What is Holistic Design & Why I'm a Holistic Designer
Last year I wrote a blog post about slow interior design. This approach is part of the larger Slow Movement, which means living in self-awareness, respecting the planet, and staying true to your values. Slow interior design seeks a holistic approach to designing a space that promotes well-being for individuals, society, and the natural environment at large.
The way I see it, we could also call this approach holistic interior design.
On the individual level, holistic interior design takes the entire person into account: physically, aesthetically, energetically and emotionally. It addresses the beauty of a space, no question, but it also uncovers who that person is beneath the top layer of aesthetics; what are their values and daily rituals? What is precious to them? What do they dream of doing one day? Who are they becoming?
Holistic design includes other modalities, like the practices of Human Design and Feng Shui, color psychology and theory, and highly intuitive guidance. Together, they all inform and enrich a space so that the client’s home design becomes even more meaningful on a deeply personal level.
Here’s how I see holistic design on each layer of the practice. It’s akin to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (physiological, safety, love & belonging, esteem and self-actualization), but with color and fabric and fun lighting.
Physically
What is the room used for, and how does every piece of furniture work within the whole? Any space has got to function physically. This layer includes human biology and ergonomics, or how well the body fits the furniture and how easily the body can use the space.
We don’t want to ‘fight’ with our furniture or struggle to move through the room like an obstacle course as if being controlled by it. Instead, we want to flow with our furnishings and design the space to suit our needs so that we are the ones in control of it.
Aesthetically
The surface beauty, or aesthetics, of a room includes everything you see in there, all of the visual elements like color, shape, texture, etc. that engage or challenge your idea of what’s beautiful.
Aesthetics are what we encounter first– that visual first impression that either repels us or draws us in. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder, and it’s a super-important factor of how a person experiences a space.
Energetically
Underneath function is energy–in other words, how you want the room to feel, what vibe or mood is desired. This addresses Feng Shui, human behavior and personality, motivating us to socialize, work, play or rest.
The ‘feel’ of a room influences what we do in that space, and those two (the feeling and the doing) must be in sync so that the room flows well energetically. When furniture layout, colors, textures and lighting work together towards a common goal, then the energy feels positive.
Emotionally
At the core of holistic design is the emotional connection between you and the space. This is the soul layer, where the entire room resonates with you in your heart. It’s concerned with our human needs for belonging and safety, and also with our human connection to mother nature as a whole.
The sense of belonging is vital, and it’s activated by surrounding yourself with familiar things that evoke joy. On top of that, letting in sunlight, bringing in plants, using botanical prints on fabric or wallpaper, or displaying beach treasures are just some of the ways to connect with the natural world inside your home.
On this most intimate level, you can feel that all four layers of the room have coalesced into a balanced whole. You feel grounded, and the room ‘just feels right,’ right?
I realize this is all very esoteric and woo-woo, and I don’t have hard data or other such proof that my concept of holistic design is a ‘fact’ (sorry, math nerds!).
It’s just how I go about designing a space for someone. My design must deliver on all four levels before my work is done. So if that makes me a holistic designer, that’s totally fine by me : )
Cheers,
Nan
About Nan
I’m an interior designer who helps 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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