From the beginning of my profession, it became very apparent to me on how much we experience our environments through our senses. Whether it’s at your favorite restaurant, the newest shopping boutique or cuddled up at home, our surroundings affect us. If you think back to your favorite place, oftentimes you’ll reminisce on how a place smelled, or what you heard, maybe even what you ate. Maybe it’s how you viewed the location through lighting, color and textures?
When you are creating an environment, consider what your body is telling you and how you’re experiencing the space. How do you feel? What do you hear? What do you see and smell? As I work with a range of professionals, the real estate industry is one of my favorites. When helping clients prepare to list homes on the market, we often have discussions of how the home presents to buyers. We can bake cinnamon rolls or cookies prior to a showing to indulge the buyer’s sense of smell. Inclusion of area rugs, furnishings and window treatments will help damper the sound. How is the natural light and how do we alter wall colors to balance it? These are all fine details that help create that ideal first impression when that new eager buyer walks through the front door. We want their experience and emotions to help them connect with the property and lead to an offer.
Whether you are developing a space from the ground up, looking to refresh that special room or preparing your home to come to market, consider what feelings or mood you want to create. Take note of the fine details in your surroundings and how those particular elements make you feel. Embrace your senses and allow them to guide you. That will lead you to inspiration in recreating that perfect feeling in your special corner of the world!