philosophy centered on accepting transience and imperfection. The imperfect plaster walls, handmade zellige tiles, rough marble edges with chiseled details - these elements reminded us of the beautiful natural world we live in. Perfection creates pressure. Imperfection invites you to breathe. When you allow materials to show their natural character, when you embrace the hand of the maker visible in every surface, your space becomes more human. Less showroom, more home. The rough edges on that marble remind us where this natural stone comes from - the earth. That's grounding in the most literal sense.
Clearing What No Longer Serves
Think of your home like your computer. After awhile it begins to run slow because you have too many open folders, old programs you haven't used in years, photos taking up space. Your home accumulates the same kind of clutter - not just physical stuff, but stagnant energy from old arguments, stressful periods, transitions you've moved through. A house clearing ceremony can reset that energy. We're talking about the woo woo stuff here, and we stand by it. Light, intention, open windows, and a simple ritual with Epsom salts can shift how your home feels. Sounds are sharper and clearer afterward. The energy feels lighter. Your sleep may be more restful. You might feel more creative or productive. Whether you're moving, experiencing difficulty with family, changing careers, or just feeling stuck - sometimes you need to clear the slate.
Designing Rooms That Restore
Healing spaces share common elements. Natural light that changes throughout the day, connecting you to time passing. Materials that age beautifully rather than showing wear - teak that weathers to silver-grey, copper that develops verdigris patina, natural stone that grows more beautiful with time. Comfortable places to sit that invite lingering - not just looking pretty but actually supporting your body. Views of nature, even if that's just a single plant or a window framing a tree. Space to breathe - rooms that don't feel overstuffed or cluttered. Colors pulled from nature rather than synthetic palettes. These elements combine to create spaces that lower your heart rate when you enter them.
Your Sanctuary Checklist
Walk through your home and ask: Does this room invite me in or stress me out? Does this space serve how I actually live? Can I breathe deeply here? Does this room reflect who I am now, or who I was five years ago? What would make this space feel more nurturing? Sometimes the answer is as simple as removing what doesn't belong. Sometimes it's adding softness - a rug, curtains, cushions that absorb sound and make the space feel held. Sometimes it's bringing in more light or more green growing things. Your home should be working for you, not the other way around. When spaces heal us, we show up better for everything else in our lives.