Today as I walked through the backyard I couldn’t’ help but notice all the brilliant colors and beauty there was to observe and appreciate. Natural vibrant magentas, soft pinks, warm yellows and lush greens… flowers and plants of all sizes and shapes completely carpeting the entire area and the constant aroma of lilacs lying atop of every breeze. An instant smile suddenly appeared on my face and in my body that sat with me for quite awhile… I was reminded, as organically as one can be, just how integral our sensory environment is to our moods, attitudes, thought processes and personal productivity, albeit on a subconscious level.
Having said that – some of the colors we love and enjoy looking at don’t always translate as positively on a grand scale – so you might want to consider the following questions before you make any specific decisions about the color combinations you choose for your home and how they surround you.
How do you want to feel in the room you’re in? What is the result you’re looking to accomplish? (the intended function of the space) these are the first questions to ask of yourself and/or your spouse./partner. Then, take a few minutes to jot down the specific mental / emotional aspects of the space and how you want it to effect you and that of your partner / spouse.
Before you do anything regarding color and design – evaluate your space. Be completely clear about the function or function(s) of the space, how you want to feel and /or others to feel when occupying the space and what is is intended to occur there.
Check in with yourself. If you find yourself gravitating to a certain color or conversely, repelled by one – notice those patterns and ask yourself why – (while this may seem corny) it isn’t. It’s rather a simple and very revealing process regarding our own psyche and what affects us.
Once you’ve discovered what motivates you and how you’re affected, you can make better choices to support your personality. Ultimately you will create an optimal and fundamentally supportive space that also reflects who YOU are, and therefore, you will be at your best in all aspects of your life!
Inspirational Quote:
“any person is educated who knows where to get knowledge when needed, and how to organize knowledge into definite plans of action.”
– Napoleon Hill, “Think and Grow Rich”
With Love & Light…Your Favorite Sensory Design & Color Expert!
Guest Writer – Lauren S. Henry
I’m a Sensory Designer / Color Expert and am the President / Founder of With a Brush of Love. www.brushoflove.com. We’ve been featured on HGTV’s “kidspace”, ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” as well as “CNN-HLN” We’ve been invited by the U.S. Military & The Exceptional Family Member Program to Camp Foster in Okinawa to work w/their families as well as the volunteer organization, Hands On Tokyo to oversee the renovation of a Nursery/Orphanage. My first book, “Unique Kids. Unique Surroundings.” was published in September 2009 & can be found on www.amazon.com & www.brushoflove.com. We were covered in The Huffington Post in Sept 2010