By Laurel James (Author and Founder of Interiorology)

 

“A house is built of walls and beams. A home is built with love and dreams.”—unknown

 

What is home to you? Is it a place to live or is it a place in your heart? I say it is both!

When people can get in touch with the creative and unseen aspect of Self inside and imagine and feel what they want in a home, delightful things happen. I call this getting in touch with our sixth sense of home. It’s a place where we set the stage of intentional placement in our mind to manifest our true home—inside and out. No matter what culture we live in, the décor in our homes sets the stage and plays a role in our lives. Our values, personalities, and spiritual beliefs share the same space with our items, artifacts, and knick-knacks. All together they provide an external expression of our personalities and styles. Intentional placement is an exterior symbol of our true selves and our hopes and dreams.

 

Oftentimes, if we are not conscious of object placement in our homes we can send the wrong signal. For instance, I was in my new home for one year following a divorce when I realized that I had only a single chair placed in almost every room. As I walked through the spaces, I became mindful of how I had been unconsciously giving off a signal that I just wanted to be left alone; I had been unintentionally sending vibes that I did not want company! At that moment, I became aware of what I wanted with a clear intention, and that is to share my life with positive friends. I needed my home to be welcoming and to reflect my core values of love and Joy. Therefore, with intention in hand, I created a front garden complete with a table and chairs to greet my guests upon their arrival. I bought a dining table and placed it in a welcoming spot near a beautiful window. Then, I grouped two chairs and a sofa together upon a circular rug to encourage my friends to gather, and I placed this inviting conversation area in the center of my home. Knowing what I wanted to attract gave me a clear picture of where I needed to place my furniture and decorations. Moreover, how I set the stage in my physical home was now in sync with how I wanted to live my life and connect with friends and family in both my inner and outer worlds.

 

Using your sixth sense with intentional placement is a timeless way to design and decorate that never goes out of style. In your mind’s eye, how do you need to feel to be at home? What do you want your home to reflect about you? What does your dream home look like? Over the past 20 years, I have helped many people answer these questions and tap into their inner awareness, which is essential in the process of creating a living environment with intentional placement. Initially, this involves getting clear picture of what you want. Next, you develop a purposeful design according to your personal values, dreams and desires. Knowing all of this, you can then focus on the esthetics, and choose furniture and decorations that can support your unique home life.

 

Your heart is at the center of your being. There is synergy between your feelings and values and the placement of your decorations and objects in your physical space. See with clarity and peace that you do have insight at your center to design an environment that reflects the true you. You have all the knowledge and imagination you need to create your heart centered home! Feeling + Placement = Home

 

Laurel James is a graduate of Ringling School of Art and Design. With over 20 years experience as an Interior Designer she has helped hundreds of individuals and families with their living environments. She has founded the process of Interiorology to help others thrive and find the positive aspects of their home lives. She has created “inner principles” that will bring awareness of what we need to flourish in our living spaces. Portions of article were taken from a chapter from Laurel’s book Interiorology-Home Design Within, How to Create a Living Environment that Reflects the True You. For more information contact Laurel@interior-ology.com

 

Interested in more on this wonderful & transforming concept?

 

Four Pillars has teamed up with Laurel James (author of Interiorology to bring a 3 part series workshop/class to benefit your home & living environment. The book Interiorology is available at the Four Pillars bookstore.

 

 

 

 

Inteiorology: Mind, Body & Spirit of Home Series:

Are you going through a transition in life? Is your home feeling like it is not “you” anymore?

$40 per individual class or $90 for complete series

 

May 11;

In this “ Clearing Space” class you will experience light “from your Chair” yoga.  Clearing & calming your mind, body and breath through yoga tools for real life, you will then be guided through a meditation for your home and natural senses. Awaken possibilities of peace, balance and joy to discover alignment for your life and home.  Playfully activating your imagination through coloring, positive affirmations and imagery, you will leave with a dream circle chart of how you can move forward with your living space and who you are becoming.

 

June;

In this “Natural Elements” class, we will playfully explore how nature, your senses, and your body & breath contribute to your well-being in your living space. This class will give you direction on how to feel nurtured, connected and loved in this everchanging world.  “Just as flowers bloom in the right environment, we also flourish in the right home.” Come discover how to bring your heart and home back into alignment with who you are becoming, naturally.

 

July;

In this “Feeling of Home” class, we will explore your “inner home” with simple yoga tools of breath, body movement, and meditation to feel clear and calm.  Next we will playfully discover your “outer home” with tools from interior design of what your natural style, forms and functions are to support you in your life and environment.  Your fun filled experience will leave you with a dream circle chart of what brings you peace, balance, and joy into your heart & home.

Location: Four Pillars, San Marco Plaza, 8209 Nature’s Way, Ste 221, Lakewood Ranch Call 941-373-3955 or FourPillarsFlorida.com