The phrase ‘peaceful space’ will mean different things to different people; some will feel more at peace in spaces that are very empty, minimal and super efficient, others will feel more peaceful in friendly, open, happy surroundings. Still others will feel most calm in spaces that have an elegant, soothing, dreamy feel to them, whilst some may feel most at ease in more rustic, cozy rooms with book lined walls.
The basics to creating a peaceful space are similar. There are certain aspects that imbue a place with that peaceful feeling and the most evident one is to have the space reflect a style that mirrors who you are at your core. Finding a style that showcases your most true self. There are a lot of cues to finding your true style; one being aware of what you have always been drawn to, even as a child. Look to images, art and times in nature where you feel your heart is really lifted. Those indications and prompts tell you the truth about your style and can be built on to create a whole look. When the feel of a space really represents your real style you are more able to be who you are, and that quality inherently grounds us.
From there, it is a matter of clearing from the palette much of what does not harmonize with those feelings and the look you resonate with. There will still, of course, be some items you most likely will want to keep for a number of reasons. There will be certain pieces that are very functional and the option to purchase alternatives may not be available at the moment. There may also be sentimental pieces that may not really reflect you, but you love them none-the-less. Take time to consider each piece and how it works with the whole, and how they can become cohesive in the look.
Once you have a good feel for what remains, create arrangements that foster calm spaces, without distraction. If you have a beautiful view, then place furnishings to take advantage of that fact. If your views are not very pleasant, using a thin voile sheer across windows creates a softened outlook, while still letting the light in, which if very important for well being. Position seating in opposing alignment, so communication is easy and no one is straining in a conversation. Less is nearly always more; if you are unsure of a piece, remove it. Try to keep only the pieces that really are most useful and beautiful, with meaning in your space.
Order is another key element to creating peace, harmony, flow and well-being. Everywhere in nature we see an order to things. It is important to bring a similar feeling of order to the spaces we live in each day. Keep like items together, where they are used, or admired. Magazines together in a basket near a favorite chair, with a blanket close by, a small table next to the chair with a good reading light and a coaster for drinks. Details that create a welcoming, easy to use, orderly space help free our minds to focus on living in the space and not the space itself. The space becomes a support system and a catalyst for living our best lives.
However, the most important aspect of a peaceful space is our own attitude. We live in a very busy world, utterly full of distractions at every turn. We, ourselves must buffer this with our own intentions. If we want peace and calm, we must leave margin in our lives, we must attempt to stop busyness creeping in to our everyday. We must create space in our own lives. Life is full, and it will be unbearably busy if we do not set parameters.
Make it a priority to not book every moment of every day with activity. Keep at least an hour, or two if possible, unplanned. Life will always fill it up, but we need to guard our hearts and minds against overwhelm. Start each morning with some quiet time, take breaks in the day for revitalization, let the unplanned happen; a chat with a neighbor, being able to help someone with little notice, a brief phone call to a parent or child to lift their day, write a note to a friend and send it in the mail, sit in utter stillness, listening to your heart. End the day with quiet time as well, avoiding all electronic devices, this helps calm us for a good period of rest.
A peaceful space starts with our own attitude and ends with how we manage what comes into our lives. Life on this earth is not peaceful, but our outlook and perspective can calm us and those around us. Creating spaces that are calming and restorative help ground us on a more solid footing. This in turn affords us more clarity and focused direction to embark on our most important priorities. By creating peaceful spaces and being aware of why they are there, our lives do not get lost in the cluttered chaos of everyday.
