A well-designed home establishes the foundation for joy

Published 8:00 am Friday, July 6, 2018

“When your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme!” – Jiminy Cricket in “Pinocchio” 

The dictionary defines luxury as something enjoyable though unnecessary that provides great comfort and requires great expense. 

For me, luxury is surrounding oneself with order and beauty, which in turn adds to one’s sense of well being. In this context, luxury is neither unnecessary nor expensive.

Living luxuriously embraces mind, body and spirit. It appreciates who we are and all we have. It takes into account our feelings, emotions, senses and experiences.

FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Let the desires of your heart and soul serve as motivation.

Pursue things that bring delight, charm and ease into life. Picking flowers and displaying them in a crystal vase, framing a favorite painting by a child and even the act of decluttering a room can bring joy.

Appreciating what we have and creating harmony cost nothing.

If your heart desires a little more cheer, then paint with the cheer-inducing color of yellow. If you long to more fully express yourself, turn to the expressive color of blue.

If happiness is found in a hobby, adding a storage chest to organize hobby supplies will help fulfill a desire. Who knows, perhaps with better organization a beloved hobby could become a second career and spur creativity.

When something makes life easier, we are fulfilled and have more to give.

These words by Augustine are so true, “Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; where your treasure, there your heart; where your heart, there your happiness.”

Be Happy

Make comfort and joy priorities. They are the foundations that let us thrive.

When we feel good, we are free to focus on our livelihood and people and activities that are meaningful. Even when we grieve or face difficulties, surrounding oneself with grace brings comfort.

According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the most basic need is that of shelter followed by the needs to be safe, healthy and have a sense of well being. 

We satisfy these needs when we create homes that reflect our heart and let us pursue our goals. And never forget the essential elements of balance, harmony, hierarchy, scale, proportion, order and appropriateness.

Maslow’s hierarchy also includes the need of belonging, self-esteem, confidence, respect and freedom. Good design offers satisfies the sense of well-being that is essential.

Designing with a purpose adds meaning and depth to the quality of life. Think about the luxury in that!

Appreciate the experience

Once basic needs are met, we can focus on the aesthetics of beauty, texture, color and art, which in turn bring pleasure, lushness and bliss. 

Surrounding oneself with favorite things elevates the ordinary to the extraordinary. 

Surround yourself with your favorite colors. Paint a room or hang a colorful painting on the wall. Perhaps bright and colorful furniture brings you joy.

Consider the textures that you love. A silk rug under your feet, a supple leather sofa and woven throw blanket bring the textural elements of luxury.

Consider the experiences of life that bring joy. Let the experience of enjoying a spectacular sculpture serve as motivation for acquiring such a piece. Let the joyful experience of having friends over be the motivation for creating a dazzling outdoor living space.

Experiencing a life of joy is living a life of luxury! 

Patricia Wilson is an interior designer registered with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners. Connect with her at www.PatriciaCWilson.com.