The slow approach to making a home

It can be tempting to rush through the process of putting together a home. I know from experience that living in something unfinished, undone and sometimes incredibly chaotic can be difficult. At times I’ve thought to myself, whilst flicking through the newest interior magazines, that I should just try and make it look exactly like that picture in front of me. So you start, trying to copy every single aspect of that picture. The initial end product, seeing a room coming together is exciting and exhilarating – believe me, I’ve done exactly that – seeing a picture in a magazine and thinking THIS is what my bathroom will look like. But this excitement soon fizzles out. Before I knew it I started looking for new images, craving the new next thing.

Granted I’ve always been interested in antiques, old furniture and houses, but I think that as humans we are drawn to the new. This pattern manifests itself in consumer culture: we want more, we want it faster, we want it cheaper – and we are encouraged to follow the latest trends with the view to instil a sense of wanting (and needing) the newest seasonal products.

But I believe that there is an alternative to consumption-driven interior styling. And that is a slower, more considerate approach to home-making. Allowing your home to unfold slowly over time, so that it rhymes with your life and pattern. But how do you do that? How do you create a space that is truly reflective of yourself? A good start is to take a step back when selecting what items to bring into your home (new or old). Allow yourself some time to find what you need (and really like) rather than simply what the newest trends tells you to have. The next step is to become at peace with the idea that a home is constantly evolving and never finished decorative-wise. Indeed, life is like this. Life is constantly evolving, and we as humans change throughout our life cycle. A home is similar to that because we as humans live in it, spend time in it and evolve in it. Therefore, let your home grow and evolve over time, just like you.

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