When I started The Inspired Room in 2007, my tagline was “Refining Your Home for Authentic Living.” Though I no longer use that exact phrase, it still reflects my approach to home. Over the years we’ve tackled larger renovations, but I find the greatest joy in small refinements that subtly change how a space feels. It’s the refining process that turns a house into a home.
REFINE: improve (something) by making small changes; in particular, make (an idea, theory, or method) more subtle and accurate.
When you learn to refine your surroundings and make thoughtful adjustments, the impact on a room is meaningful in the ways that matter most.
Designing a picture-perfect space is different from creating a sanctuary. A sanctuary is a refuge where you feel calm and restored.
Even if your home looks perfect in photos, those images can’t capture how you experience the space. You are the one who writes the story of how your home feels each day.
To create a true sanctuary, focus on refining the details that matter to you and the people who live there. Over time those details may create a picture-perfect moment—when everything is clean and the light is right—but more importantly each refinement helps your home reflect who you are and changes how you feel when you walk in the door.
When you practice refining a room this way, you can work with what you already own and add pieces over time. You’ll know what choices to make each season to bring your senses into balance. These small adjustments are the ones that invite you to breathe out and feel peace in your surroundings.
Would you like to learn how to do this in your own home?
I’m excited to invite you to my new workshop in HomeBody Gathering Place called Room Recipe, where I teach the essential ingredients every room needs to feel like a sanctuary.
In this custom workshop, my daughters and I guide you through how to use these ingredients and apply a proven design formula to each room in your home.
With our Room Recipe design principles, you can turn any room into the sanctuary you’ve been longing for.
This summer I’m offering this new workshop free to members of the HomeBody Gathering Place community. We’ll walk alongside you step by step, making the journey toward a sanctuary achievable and personal through membership.
For less than the cost of a single design regret, members gain access to all our resources: printables for home planning, art and inspiration, and community support designed for people like you.
Everything in HomeBody Gathering Place exists to inspire and support you as you create a sanctuary in your home.
We are opening membership for only two more days, so if you’re ready to begin, now is a great time to join!
How it works:
- We cover one focused topic and activity at a time so you can learn and make real progress. The weekly and seasonal format is simple and doable, and you can move at your own pace.
- Every mini-course and workshop is designed to be adapted to your tastes and home. You don’t need a particular design style—these principles work with whatever speaks to you.
No matter the type of home you live in or the season of life you’re in, if you want to create a sanctuary, you belong in HomeBody Gathering Place.