As our lives have become stripped down to their essence, I considered how we can take a space that just sometimes merely exists to function, and inject it with extra homey touches.

Finishing Touches

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eing homebound the past few weeks has me thinking about the interior of my home in a more fundamental way, with the layers that only an experience like this can gift us with. As our lives have become stripped down to their essence, I considered how we can take a space that just sometimes merely exists to function, and inject it with extra homey touches. Here are a few subtle changes that can help elevate our spaces, setting the tone for extra time spent with our families.

CANDLES + DIFFUSER

Scent is a powerful tool that can change the way we feel when we walk into a room. By choosing calming and relaxing scents such as lavender or citrus, we can set a positive mood in our homes. Diff­users and candles also look great as styling pieces. Place them on a console or any other surface to set an ambiance.

FLOWERS + PLANTS 

Adding something alive to a home breathes life into it. Plants are beneficial to our mental and physical health. Plus, they give us the ability to display nature’s art indoors. Play with color, height, and texture to find the right direction for your design. Look for options at your local nursery, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Amazon.

ART 

Art gives personality and can provide a focal point to a room. Be creative and design your own art pieces or 

even create a gallery wall! Art is personal, so find pieces that you connect to. No need to break the bank — there are many websites featuring low-cost art, such as Minted, Etsy, or Juniper Print Shop.

HOME ACCESSORIES 

This is a general word for any little details that add to the décor. Think co­ffee-table books, boxes, vases, picture frames, sculptures... anything that can add texture to your home. Look for something you love with sentimental value to bring a personal connection to your space. Just adding a few key pieces can finish a room. Check out H&M Home, Zara Home, HomeGoods, World Market, and Target for great options.

BOOKS 

Books bring warmth and authenticity to a home. The way the paper feels when you turn a page and the raised letters on a book jacket invite us to pick them up and read through them. For a fun way to get kids involved and preserve memories, put together a photo book. Artifact Uprising, Snapfish, Shutterfly, and Mixbook are good options.

DECLUTTERING

We generally think of adding something to a room, but sometimes subtracting helps streamline a space. Sit in your space and close your eyes. When you open them, ask yourself which items don’t spark joy, as organizing consultant Marie Kondo says, and put them aside. See how the room feels with a little less in it. Negative space allows us breathing room and the ability to focus on the design. Amazon, The Container Store, and Bed, Bath & Beyond have great organizational pieces.

Nava Interior Design is a boutique design firm based in Brooklyn, New York. Nava’s aesthetic integrates historic and modern elements to create a layered interior. Her specialty is helping clients design a space that brings forth their individuality and reflects the way they live.

(Originally featured in Family Table, Issue 004)