“Mindfulness” seems to be a buzzword we’ve been hearing everywhere lately, but what does it actually mean? To me, it’s the way we can choose to move thoughtfully through our daily activities, savoring the little details, the sights or scents or textures, and enjoying those activities no matter how routine or mundane they may seem.

In my opinion, the concept of living mindfully goes hand-in-hand with a holistically designed home. No, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should create a space for meditation, yoga, or relaxation — unless, of course, those home elements help you to be your best self. But above all, the ultimate goal of a mindful home is to create a space that allows you to live more fully.

This month, I’m sharing 5 ways to design your home to help you do just that. But first, why does it matter?

Does Mindfulness at Home Really Matter?

What’s the point of being mindful when doing a load of laundry or making dinner? Believe it or not, when we slow down and take the time to think about each task, we transition from going through the motions to living intentionally and embracing every moment.

Mindfulness at home leads to appreciating the little things that we likely haven’t noticed before – the way an early spring breeze gently sways your living room curtains, the comforting, nutty scent of freshly ground coffee beans, the beautifully unique buttons on your daughter’s cardigan.

Believe it or not, psychologists have found that staying present comes with loads of health benefits, including optimism, gratitude, greater life satisfaction, deeper connection, stress relief, and more. Who doesn’t want that?

Tip 1: Design Your Home to Make Tasks Easier & More Pleasant

When you create a home environment that encourages you to be mindful about your routines, even the most mundane tasks become less burdensome. I spend a good deal of time in the kitchen preparing meals, and a holistic approach to design has allowed me to enjoy the cooking process more thoroughly.

For example, my pots and pans hang from the ceiling so that they are easy to reach and visually beautiful. I also designed my kitchen with a countertop height specifically comfortable for me. There’s no awkward straining or wrist pain when chopping, and rolling out pie dough has simply become a dream. Now, I can focus on the pure delight of preparing a meal for my family.

Cooking for guests and family makes me whole.

Tip 2: Use Design to Intentionally Engage in Small Moments

Imagine a home where you have the time to focus on what you want to mindfully incorporate into your life. For example, a personal value of mine is preparing beautiful meals for my family in a kitchen filled with fresh ingredients. Being mindful about this has allowed me to fully engage and immerse myself in the experience of preparing, cooking, and eating meals.

Now, time in the kitchen has become a series of deeply sensory, satisfying experiences: smelling freshly grated lemon zest, seeing ripe, fuzzy peaches resting on the windowsill, feeling the pliable dough when I’m rolling it out, tasting the pie when we slice it after dinner. These small, meaningful moments are heightened even further when shared with the people I love.

Black raspberry galette with the berries from my garden.

Tip 3: Organize Your Home for Your Specific Needs

Regardless of your routines and passions, a holistic home is well-organized, putting everything you need right at your fingertips. As a result, you won’t waste time or headspace searching frantically for items. Instead, you’ll be free to relax, enjoy, and live in the moment.

One of my favorite pastimes is entertaining friends in my home. While I love them dearly and treasure their company, I am genuinely passionate about the preparation of hosting. There’s not much that I enjoy more than curling up in my window seat, pouring over cookbooks, and planning a special menu. Because my home is organized according to my personal needs, I can immerse myself in planning that quenches my soul.

Tip 4: Combine Form and Function for Mindful Design

Holistic design creates a life-enhancing fusion of functionality and specific, inspiring aesthetics uniquely personal to you. Items can and should be both decorative and useful. The relaxation you experience when surrounded by meaningful, beautiful things that you actually use will make your home a truly special place.

In my own home, I love being able to display patterned plates and radiant glassware, and dining with a beautiful place setting is a personal, simple pleasure. With my fondness for cooking, I keep fresh herbs in jars of water on the counter in my kitchen. Not only are they simple bouquets, but they add an amazing scent to the room and are exactly where I need them for meal preparation.

Tip 5: Incorporate Your Past Experiences of Relaxation

Alain de Botton, one of my favorite observers of all things home, wrote in his book The Art of Travel, “How we spend our time between vacations/adventures matters. Our home should support our efforts to maintain those same feelings of wellbeing.” I couldn't agree more with his sentiment.

Creating a reflective home where you feel soothed by your surroundings begins with what you love. If you’ve had a truly memorable experience that has affected you in the best possible way, use it as inspiration that transforms the way you feel:

Do you love vacations to the Caribbean because of how relaxed you feel there? Paint your walls turquoise, open the windows, and hang some sheer curtains to blow in the breeze.

Dreaming of your recent trip to Provence? Add some lavender sachets to your closet and incorporate hand-printed table linens and woven baskets. The choice is all yours.

Living in the Moment at Home

I can’t resist one more de Botton quote about home:

“It has provided not only physical but also psychological sanctuary. It has been a guardian of identity. Over the years, its owners have returned from periods away and, on looking around them, remembered who they were.”

– Alain de Botton, The Architecture of Happiness

To me, these words perfectly encapsulate the reason for a mindful home: a reminder of who you are, a setting that puts you at peace, and a source of joy that spills into every other area of your life.

If you’re yearning for a space that supports this concept, please reach out to me. I’d love to help you create a home where you find delight living in the moment.

Yours,
Monique

5 Ways Your Home Can Help You Live in the Moment