Weekend decorating idea: Create yourself a sanctuary

There is nothing I love more than creating sanctuaries. The proper definition for Sanctuary is 'a place of refuge or safety. That is truly what your home should be, a place that calms you and keeps you safe. Does your home make you feel that way?

If not, I highly recommend reading my book, Blissful Living. It will show you how and why its so important to create a sacred space for yourself to design a beautiful life. Here is a page from my book that is one of my favorites. . .

Think about how you inhabit your home and how well you take care of yourself and your family there. For me, my home is a place that is the backdrop for how I get up in the morning and start my day, enjoy my coffee, take my vitamins, burn my favorite candles, style beautiful vignettes, relax and watch movies, make beautiful meals, write in my journal, take detoxifying baths. It helps me do the very best to take care of myself. When life brings the difficult moments, its absolutely my place for refuge. 

After a few weeks of desperately needing the time and sacred space to nurture myself through some of the hardest times, I have only done more to add elements to my home that needed some enhancing. I added some plants, added a running water feature, a new storage system for my journals and crystals, I also got a new beautiful set of tea cups. This weekend, take some time out to enhance your home for self care. (Another thing I did was hit up TJMaxx for a yoga mat, some vitamins, stretch bands to make sure I keep up with my fitness). 

Here are a few questions to consider while enhancing your sanctuary this weekend. . .

1. In what ways to do I enjoy taking care of myself at home?

2. What brings you calm and rest?

3. What mood/feeling do you want each room in your home to bring you?

4. What decorative items could you add to help connect you more with that mood/feeling?

5. What colors are you loving and needing more of in your life and how can you incorporate them?

HERE ARE A FEW ITEMS I RECOMMEND TO CREATE THAT SANCTUARY VIBE: 

Inspired Design: 5 rooms with black that I love and why

When I began forming the idea for this series on the blog, I was enveloped by the amount of design out there on Instagram. Back in the blog days, I never had so much good design to tear through. Now I can just go to one app and see so much of it. I love the ability to save the photos in collections for my design research. I'll be sharing more of what I love on the blog for you. 

One thing I have noticed is that the black trend hasn't gone anywhere as most people suspected. Black is only getting better. Here are 5 rooms I have just absolutely loved and why. . .

1. This soft pink with black accents bathroom nearly gave me heart palpitations. I want this bathroom!!! I just can imagine how much fun this would be to have in a house and my mind was going crazy with what I would do for the artwork. Design by Jessie D. Miller.

2. Bedrooms really are one of the most fun rooms for black, because it just creates that hotel like quality of coziness. I love that this room has just the back accent wall painted in black, perfect for anyone with some hesitation around using black. With all of the brighter accents in this room, it still feels bright and fun. I also adore this pop of ultra violet. Design by Grey Hunt Interiors. 

3. If you don't follow @lenaterlutter on instagram, you totally should. I just love her style. This black accent wall makes all the metallics really pop and feel so glamorous while still not feeling too over the top. I so want this room in my life. 

4. Layering black accents in a white room is always a good way to go, you really never can go wrong with adding some black. There is a masculine and feminine feel to the room which is approachable living for everyone with some serious style. Design by Crystal Sinclair. 

5. This isn't really a room, it's the most darling corner of a room that I have fallen in love with. The small black accent wall is such a great look for a wall inset like this. What a clever way to capitalize on the character of a space. I am also in love with the aqua color window panel, just swagged off to the corner. So romantic and charming. Via @parisa_siber