Slow Interiors: Decorate Better, Not Faster
Have you ever heard of a concept called slow living? Sparked by the slow food movement in the 1980’s that championed local sourcing and cooking, there are lots of approaches to slow living now.
It means quality over quantity, better not faster, and defining your own personal measure of success, knowing that Busy doesn’t equal Important. The slow living mindset means living in self-awareness, respecting the planet, and staying true to your values.
Truth be told, I’m not an early-adopter. I don’t jump on the latest trends, and keeping up with the Joneses has never been my thing. In fact, one pillar of my design philosophy is that our homes can be our sanctuaries where we can slow down and take a breather from the lightning-fast pace of our daily lives.
I also love repurposing/upcycling, buying second hand furniture and respecting Mother Earth, and I bring all of these values into my business whenever possible.
Slow living includes a subset called slow interiors. At its core, this is about taking the time to consider exactly how you want your home to feel and how you need your home to function for yourself. It’s about thoroughly getting in touch with your true values and tastes, your own way of using your home.
This is the foundation of a well-designed space: being true to your individuality, not to some trend that doesn’t align with you.
A slow interiors mindset includes reimagining the furnishings you already own; which pieces could you borrow from one room and repurpose in a new location? Think laterally, use your creativity. “Buy Now” isn’t always the best solution.
Slow decorating is about making a plan before ever making purchases. It calls for deliberately figuring out what you really love and need, budgeting for it, making sure it fits, coordinating the styles and colors–making all of these decisions conscientiously. Only then do you pick up your pocketbook.
And when you do need extra things, make an intention to remain open and patient. Let the search unfold over time and the right things will eventually appear to you. This intentional process of collecting is what designers call ‘curated.’
Slow interiors raises awareness about where your furniture comes from, what it’s made of and who has crafted it. Did any human hands touch and manipulate the materials? Did the person get paid well for their work?
It’s also about taking care of your things. When you intentionally bring an object into your home, having a place and a use for it, knowing that it’s well-made, how could you not look after it? Using the piece with respect ensures that it will last and serve you for a long time.
There’s that word again: time.
Slow decorating is all about taking your time in the design process and choosing things that you absolutely can’t live without. It’s what I’ve been saying on my website and to my clients for years. Well, me and William Morris, founder of the English Arts and Crafts Movement: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful” (1880).
Take It Easy Now,
Nan
For further reading on this topic, check out Carl Honoré’s book In Praise of Slowness: Challenging The Cult of Speed, and the website slowlivingldn.com.
About Nan
I’m an interior designer focused on helping people turn their homes into their sanctuaries without the pain of renovating. I’ve been working as a professional designer since 1995 and one thing I love about interior design is how it can evoke a mood and create whatever feeling you want in your space. In that way, it’s kind of magical.
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