How can you be more mindful in your interior design? 5 ways to create considered spaces

In a world of constantly evolving trends, the whole process of decorating your home can soon start to feel overwhelming. Just as you've begun to nail one trend, it can feel as if it's already out of style. 

But fear not, decorating your home doesn't need to mean abiding by all the rules of the latest trends. In fact, a more considered approach can result in a far more timeless scheme that doesn't quickly date and withstands the test of time. 

Here, we're exploring different ways to mindfully decorate the home, helping you to create calming spaces and mood-boosting, happy rooms, that turn to the natural world for inspiration, while also prioritizing conscious consumption – steering clear of fast decor. 

5 ways to mindfully decorate your home

The core and underlying message of the following home decor ideas is that your home should be personal to you, ensuring first and foremost that it's a space that speaks to your own interests, rather than the latest interior design trends. 

'The most important thing when going about home decor is to prioritize making your space feel most like you: designing a space that is functional while having a personality,' says interior designer Nicole Lanteri.

Nicole Lanteri

Nicole Lanteri founded her Washington, D.C.-based interior design firm in 2009. Nicole Lanteri Design engages in projects in the surrounding D.C., Virginia, and Maryland areas, as well as further afield, including New York City, the Hudson Valley, and Southern California.

1. Prioritize quality over quantity

A mindful approach to home decor is less about filling your home with the latest trending furniture pieces, and instead consciously decorating your home over the years with meaningful, well-crafted items that are timeless and will last for years to come. You want to design a home that feels like you.

'Creating a mindful approach to home decor involves a deliberate and thoughtful selection process for each item that enters your space,' says interior designer Jennifer Davis. 'Start by considering the purpose of each piece, ensuring that it serves a functional need or adds aesthetic value without cluttering your surroundings. Quality over quantity is key, prioritize well-made items that will endure over time and appreciate craftsmanship.'

'Practice mindful consumption by selecting sustainable and ethically produced products, considering their environmental and social impact. Pay attention to the intentional placement of decor items, creating a balanced and harmonious arrangement that enhances the flow of your space. Ultimately, approach home decor with the question of whether each item brings you genuine happiness and contributes positively to your living space.'

Jennifer Davis

Jennifer fell in love with design at a young age and has been working in the industry for over 25 years. She has developed an eye for detail and a talent for creating timeless designs. Jennifer offers a balance of creativity and forward-thinking with a structured, organized, and detailed mentality. Jennifer is driven by her deep passion for design while curating an exceptional client journey, ensuring pure delight from the very beginning to the end.

2. Make it personal

Another way to prioritize a mindful approach in your home decor is to embrace personality. Again, not getting swept up by seasonal trends but being led by the items that bring you the most joy will allow you to curate a space that feels personality-led, rather than a space that mimics somebody else's style. 

'Mindful decorating really boils down to trusting your instincts about what you love and how you want to use your space,' explains designer Kathy Kuo. 'A mix of decorative items that includes heirlooms and keepsakes, decorating with art that means something and practical items are going to serve you well and make your space feel balanced. For example, if you're styling your coffee table, you might want a decorative tray that holds a framed family photo, a cool sculpture, and daily use items like a scented candle and your TV remotes.'

Kathy Kuo

Kathy Kuo is a celebrated interior designer and international guru within the home and lifestyle space. She has 20+ years of experience in the design industry. 

Interior designer Lauren Sullivan, founder of Well by Design, also recommends making the decorating process as personal as possible for a mindful approach: 'Incorporate found objects, antiques, and vintage items that bring a sense of joy or recall a special memory. And above all else, don't just buy to fill a space – slow curation of meaningful items that you actually love is more likely to be treasured longer and kept out of landfills – it's a win-win for everyone. Fast design is not always the best design.'

3. Choose biophilic design

For a mindful home that's filled with soothing decor ideas and wellness-boosting designs, one of the most important things you can do is embrace biophilic design, which is all about referencing nature through the elements you interact with. 

'Incorporating biophilic design elements can contribute to creating a mindful home,' explains Sarah Barnard, founder of wellness-led design studio Sarah Barnard Design. 'Nature-inspired patterns, color palettes, and materials connect interior spaces with the landscape outside, mirroring the sense of calm and wellbeing we experience in the natural world.'

Another way you can reference nature in your home decor is by opting for natural materials, which will instantly bring a feeling of nature indoors while withstanding daily wear and tear. Designer Cinzia Moretti, Creative Director at Moretti Interior Design explains: 'My top tip is to start by paying attention to the details around and introducing more natural elements such as wood, stone, wool, cotton and rattan. Integrating these into furniture and decor items can help to get us connected harmoniously with nature and help us to get close to our environment.'

4. Embrace minimalism

'Embrace minimalism by de-cluttering and simplifying your space, focusing on a few key pieces that bring you joy and contribute positively to the atmosphere,' suggests Jennifer Davis. 

Of course, you don't need to be a true minimalist to follow a mindful approach throughout your home decor. Whether you're a fan of pared-back schemes or you love decorating with patterns and color, make sure to maintain a calm environment by de-cluttering items that no longer serve a purpose or add to your home's visual appeal. A clean home that's free from excessive amounts of decorative items is bound to positively affect your mood and help establish a feeling of order and calm, especially important in rooms such as the bedroom.

As a starting point, consider how you can improve your storage ideas to ensure a sense of order throughout your home, which will make this concept a lot easier to follow: 'Think about what storage options work best for you, a clutter-free home promotes calm and mindfulness,' advises Sarah Barnard.

5. Maximize natural light

And lastly, when prioritizing mindfulness throughout your home decor, make sure to always pay close attention to lighting ideas. Maximizing natural light will further connect your home to the natural world, in turn having a positive impact on your mood. And while the dream is for each room throughout our homes to have lovely light streaming in throughout the day, this isn't always the case. If you're relying on artificial lighting to create a restful atmosphere, incorporate different sources for a more relaxed look, as Lauren Sullivan suggests: 

'Access to natural light is a must, but if this isn't a feasible option, be sure to incorporate lighting from multiple sources for ambiance and a sense of coziness. Don't ever rely solely on overhead lighting to illuminate a room. Decorate with mirrors to reflect light about a space.'

Decorating a home mindfully isn't something that can be rushed. It's about slowly curating a home over time that naturally evolves to reflect personality and a style that lasts beyond trend cycles. By keeping these five ideas front of mind, you'll make your home more comfortable and create a calming space that feels both personality-led and considered.