Why the Idea of "Good Taste" Feels Out of Sync in 2023? A Design Psychology Perspective

Elsie De Wolfe’s Residence via Another

I grew up in an era when good taste was well, good taste. It didn’t necessarily need to be defined, but it implied there was a style standard to aspire to. Now this standard is being challenged, thanks to sociocultural shifts that manage to move the zeitgeist or frame of reference. 

Inspired by Sarah Archer’s article in Architectural Digest, Is It Time to Do Away With “Good Taste”? I set out to explore this idea further. Archer says good taste, once defined by the arbiter of good taste herself, Elsie de Wolfe, reflected “status”, “[old] money”, and “establishment.” We would recognize it today as the roots of grandmillennial style with lots of chinoiserie, chintz, trelliswork, and French antiques. Archer argues that De Wolfe’s idea of good taste reflected a kind of “visual soft power” that made it aspirational and by definition, unattainable at least by those who had not yet made it up the pearly, socio-economic ladder. 

In a similar vein, fashion legend and a leading figure in hip-hop, Dapper Dan told Hot 97 in a 2019 interview, that aspirational fashion is what maintained his brand as people want something that seems “unreachable.” This idea of aspirational fashion or interiors thrives on our desire for the ideal. According to a 2012 study, researchers found that luxury is appealing because it supports the self in everyday living and offers an opportunity for people to live out different selves. So while we may respect interior design elements with aesthetic and financial value, it is the story these elements tell that determine whether we connect with it or not. 

In her latest book, Designing-Women’s Lives: Transforming Place and Self, design psychologist, Toby Israel says that the way we perceive design depends on our perspective. Highlighting legendary architect, Denise Scott Brown who paved the way for women architects in the 50’s and 60’s, Israel writes that Brown was influenced by many “taste cultures”, including the kitschy vibe of the Las Vegas strip; and her “pluralistic perspective” allowed her to embrace “high, middle, low, and other design cultures.” Brown heralded “design-in-everyday-life,” and as she puts it, embraced “context”, “social concern”, “symbolism”, and “the messy vitality of the vernacular.” Interestingly, Dapper Dan said he did not design fashion as much as he “translated culture.”

Home of Denise Scott Brown via Superaggregration

The terms high, middle, or low taste cultures are loaded, and reflective of a societal framework that puts people in categories, for better or worse. Nevertheless, Brown’s ability to connect with and incorporate different taste cultures into her designs, even ones people frowned their noses at, was pretty groundbreaking for its time.  More recently, we have begun to embrace diverse experiences; and the cultural richness that comes from being exposed to different cultures. We see it in our language like “mixing high and low furniture” and while this is usually referring to price point and quality, it speaks to the shifting frame of reference of our time– that is, there is value in both low and high. 

While we don’t need to throw out the idea of good taste, it has different connotations than De Wolfe experienced in her time. That is, today’s “good taste” is not yesterday’s “good taste.” The term continues to imply standards which we need for motivation to attain goals and be better humans, but it’s more inclusive and based on varied values that can very well include De Wolfe’s vision of it. So that leads me to want to answer a few questions about this “new” good taste. 

Home of Denise Scott Brown via Superaggregation

What is good taste in 2023? 

Archer asked a number of designers what good taste is to them, and some memorable ones are “a kind of knowing” and “owning one’s aesthetic choices with confidence.” In other words, good taste is not insecure; and the idea of using your home to validate who you are (often by following a series of generic rules) is antithetical to good taste. Rather, when we design our home in a way that reflects who we are, then we put ourselves in a position to be tastemakers. Archer concludes that prioritizing comfort is a “subtly radical” approach to design, and a hallmark of good taste as it reflects an “authentic hospitality.” This is a willingness to serve others by translating diversity into design in much the same way as Denise Scott Brown and Dapper Dan.

If I had to come up with my own definition of good taste, I’d say it is the ability to translate into design elements, a specific point of view that is unique to you and inspiring to others. This too requires a “knowing.”

Is good taste learned or are we born with it?

I’d say the answer is both. We are all born with sensibilities, and some of us may be particularly sensitive to design and the way we combine design elements. But as De Wolfe says, good taste can be developed. So we have to have enough self-awareness to know what we respond to and why. We all have a working design sensibility we can improve upon. And by improve, I mean make it sharper and more identifiable for you and others. Like with anything, it takes some work to grow and get better.

What are some ways to develop my design tastes?

According to design psychology, our sense of home is impacted by our past experiences with place and the impact it has on our emotional life. So we should be aware of the ways lived experiences impact our affinity for different styles and spaces. One way to do this is through environmental autobiographies that help you better understand your self-place connection. This way, your home reflects you and meets your social, psychological, and aesthetic needs. 

We must also educate ourselves on what different design styles mean, and the impact they have had to better determine if they are suitable for us. Consider ways to use different design metaphors for your experiences so like Dapper Dan, you too can translate culture, for yourself and others.  

Self-Empathy in Design: Using Objects to Create a Fulfilling Space

Years ago when my teenage niece visited my two-bedroom apartment in a very builder’s grade apartment complex, she commented, “my friend [who lives a few doors down] has the same apartment as you…but yours looks so different…Hers is like a box.” My perceptive niece was referring to the contrasting approaches her friend’s family and I had to home design. In typical maximalist fashion, my apartment was filled with color and things. And while I didn’t see her friend’s apartment, I assume the family either wasn’t into decorating and/or didn’t have the (emotional) resources to create a sense of home. 

For some, decorating is not a priority; and simply having a home that meets basic needs for shelter and safety is enough. However, according to the design psychology hierarchy of needs created by design psychologist, Toby Israel, we can have a self-actualized home, i.e., a home that supports the best, most fulfilled versions of ourselves, only if certain needs are met. These include needs for shelter and safety, social and psychological needs, and aesthetic needs. 

While needs for shelter are basic and necessary for survival, psychological and social needs are also important but often minimized or overlooked. These are needs that meet our desire for a sense of love, belonging, and esteem, as well as a need for community and privacy. It’s deeper than just having a pretty home, it’s about having a home that supports us emotionally and allows us to integrate different parts of ourselves, particularly the parts that have been suppressed due to societal constraints. 

In her latest book, Designing-Women’s Lives: Transforming Place and Self, Israel highlights the challenges women architects and other female place-makers have had in creating human-centered projects within the context of a male-dominated field that values objectivity and rationality over subjectivity and emotionality. She proposes that women architects often have to neglect parts of themselves in order to be successful professionals. Nevertheless, many of these women have been trailblazers in creating human-centered spaces. These are spaces that are infused with empathy for people’s stories and elicit strong, positive feelings such as honoring marginalized women’s social needs by creating often overlooked private and social spaces, or otherworldly architecture that symbolizes higher ideals.

Israel summons us to follow the lead of these inspiring women by using our space to more consciously honor the aspects of ourselves we may have hidden so that the home becomes a “catalyst” for wholeness.  One of the ways to do this is to consider the objects of our home and the meanings they have for us. Notably, founders of the popular design website, Sight Unseen, and authors of, How to Live with Objects, Monica Khemsurov & Jill Singer, mirror Israel’s sentiments about using objects to create fulfilling spaces.

In their book, they write that “living with objects we care about–for reasons that transcend their basic function—is always something that has come naturally to humans.” It’s this ability to transcend design with objects and create spaces that reflect the highest versions of ourselves Israel urges us to strive for. As if Khemsurov and Singer plucked the information right out of Israel’s design psychology books, they assert that objects are part of our “personal emotional landscape” and “ reflect us”, “tell stories,” and “make us feel.” 

The authors go on to say, “Your objects can establish your identity...” In other words, in design psychology terms, the objects in your home, consciously or unconsciously, tend to symbolize your persona; and when you become conscious of these symbols you can more easily use objects to help achieve place self-actualization. The authors further reason that when “someone walks into your home and sees the items you live with, they may start to understand you better…and may even see commonalities between your interests and their own…” This shows how meaningful objects may also help to create connections and satisfy social needs. So if you are looking to include more specialized objects into your home, here are some ways to consider using them to create a more emotionally fulfilling space.

Identify objects in your home that you would not want to give up

my Glass Bowl: I Adore it for its swanky 70’s vibe, reminiscent of something that would be displayed at a cool aunt’s house party.

If you were going through the design psychology process, you’d be asked to go through a number of exercises that help you to better understand your experience with place, including an exercise that helps you identify meaningful objects in your home. So consider the objects in your home that you’d have a hard time giving up; and determine why they are meaningful. This will help to bring your unconscious thoughts and feelings to the fore. 

Incorporate similar favorite objects from the past into your current space

My antique writing desk: After painting it all sorts of colors and putting it in the garbage pile, we decided to keep it and now it’s part of our family’s story.

Perhaps you don’t currently have meaningful objects in your space, or you have very few and would like more. If so, consider favorite objects from past, and the reason they were meaningful to you. Then see if you can find similar objects to place in your current space. The objects do not have to be the same, they only need to  remind you of the objects you remember. Note that design psychology is not about re-creating the past, but rather it’s about capturing the essence of past beloved objects. 

Expand your search for meaningful objects

My 1930’s pedastal table: my husband spent a lot of energy striping it , so it’s definitely not going anywhere anytime soon.

Not sure where to find meaningful objects? Many special objects can be found in unexpected places, so don’t rule out any store. Nevertheless, many objects with soul can be found secondhand; and there are a plethora of vintage stores online you can peruse. Often, however, when you go to vintage stores or flea markets looking for a specific object, you’ll be hard pressed to find it. So you will need to have a little patience and trust the process.

Resist the urge to buy an object just to fill up space

My Empire Style stool: It has a wordly, expresive vibe that was part of my ideal home statement.

This brings me to my next point which is don’t just buy any object because you need to fill the space. If you are looking for carefully curated objects that mean something, and are a reflection of you, then leave a space empty until you can find the “right” piece to fill it. The empty space will be a reminder of what’s to come; and will reduce the chances that you will stop looking for the object because you’ve replaced it with something else.

Want Inspiration for Your Space? Try Turning Outfits into Rooms

Design and fashion psychology are not all that different. One uses psychology to create emotionally supportive spaces, and the other uses it to help people create outfits that support the better versions of them. Our spaces and clothes don’t just help us survive, they are also extensions of our identity; and many aspects of ourselves can be reflected in them—our personality traits, our mood, our goals, and aspirations.

I’d say one thing that differentiates putting together outfits and putting together rooms is the sense of permanency we feel when we decorate spaces. We can more easily switch out an outfit than we can a couch; or wallpaper that cost a pretty penny, not just to buy, but to install. Studies show if there is a large gap between the conditions of someone’s home and the expectations they had for it, the person will likely be dissatisfied. So it would seem we risk more when we decorate spaces than when we assemble outfits.

Considering the relatively high cost of decorating, what is one way that we can be more intentional about how we design our space? How can we best design a space that meets our psychological, social, and aesthetic needs, just to name a few? One way is to be more attuned to what inspires us. Inspiration can come from anywhere; and while we may be aware of what stimulates us, we may not always be able to articulate the reason. The elements of design we respond to are often connected to high positive associations between our experiences and the spaces they occur in. In other words, life happens within the context of design. An experience from childhood that is intricately connected with a certain color or design style can have a strong impact on our aesthetic, even if we are not aware of it.

In an attempt to get inspired, I turned to vintage pics to create virtual rooms. I love history, and I’m especially drawn to pics that remind me of my cultural background. Both my parents were raised in Jamaica, and my father is half-Chinese. During their young adult years, my parents relocated to England, and started our family there. My older siblings were both born in England, but I came along much later after my parents moved to the States. As the only one in my family born in America, I have quite the mash-up of cultural experiences. I’ve had the privilege (although it didn’t seem like it at the time) of moving through different cultural spaces— Black culture, White Culture, Jamaican culture, and Jamaican church culture. I’ve seen a lot; and these multicultural experiences have certainly shaped my aesthetic. So I’ve managed to take these vintage pics from Blackarchives.co, and turn them into a room that inspires and feels like something I could really live in. Not only did I use their outfits as inspiration, but the I considered the vibe of the entire picture. Check it out below.

This picture reminds me of the Carribbean— with all it’s blues, mints, and turquoise. I imagine everyone heading to church; and the children yearning for church to be over so they can eat dinner. But don’t even think of drinking or having dessert until after you finished eating everything off your plate! This imagery inspired the “Dumplings before Dessert” dining room. (photo by Otto Stupakoff via Blackarchives.co)

Dumplings Before Dessert Dining Room

This man is fully decked out, and no one can tell him otherwise. He’s gonna give you all those reds, pinks, and purples—so be sure to take notes. I once read a study that showed African-Americans are more likely than other subjects to focus on appearance. And without getting into all the historical, sociopolitical reasons why that might be, it makes sense that appearance would be very important to a people group who have been oppressed or discriminated against for the way they look. This picture inspired me to create a smorgasbord of pink, purple, and red with super confidence. I’m calling this one the Ya Dig bedroom for obvious reasons. (photo by Michael Horsley via Blackarchives.com)

Ya Dig Bedroom

I’m not sure where these young people are going, but I imagine at least some of them are being forced (yes, I said forced) to attend week night service. The church skirts give it away—lol. I grew up in a time where parents made their children go to church multiple days of the week. This was often the case with Caribbean parents who used the church not only to meet spiritual needs, but to meet the social needs of their children who may otherwise get caught up in some negativity should they be left at home alone. For this room, I attempted to capture the feminine ruffles with the edgy leather. I’m calling it the Week Night Service Living Room. (photo by ? via Blackarchives.com)

Week Night Service Living Room

I really enjoyed this process of turning outfits into rooms. How about you, would you ever give this a try? If you are interested in the links to my sources, see below.

Dumplings Before Dessert Dining Room

wallpaper; floor; table; abstract picture; portrait; chandelier; head vase; dining chairs; side chairs; blue cabinet

Ya Dig Bedroom

carpet; knotty pine wall; portrait; bed; rug; bench; side tables; lamps; chandelier

Week Night Service

carpet; wallpaper; sconces; chandelier; side chairs; couch; coffee table; portrait; abstract art; side tables

Does Your Office Design Support the Therapy Process? Designing for an Optimal Therapy Experience

During my seven years of graduate training in counseling psychology, I learned a whole lot about psychological theory, assessments, ethics, and psychotherapy. But I cannot recall any significant discussions about office design. It was very much absent from my educational experience; and not one I really considered seriously until recent years. Research has shown that the office space is integral to the treatment process, and not the cute afterthought we sometimes make it out to be. In fact, sometimes a client’s first impression of the therapy office can turn them away; or a different office may make them feel differently about a therapist they have been seeing for a while.

In order to understand why the therapy office holds so much weight, we can look to theories that address the impact physical environment has on our perceptions.  Research shows that when we walk into a room, our brain does three things— identifies objects, maps them (e.g., couch to the left, dying plant on the right near the bookshelf), and associates them (e.g., dying plant associated with neglect and fear). These associations occur all at the same time and below our conscious level of awareness.  They trigger what we call schemas— schemas are scripts we use to organize our world; and the features of an office design can trigger a range of different schemas (e.g., schemas for home, hospital settings). The schemas that gets triggered are the ones that closely resemble the experience we are currently having. So clients associate different meanings to the objects in the therapy room depending on their experiences. And the real meaning behind these objects is determined by the symbolic meaning these objects have to those perceiving it.

While it’s one thing to know that the office space is important, it is another thing to know what to do about it. Research has begun to uncover a number of elements that best support the therapy process. See a few below:

1.    Make it Homey

Studies shows clients prefer soft, personalized office spaces over ones that feels hard and impersonal. By “soft” they mean things like upholstered chairs, wallpaper, curtains, throw rugs, plants, and table lamps. And personal elements refer to things like pictures of family members, photographs, knickknacks, books, and pillows. In other words, these are spaces that feel more like a traditional living room than an “office” or clinical setting. Clients have also shown a preference for orderly office environments. Not surprisingly, no one really wants to process intense emotional issues in a complex and cramped space. Interestingly, the research shows that clients’ experience with therapy improved with the softness, personalization, and neatness of the office. They felt safe in these places, like they could open up. And of course, homey office spaces also carry the added benefit of creating a more satisfying work environment for the therapist, which may inadvertently improve their skills as a therapist.

Other research shows the importance of the spatial design. In one study, clients were most attracted to therapists who did not place a desk or table between them and the therapist. It was thought that these barriers impeded communication, warmth, and acceptance. Thus, it can be said that the spatial design of the room can support connection.

me and my faux client (AKA my son)

2.    Help Them See The Light

Sometimes overhead fluorescent lighting is all we have when we get an office space. And often the light is garish, causing the office to feel less than warm. This can explain why studies show clients prefer yellow or dim lighting instead of different color lights; and the warmer lighting was related to increased disclosure. If you are stuck with overhead lighting, try bringing in table lamps and/or lights on dimmers— it may go a long way to facilitate an environment where clients feel safe to open up.

Also let’s not forget the importance of sunlight. Sunlit rooms lift our moods while prolonged exposure to fluorescent lighting has been shown to dampen them. So if natural light is an option for you, take advantage of it when you can.  If not, there are ways to get around it. (See number 3).

3.    Go Natural

Nature just makes us feel better. It helps us restore our mental energy after we’ve drained it with extended focus or concentration. And studies have shown the healing benefits of nature. In fact, people prefer seeing wood-grain because it has been known to de-stress us. But if your office has no windows, you can still get that nature vibe. Artwork with nature scenes and bursts of sunlight, or faux plants that look real can provide similar benefits to the real thing. You might even consider putting a fish tank in your office— just like with artwork, it provides a positive distraction and a bit of relief during challenging sessions.

4.    Show Them What You’re Working With

You’ve worked really hard for your diploma and certificates so why not let your clients know. I’ve been guilty of keeping my diplomas in boxes myself. But it can be reassuring when clients see signs of expertise around the room. It can let them know they’ve made the right choice. Even books (which goes back to the homey idea) can do more than provide comfort. It shows clients your interests; and gives them the opportunity to connect with you in positive ways, thus enhancing the client-therapist relationship. Note to therapists: clients looked to objects to gather clues about you and determine things like expertise, similar interests, and traits (e.g, warmth, distant ). In this way, the office design is secondary to the client-therapist relationship.

Of course, there is not one specific therapy office design than can guarantee a stellar therapy experience. But why not support the therapeutic process as much as you can by providing comfort and safety, and a chance for connection? I’d like to think of it as another form of communicating with the clients, and providing additional opportunities for rapport building. It’s the therapists’ job to function as a container for clients’ problems; and this “container” is not just emotional but extends to the physical environment as well.

Pre-Tween Bedroom Inspiration + Mood Board

Hi There! 2022 is fast-approaching, and I’ve recently turned my attention to updating my six-year-old daughter’s bedroom. Well, it’s not exactly recent— I’ve been working on putting it together for about two years now. It all started while I was updating my two boys’ bedrooms during my sabbatical from blogging (is that a thing?). Their rooms are still coming together, and I hope to feature as I get certain pieces in place. So anyway, at some point while working on my sons’ rooms, I became interested in a canopy bed. I’m not sure exactly what inspired the sudden interest, but one day I found myself wanting the campaign canopy bed from Anthropologie that had been discontinued for a couple of years (strange since I saw it many times in the store and didn’t consider it). I think it may have something to do with seeing Carolina Herrera, Jr’s canopy bed so charmingly plopped right in the middle of her living room.

Carolina Herrera Baez’s Madrid Apartment

No, it isn’t quite a regular bed, but a daybed similar to the vintage, architectural Italian style canopy bed from Anthropologie. Just like this daybed, the Anthropologie canopy bed’s header and footer are the same height so it can be used as a daybed if needed. I thought how cute it would be for my daughter, Tabitha; and when she outgrew it, I too could use it as a daybed in the living room or den. (brilliant!) I showed her the bed and of course she loved it ( in all fairness with her imagination in full gear, it doesn’t take much to excite her with something dreamy like a canopy bed).

From that point on, the hunt to find the discontinued canopy bed was on. I searched day and night online, and became kind of obsessed with looking on Facebook Market. After about a year of searching, I nearly fell off the couch when I found someone selling the Anthropologie bed for $100.00! But all that excitement quickly dissipated when the seller wrote, “Someone, offered to buy it already, but if they don’t show, you’re next in line.” I tried to keep my hopes high; but alas, it was not to be (insert full, crocodile tears here).

As I continued to search for the canopy bed, or (by this point) something similar (I had finally come to terms with the reality that I wasn’t finding it), my concept for the bedroom evolved. I found this picture, and loved the subtle patterns mixed with the more bold mint color. (I took this snapshot from my television.)

Pineapple Decor

The room had a loveliness that was childlike, yet mature enough to grow with my daughter. The mint color also reminded me of Gidget’s room from 1965. Her room was a minty color mixed with traditional, deep wood furniture that had a timeless appeal— very super sweet.

1965 Gidget

I’m very happy to say I finally found a bed from the Waterloo company in the UK. It is similar to the Anthropologie version and I was able to customize it to my own specifications. I ordered it in ivory for a more romantic look (I can always paint it if I want to change it later). Like the Anthropologie version, the header and footer will be the same height, and I opted not to have fabric on it to give it the architectural feel I was looking for.

Waterloo Canopy Bed

I wanted to replace the wallpaper (see current below) with something that conveyed the pretty, subtle feel of the inspiration room—nothing to graphic. So after ordering a few samples that didn’t work, I ordered this one. They weren’t offering samples so I’m excited to see what it looks like in person.

Aqua Teal Watercolor Floral Wallpaper

Although I’ll be changing furnishings quiet a bit, there is still some furniture that will stay in the room, like this Bombay dresser. It adds a classic element, and grounds the bright color.

And this end table and lamp will stay as well since they fit in a more mature room.

I also included an unexpected, fun element—a shoe chair. I’ve always thought of shoe chairs as a little cheesy until I saw it done really fun in this living room. I think a little cheese can go a long way, don’t you? Ha!

The House of GLam

So with all that in mind, below is the mood board I put together. It has the subtle yet bright elements, the elusive canopy bed, and some of the furniture my daughter already has that can continue to grow with her.

Of course, as a design psychologist, I have been paying special attention to the vision statement I created from a series of assessments that guide the furnishings for my home.

My vision statement is as follows: my ideal home encourages self-acceptance and self-expression; conveys a sense of warmth, nurture, and stability; encourages play and structure; and reflects my cultural experiences, and love of travel and family with spirit and soul.

So my inspiration room checked off a few boxes for me, including warmth, play, and stability. No longer a baby, I checked with my daughter to see what she thought of the mood board; and not surprisingly she really liked it. But truth be told, she has not quiet developed hard line opinions about her room yet so I’m still pretty much running the ship on the design details. However, in my attempt to encourage self-expression, I’m keeping in mind that she’ll likely have more of an opinion as time goes on, and so I will not fill her room with things; but rather, leave spaces for her to add her own mark. She did say she wanted the canopy to have curtain panels (for hiding I presume). And I told her we’ll see if we can work that in later (still thinking how to do that).

This bedroom won’t be finished before the holidays (the bed isn’t even scheduled to come until early next year); but in the meantime, I’ll be excited to get started on the wallpaper and paint. What do you think—did I capture the inspiration room and home vision statement? Always open to feedback because “it takes a village”.

Here are a few resources from the mood board above: Loews diamond jute rug; vintage Barbie Slim Aaron pic; Ashley Home Modern Heirloom bedding; Society6 Colorful Geometric Pillow Sham; accordion table lamp by Hays; postmodern chair from Chairish; waterfall desk from Chairish; and French chest on chest from Chairish.

I Am Home: Chrissy Powers

Our homes offer us a lot of things like shelter, safety, and comfort. But what are the ingredients to a strong, positive self-place connection? If you asked five different people, you’d get five different answers because what makes home, home is unique for everyone. Our homes aren’t just aesthetically pleasing, but psychologically, socially, and culturally pleasing as well. Some people need complete tranquility, others need to be continually stimulated, and still others need some mix of both. I always say you don’t really know someone until you’ve seen their home. So I created a series I AM Home to showcase those elements, both tangible and intangible, that make people connect with their homes.

For this installment of the series, I’m excited to present Chrissy Powers— wife, mom, licensed therapist, and self-professed “eternal optimist.” Chrissy’s zest for life reverberates through her magnetic Instagram account all the way to her e-courses, coaching, blog, podcast, and therapy services- whew! While it seems like a lot, all of her work is focused on helping people overcome emotional roadblocks and trauma so they are free to live an authentic, fulfilling life. It’s her passion, and flows out of her in such a natural way. I just love Chrissy’s energy and it extends to her home too! Just one look at her home, and you can see it is a happy, loving one.

Aesthetically, Chrissy’s home gives off a carefree, California, beachy vibe. A perfect backdrop for a growing, active family. I wanted to know more about how her home uniquely supports her and her family; and she generously agreed to let me pick her brain. Here’s what she had to say.

Living room photo by Meghan Branlund

Trulery: How would you define home?

Chrissy: Our home is streamlined, coastal with a hint of vintage.

Trulery: What makes your home, feel like home?

Chrissy: I feel most at home with cozy comfy items, clean spaces, and with my family around me.

Reading nook

Trulery: What’s one thing you learned about yourself as it relates to your home?

Chrissy: I’ve learned that I’m eclectic, and because of my ADD, I like clean and simple spaces.

Trulery: What’s one piece of advice you would give to anyone struggling to make their home feel like home?

Chrissy: Make your home yours with art and items that soothe you!

Bedroom sitting area

So what can we learn from Chrissy’s responses? First and foremost, Chrissy’s openness about her ADD is such a gift to the many people who struggle with it, and feel disillusioned about their ability to lead a productive life. Chrissy’s fullness for life shows it is possible, and she uses her home to do it. What aspects of your home can you alter to minimize the impact of any deficits you may have?

Secondly, Chrissy shows us it is the people in the home that make it. That might sound cliche, but if you look at pictures of her home, her family is what makes it invigorating. Of course, she has cute stuff, but it’s pictures of her kids running around, her being silly, and her affection towards her husband that make the cute furnishings pop. You are your home’s best accessory.

Thirdly, know what furnishings or objects you connect to. Chrissy said to fill our home with art and items that soothe us; but in order to do that, we must be attuned to what that is. So how do we become attuned to what we connect to? I’d say it takes a little bit of work on our part. We need to be aware of what is happening around us— what are the trends, what do they mean, how are others putting things together? Warning— this is different than being overly concerned with what others are doing and trying to keep up. It’s about educating ourselves, and learning how to be inspired by others in a way that benefits us, not hurts us. In the end, we should have a better understanding of what furnishings are suitable for us.

What parts of Chrissy’s home style or interview resonate with you?