Creating spiritual space in your home makes it a place for relaxation and rejuvenation. However, more often we’re likely to bring the hectic nature of our lives into our space. Do you crave a retreat at the end of the day? Here are 8 ways to make your home a space that enhances your life.

1. Clear the clutter
Think of the most relaxing spa you could imagine. Is it filled with knick-knacks, bits and bobs, and other junk? Probably not. The archetypal design for a spa is a clean Zen space. Now, that doesn’t mean that your home should look like a spa, but one reason this style is so serene and relaxing is because it is clear of clutter.

Are there items in your home that you no longer need, that have used up their usefulness or that you no longer find beautiful? Are your drawers and cupboards so stuffed with things that you struggle to find what you want? All of our things have a place in our attention. Feng Shui expert Karen Kingston describes it as having strings of energy between us and every item in our lives. Those things that we feel are beautiful and useful support us and enhance our lives. Those things that are no longer useful or beautiful still have an impact on us, but drain our energy and get in the way of what’s truly important.

If you are holding onto things, why? What are the underlying beliefs? What worries do you have about the future or what other people might think or feel? What messages are you sending out to the universe?

2. Walk in beauty
In her blog, designer Nicolette Toussaint writes about Native American cultures that don’t distinguish between what is beautiful and what is useful. Rather, they believe that “a spirit of reverence should infuse everyday activities.” Nicolette tells of a Navajo medicine man who sought “to unify the realms of body and spirit by making things that were useful and beautiful” and that “this practice was called ‘walking in beauty,’ and it was a way of expressing one’s reverence for life.”

Our throw-away culture offers many opportunities to buy cheap things that aren’t beautiful to begin with and that don’t last. While sometimes more expensive up front, higher-quality alternatives often cost less throughout their lifetime. Surround yourself with useful items that are also beautiful to “walk in beauty” in your home.

3. Bring nature in
We all intuitively know that being in a beautiful natural setting is relaxing and beneficial to us. Gardens, views of nature, plants, and water features within our homes are all proven to have positive physiological effects. William Bloom found nature to be one of the gateways through which we get endorphins flowing in the body, leading to a sense of joy, connection, bliss – basically, a mystical spiritual experience.

Even if you have the good fortune to have a lovely view, find ways to bring nature into your home, such as houseplants or natural elements like wood. For those who are limited by budget, lack of natural light, or rented accommodation, even an image of nature can be beneficial.

4. Respect the planet
It is easy to forget that we are a part of nature, and nature is a part of us. But this planet is our home, and how we treat it affects our quality of life. As a civilization, we are only just realizing the impact of our individual actions on the collective health of the planet which, in turn, impacts us as individuals.

Green architect William McDonough designs all his buildings with this question in mind: “How do we love all the children of all species for all time?”

One way to give your planetary home the respect and care it deserves is to use your structural home to minimize your environmental footprint. Consider the impact of your purchases by questioning the resources used and the waste and pollution created over the entire life of the product, including resource extraction, manufacture, packaging, transportation, operation, and disposal. For example, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification assures that your dining room table doesn’t contribute to deforestation – or, better yet, purchase previously owned furniture so no new trees are felled. Also, natural, no-VOC paints limit the chemicals while being much easier on your lungs.

5. Make cleaning a spiritual experience
We take care of and honour spaces that we feel are sacred. Taking care of your space through tidying up and cleaning is a way to instil in your home this sense of respect.

Furthermore, mundane daily tasks like cleaning are a great opportunity to practice presence. Many people experience mental dissonance with what they are doing (“I hate cleaning.” “I have all these other more important things to do.” “I wish my husband/wife/son/daughter would put away their things.”) What if you bring breath, acceptance, and awareness into these tasks?

Eckhart Tolle says, “Your purpose is…where you are and…what you are doing. Until you get up and do something else.” Make whatever you are doing now your purpose, even (or especially!) if it’s just cleaning. One friend who practiced this found her home was much tidier and enjoyable with seemingly less effort.

6. Tuck work away
Many people are carving out work spaces in their homes, whether it’s for full- or part-time professional work or all the personal business and projects needing attention. It’s ideal to have a separate designated room with good light, a lovely view, ample work space and a door to close. Reality for many is quite different, though.

If possible avoid having work space in the bedroom, where it can interfere with sleep. When using a room for multiple tasks, such as a work space in the living room, get the work out of sight when you’re not working to create a relaxing, rejuvenating space.

Can you tuck your work into a cupboard? Or even put projects into a bookshelf with doors? While electronics can sometimes be challenging to hide, even just clearing the desk and shutting down the computer is an act of closure and creates separation between you and your work. Sometimes adding a room divider, a little curtain, or some additional storage is all that is needed to create the visual block that helps you let go of your work.

7. Make it authentic to you
Bringing your personality into your space increases your enjoyment of it. Make it yours through refurbishment, decorating, furnishings, and art.

Home owners obviously have more options here, but there are many things that renters can do too. Colour preferences are particularly personal and just adding colour to a wall through paint or artwork can make a difference. Even a big blue whale of a sofa in a furnished apartment can get a makeover with a lovely throw, fun cushions, or a gorgeous fabric cover. Make it something you love to look at.

I know one couple who, instead of moving out because there was so much they disliked about the flat, negotiated with the landlord to share expenses on improvements. Overall it saved them money (compared to moving), they got exactly what they wanted, and the landlord was thrilled because she got an upgraded flat at reduced cost while keeping the tenants.

8. Create a home altar
While throughout history and around the world people have designated sacred space in their homes, most western religious traditions (Roman Catholics being a notable exception) have dropped this practice, associating it with inappropriate religious imagery and idolatry. Yet, at its heart, an altar is simply a grouping of objects that reminds us to connect with the spiritual, through whatever practices or beliefs one might have.

A home altar could simply consist of a candle, a symbol of the sacred in most religions. Photos could remind you of loved ones. Maybe you would like to include an object that you find inspiring and beautiful. It doesn’t need to be large, elaborate or obviously an altar, although it could be. It’s just for you, to remind you to pause, to walk in beauty.

Joseph Campbell wrote: "[A sacred place] is an absolute necessity for anybody today. You must have a room, or a certain hour or so a day, where you don’t know what was in the newspapers that morning, you don’t know who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody, you don’t know what anybody owes to you. This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be.... At first you may find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen.”

May your space inspire you to your highest potential.

REFERENCES & RESOURCES
“Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui” by Karen Kingston
“No More Senseless Acts of Beauty” by Nicolette Toussaint
(Living in Comfort & Joy Blog: http://nicolettet.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/no-more-senseless-acts-of-beauty/)
“The Endorphin Effect” by William Bloom
“Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the way we make things” by William McDonough & Michael Braungart
“A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle
“The Power of Myth” by Joseph Campbell

© Cheryl Kempton

Cheryl Kempton

In addition to personal and spiritual growth, Cheryl Kempton is passionate about transforming space and bringing out the personalities of the people who live in that space.

Through her business, Eco Interiors Studio, she helps people make their home their sanctuary through support with decluttering and organising, and interior design and decoration.

Cheryl’s services range from short 2-hour no-further-obligation colour and space consultations to day-long decluttering sessions to hourly full service interior design.

Cheryl can be reached at 020 8432 4063 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

www.ecointeriorsstudio.co.uk