Why do you want to re-design your environment?

Why do you want to re-design your environment?

Gentle trigger warning! I’m going to be completely honest with you, feel free to take on or object to these ideas with your own free will!

Ok, so, you feel like its time for a big change in your environment!

But do you actually know why you feel like you need a change? By knowing what is actually motivating you, you can organize your thoughts and feelings so that you can make sure you are solving the things that are not serving you now in your existing environment.

Instead of jumping blindly into a redesign of your space when you ask yourself what is really driving you, you will get more out of shifting the energy in your environment, every. single. time.

I know my clients tend to hire me under the assumption that I alone will solve their room problems for them. Which, objectively I will because I am a professional… Your space problems and aesthetic problems will be solved by me… but what happens when the real problems you have with your space stem from deeper feelings subjectively? And you carry those into your new space with you unaware??

This becomes the difference between someone celebrating a change of environment after a period of challenge in their life (who is aware of the struggles that they have been through and the growth they have had through their trials), and a person who in the middle of personal strife who projects their salvation on to a redesign of their space, which spoiler alert will not solve anything for you!

You might be wondering why someone who makes their money through re-designing spaces for people is drawing your attention to your motivations. As a real friend (someone with healthy boundaries, that values truth) to my clients I will be honest with you! It’s because I know definitively that when you are in alignment with yourself, and aware of what you need on a deeper level you can co-create real change within your environment. And only in alignment will this process work for you! No one else can fix anything for you!

When you are truly real with yourself and are not afraid of a little introspection you will reap the rewards of a beautifully laid out plan for a space that supports who you are, and where you want to go in your life.

Someone in alignment with where they are before beginning a design project makes good decisions for themselves and is much less likely to make a mistake for their space.

Someone who is not in alignment with themselves, wanting to re-design their space to fix their life, or to impress others will always be disappointed with their environment, truly no matter the design outcome.

Below I wanted to outline some questions that you should always ask yourself before embarking on a new design project!

Who are you designing for?
This is extremely important! When thinking about re-doing your space who are you doing this for?
1.Are you looking to design your space so that you can post your beautiful new room on instagram, or to show off to your friends at your next dinner party, or to compete with the new neighbors, or to prove to your mother in law that you can create a beautiful home… since she is always getting little digs in on you… fair warning. A new space will NOT solve the problems of a need for attention, or you showing your friends how wonderful your life is, or prove your worthiness to anyone. EVER. Sorry if this is harsh, but I am truly trying to help you not make any major mistakes here. I see this time and time again with people looking for design services, and this is the quickest way to add unnecessary strife to your life in regards to your home.
2. But! If you are looking to support the people that live and interact with you environment on a daily basis and use your design of your room to support the activities that these people wish to engage in then you are on the right track!
What are you looking to get out of this experience?
So when thinking about re-designing your home or room how do you want it to go and what do you want the result to be?
1. Do you want the designer to read your mind and pick out the perfect objects and furniture to create the feelings that you are searching for in your home. Do you think that there is only one perfect object for each piece that you need, and you think its your right to nit pick your designers decisions because the “client is always right”? Are you excited to finally feel complete in your life through your environment and have the most amazing space that shocks and awes all that come into contact with it, eliciting feelings of jealousy in others? When the design is done, the little cherubs you have been waiting for your entire life of doing your best, and doing what is expected of you, FINALLY decend from on high with their trumpets and banners to exclaim: “You have arrived, you have won, you are the best and everyone wishes they were you and had your life! Congratulations!”
  *spoiler alert* italic words are projections of your inner landscape…
2. Or… are you looking forward to having a designer listen to what you are your people want to do in your home and how you would like it to feel. Understanding that your designer is here to help someone who knows how to help themselves. You understand that your designer has your best interests at heart. You trust in your ability to hire someone who is in alignment with your best interests because you yourself is in alignment with your best interests. Knowing your designer chooses pieces based on the information you have shared with them. Through your desires and your designers expertise, you will have an environment that serves the people living there, creates space for the things that light them up inside, and supports them in becoming the best versions of themselves!
Where are you at emotionally?
This is also so important people! This tends to feel a lot like a woman who decides to cut herself some bangs for the first time in her life after a big break up… not good.
1. Are you searching for something positive in your life? Do you come home after an awful day at work and feel like smashing everything you own with a baseball bat because everything is so ugly and dysfunctional in your home. You are convinced that this awful environment is the reason that you hate your life. Or perhaps you know why your life sucks for other reasons… but you think that re-doing your space so that it is fit for a spread in Elle Decor will finally make your life better?
2. Or! Are you good with where you are in life? Maybe you just made a huge life change and you are looking for a space that supports your new positive direction? Maybe you have just bought a new home and you are looking to set it up right for you and those that you love? You are in a headspace that is aligned with positivity and growth. This is the space you want to be in when starting a new design project!
Is this a good time for you?
1. are you someone that is great at juggling 5,000 plates in the air? You love having a new project and pride yourself on pushing forward and getting stuff done? Do you have a full schedule and think that re-designing your space is just another task to check off your list, and think when hiring a designer, “that’s why I hired someone”. But, your word is still law and you expect your designer to jump when you say jump and expect them to read your mind, because design isn’t really that important to you but you know you need it in your impressive life?
2. Or are you ready to actually engage with yourself and your environment? Are you willing to put in the effort of the internal work needed when re-working an environment. You understand that your engagement and clarity are the only things that your designer has to work with and your level of care reflects your design outcome!
What is your REAL motivation?
All of these points come together to create your true motivation of redesigning your environment.
1. If you find yourself agreeing with the first descriptions of the topics above I would suggest you re-considering the why behind your desire for a new space. Address the things that are truly bothering you deep down first.
2. If you find yourself aligning with the second descriptions you are in alignment and re-doing your space could become a really satisfying adventure for you at this point in your life!
If you find yourself aligned with some 1’s and some 2’s, I would suggest that you focus on the motivation behind those 1’s that you have. Reflect on why these things are coming up for you so that you can work through some of those underlying thoughts so that you can turn that 1 into a 2 before embarking on your design adventure!

Let me know if you guys found any of these perspectives helpful. I would also love to hear what your current motivation is for your next design project if you are up for sharing!

Everything begins within, and form follows your feelings.

Thank you so much for reading!

Here is some great advise from The Mind’s Journal that should be applied here: