When a guest comes into your home, what they see is a reflection of who you are.
What do you want that reflection to be? A seemingly simple question, but one that goes to the core of your personality.
In order to redesign your home to reflect your real self, you have to know who that person is. The cardinal rule is be true to your own taste, trust yourself, maintain your confidence, and never worry what others will think. When you hear that inner voice saying, “I really like this, but what would (____fill in the blank) say?” Banish that negative message and go with your intuition. It’s your home, after all, and it should reflect who you are at this moment in time.
Sometimes it takes a professional designer to elicit from the client his or her true preferences. Part psychologist, part designer, a professional draws from a client hidden aspects of personality that they didn’t even know existed. A designer might show many pictures of numerous styles to the client, seeing which one they respond to most positively. When the professional discerns what’s really underneath the mental clutter, the client thinks the designer is brilliant because he/she feels “understood.”
When you drill down to the core of a person – all truth will then flow. Since all decisions will emanate from one true source – the real YOU—consistency will naturally follow. And as long as there’s an essential consistent theme, most designers agree you will have a successful result.
“The most successful interiors are those with an underlying structure and theme. A
common theme brings order,” says James Evanson, Interior Design instructor at The Art Institute of New York City. “People collect things, ramble, with no order. A professional designer can help focus ideas. Remember,” he says, “You shouldn’t have anything in your home that is neither beautiful nor practical. If the object fits neither category, perhaps you should rethink your approach.”
Gina Carlson, Interior Design Academic Director at The Art Institutes International Minnesota, agrees. “Too many people don’t plan their living space,” she says. She advises that clients ask themselves, “Does this enhance my life? What am I trying to accomplish in this space? What do I want to change in my life? Do I need more space for cooking? A place to work from home? She says the principles of Feng Shui can bring these ideas to fruition. “Through Feng Shui analysis we can determine what colors and what kind of environment is unique to each person, supporting them in their lifestyle and goals.”
Whatever the ultimate design philosophy, a good starting point is with the ancient Greeks who are credited with the maxim, know thyself. They understood that getting to know one’s true self is a lifelong journey, relevant to all aspects of living, with both spiritual and everyday applications.
To learn more about The Art Institutes schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.
The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.