Your home should feel good, not just look good

You’ve seen them in magazines and all over social media - those “peaceful” homes with their spotless surfaces. So carefully curated that you can’t imagine actually living in them.

You know the feeling. You scroll through these photos thinking, “It’s beautiful, but who actually lives like that?”

Now contrast that with a space full of personality, where you instinctively exhale the moment you enter. A little messy, maybe. But unmistakably peaceful.

We’ve been sold the idea that peace lives in minimalism.

Pale walls. Clean counters. Nothing too personal.

But real peace? It isn’t beige. It’s not about how little you own.

It’s about how your home feels.

Sometimes peace is a crisp white room.

But sometimes it’s moody green walls, soft golden light, and shelves spilling with books.

So if your home doesn’t feel right, don’t start repainting everything greige. Start by asking better questions.

1. Does this space support how I actually live?

Not how you want it to look for Instagram. Not how your Pinterest board dreams it should be.

How you really move, rest, cook, read, scroll, spill tea, and nap on the couch.

If you’re always stepping over a chair to get to the fridge or shoving clutter into corners before guests arrive, that’s not peaceful. It’s daily friction.

Calm doesn’t come from aesthetics. It comes from ease.

Photo by Alex Lesage (left) & Tom Ross (right)

Try this: Do a “day-in-the-life” walkthrough of your space. Where do you trip up, detour, or feel frustrated? Fix one thing this weekend.

2. What’s annoying me here?

Too bright a light. A chair that you never sit on because it’s uncomfortable. A rug that slides around. These little things add up, and they quietly wear you down.

A peaceful home removes friction.

Interiors by Kinjo Design. Photo by AYStudio

I once saw a stunning Japandi sofa similar to the above photo. Absolutely gorgeous. But the seat was so low that I watched an older couple struggle just to get up from it after sitting down.

It’s the kind of decision that seems insignificant until your parents visit and can’t get off your sofa without help.

Try this: Make a list of 3 things in your home that bug you. Replace or adjust one of them this week. (Even if it’s just adding a pillow.)

3. Is this space me, or just a trend?

Trends are fine. But if your home is full of pieces you don’t love, colours that don’t suit you, or styles you chose because they looked “safe” – you may have designed a space for someone else.

And if it doesn’t feel like you, it’s hard to feel at peace in it.

Peace doesn’t come from Pinterest. It comes from authenticity.

Try this: Walk through your home and pick one thing that doesn’t resonate with you. Swap it, style it differently, or let it go.

4. What am I holding onto that no longer serves me?

That thing that you spent too much money on.

The gifted item you never use but feel guilty tossing.

The “one day” project that’s sat untouched for years.

It’s human to keep things for emotional or financial reasons. But that guilt builds up.

You can’t feel at peace in a space that quietly nags at you.

Try this: Find one object you wouldn’t buy again today. Let that be your first goodbye.

Bonus: 5 Quick Wins for a More Peaceful Space

1. Swap harsh bulbs for warm LEDs.

2. Layer in textures like throws, rugs, and cushions.

3. Introduce calming scents like lavender or eucalyptus (or open your window for some fresh air).

4. Declutter one surface that’s been nagging you.

5. Bring life into the room with indoor plants.

And I’d love to know: what’s one thing that makes you feel peaceful at home?

Cheers,

Reynard