When the world around us seems rushed and stressful, our homes can be a much needed sanctuary where we can practice mindfulness and find a sense of wellbeing.
Mindfulness is all about being present in the moment and paying attention to our environment so if you are looking to create a tranquil home where you can escape the hassles of today’s world, mindful design could be a game changer.
An oasis of calm
From choosing tranquil colours and a natural style to displaying meaningful items that remind you of happy times, your home can help restore your frazzled nerves.
Tiffany McGeehan, who shares her home renovations on Instagram @tiffanymcgeehanhome, has done just this in her London home using a restricted palette of soft organic colours throughout for a gentle flow and cohesion from room to room.
When Tiffany and her husband Cameron moved into their Victorian home, they knew they wanted to create a retreat where they could relax at the end of the day. Converting their loft into a generous master suite has provided the ideal personal space.
Tiffany explained: “Our end goal was to have a house we loved coming back to every day. We enjoy spending time in the countryside so we chose a calming colour scheme that would give us this slightly rustic look, even in the heart of the capital.”
Country Oak gluedown flooring from our Van Gogh collection also available in rigid core format.
Warming natural colours
A palette of organic colours is sure to bring the spirit of nature into your home, from the soft greys of rock and warm earthy browns to muted greens and airy blues. By selecting a complementary palette of natural colours, including a few stronger hues, you can take the same colour scheme throughout your home while still giving each room its own individuality.
Tiffany has opted for a warm grey palette throughout her three storey home, blending light grey shades with off-white and darker accents in charcoal and natural wood. As a result, each room is visually connected and the whole effect is soothing and serene.
Tiffany said: “We wanted a country interior vibe with a natural wood floor but also a practical hard wearing surface. We knew that if we invested in good quality materials, they would last the test of time which of course is good for our pockets as well as the environment. We fell in love with the authentic look of Country Oak from the Van Gogh collection with its mix of browns which brings out the warm tones of our light grey walls. We chose the rigid core format for our loft bedroom as its pre-attached acoustic layer would help reduce noise downstairs.”
The key to a mindful home is to reduce distractions. To clear away all the inevitable clutter of modern life, Tiffany has included plenty of storage space to keep their home tidy and stress free. Their loft bedroom has a practical walk-in wardrobe, while a feature media wall has symmetrical nooks where the couple display mementos collected on their travels. With room for a spacious sofa, a cosy fireplace and views from a Juliet balcony across the city, this is the ideal place for the couple to put their feet up and chill out.
Country Oak rigid core flooring from our Van Gogh collection also available in gluedown format.
A place to escape
Attention to detail is the secret to creating a sanctuary where you can switch off from the challenges of the day, such as choosing coordinating plug sockets and lighting fixtures, repeating materials in different rooms or highlighting accent colours from your palette with accessories.
Tiffany’s home amply demonstrates how to achieve a sense of continuity by taking the same colour scheme and flooring through different rooms. In the ground floor snug, where the couple love to sit quietly or share a drink with friends, the Country Oak floor balances and warms the cool tones of the pale grey walls and accessories in white and charcoal. This look continues into the understairs cloakroom which has been given a light-hearted personality with fun artwork adding pops of colour.
The recently updated Van Gogh range offers a wide range of organic colours and textures in a choice of tile sizes and formats, so it’s now easier than ever to bring the healing powers of nature into our homes.
Just one of 70 wood and stone designs in the collection, Country Oak is available in a rigid core format that is ideal for upstairs rooms and new build floors that are still drying, as well as a gluedown format in two sizes which offers the flexibility to use different patterns such as herringbone or directional angles.
Explore mindful designs with the new look Van Gogh collection.
