Designing with Emotion: How to Tell Your Story Through Home Decor

By Gargi Joglekar, Lead Interior designer & Owner of Modern Design Homes 

I’ve always believed that a HOME should feel like you. Your home is not just for shelter, but it provides you with growth and protects you. Your space is not just a collection of pretty things, but the reflection of your experiences and the growth that you had in that space it molds your personality and comforts you. I remember when we first moved into our home. I started with bare walls and started adding personal touches of travel photos items that we collected from the trip as souvenirs and that's what truly makes your home — your happy place. 

from:@thehomemakingmomma

I feel the power of designing with emotions is not just about aesthetics, but about creating a space that tells your story who you are and where you came from!

Using colors to evoke emotions is one way of changing the mood of a space. I think about colors as feelings. When I was designing my bedroom, I wanted a sense of calmness and that’s why I chose neutral tunes. But sometimes you can also go with pastel shades as they can have a calming effect in a space. If you’re drawn to warm or the tones because that reminds you of your summer spent outside then go with colors that are complementary to those and don’t be afraid to choose colors that evoke emotion rather than just following a design trend!

from:@thehomemakingmomma

Shapes and forms are key principles of how it makes you feel, for instance, soft, rounded shapes foster comfort and relaxation while angular form creates an excitement in a space.  A good balance of both of these shapes create harmony. I would recommend prioritizing layouts that enhance your daily life for example open floorplan kitchens for family direction over trendy configurations. Functional design fosters emotional satisfaction, and reduces stress.

Telling your story through textures and materials can bring depth and character into a home. When I was decorating, I realized that I was drawn to natural and organic textures such as woven baskets, knitted woolen throws, leather accent chairs because these materials make the space feel warm and inviting. When you think about textures, think what resonates with you? Do you love the cool sleek fabric?  or the vein effect in the marble countertop? or the fluid patterns in a floral wallpaper?

Curate the space with personal collections This is always something cool when you display your personal things that you’ve collected over the years whether they are travel, souvenirs, old books, ceramic mugs, even records or vintage cameras. It can be vintage artwork too. These little details make a space lived in and unique to you . Also, they can often become conversation starters when guests visit your place.

from:@dinasdigs

Creating emotionally safe space by using light fixtures & window treatment opting for warm, dimmable lighting to create the calm and cohesive look and avoid harsh overhead lights. By using table, lamps or wall scones to create inviting and nurturing, look as a perfect idea to create that cozy look. Window treatments allow a home to be a private place, but also through window treatment. You can bring out various aspects such as textures, colors, and patterns. They are a perfect element to bring out that sense of oneness and uniqueness in your home.

from:@courtneyfavini

Allowing your space to evolve is the biggest lesson I’ve learned. Your HOME doesn’t have to be finished to feel like a home. Over time your style, your interests and experiences will change your space and you should evolve with them as well. Don’t be afraid to swap out decor, rearrange furniture, and try something new. Because that’s the beauty of designing with the motion of your Home grows with you. 

At the end of the day, designing with emotion is all about creating a space that represents you and it’s not about trying to impress others or following some Pinterest trend. It’s about filling your home with things that bring you joy and a sense of belongingness. 

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