Sanctuary and Springboard
By Sarah Swain
Hallway decor inspiration tips: your life’s best gateway
At a time when there are so many people in the world displaced by war and famine, the concept of home can be a poignant one.
We don’t need to be imperilled by imminent threat to feel that pull to return to a place of warmth and security. The demands of our fast-moving lives in the 21st century can challenge anyone’s well-being and quicken our steps home at the end of the day. To close the front door behind us and take a deep, relaxing breath as we shut the world outside is a feeling many will relate to.
Our homes should be a sanctuary for us; a haven away from the pressures of life outside those four walls.
However, I believe our home has another purpose and that is to be a springboard; somewhere that refreshes and supports us to leap back out in to the world with energy and dynamism.
Thinking about how we create both a sanctuary and a springboard is important when we furnish and decorate the places we live in and it helps us ensure that our homes nurture and inspire us.
As you read this article, think about how you use the different rooms in your house and how they make you feel. Which are your sanctuary spaces and which are your springboards?
This will vary from person to person. For some, the lounge will be their sanctuary space and they will decorate and furnish accordingly; calming colours with comfortable furniture and ambient lighting. For others, the lounge will be the social hub of the house and the stimulation from interactions there will make this their springboard space.
There are no rights or wrongs but if you are short of time, there is one area that is always worth looking at… the Hallway.
Whatever its size, our hall is the way in and the way out of our home and is therefore crucial in setting the tone, whether you are leaving or returning.
Here are 5 top tips to create the best gateway to your life.
1) Make sure the door is welcoming and well-maintained.
The last thing you want as you return home is the reminder of things that need fixing! So, make sure the paint is clean and unchipped and that locks work properly.
2) Make sure you can get in and out easily.
Don’t have bags or boxes behind the door, so that you can’t open it properly and are squeezing through a small gap.
3) Make sure the hall space is organised and clear of clutter.
That is not to say that you can’t hang your jacket or leave your shoes by the door (we don’t all have space for coat cupboards), but if you do, make sure there is an allocated space/rack and that you don’t overfill it. (You only wear one coat a day, so put others in your wardrobe).
4) Give the space an identity.
Don’t see the hall as just a thoroughfare. Decorate it and add personal features, as you would other rooms. For example, a selection of photographs or a favourite painting lifts the heart as you arrive or depart.
5) Value its purpose.
Physical organisation helps psychological routine. This is a spot to pause and gather yourself for the day ahead. A mirror or motivational quote can give you the final reassurance that you’re ‘good to go’. And when you return later, it welcomes you home and gives you the chance to leave the day at the door.
Sarah Swain of Cohesive Living is a certified life coach and interior designer who trained with the Pure Coaching Academy. She believes that there is a fundamental interaction between a person’s emotional/mental well-being and the spaces in which they spend their time. She works with clients to get clarity in their homes and their lives.
