WHY IT’S GOOD TO LEAVE HOME
At some stage, we have to leave home.
I’m not talking about leaving the family home for a share house with some rather scary housemates. But rather, leaving home for a holiday. A holiday means time off work, an opportunity to sleep in and perhaps explore a new unfamiliar place. And it means we get away from the emails, the desk and routine that has become part of our daily life. Of course, we all know the importance of holidays for our mental and physical wellbeing, but what about for our home? Can there be benefits in getting away for our home too?
Here are my 5 reasons why it’s good to leave home (and of course, come back!):
Critical eye – We can get used to our surrounds. And we can get a bit oblivious to things that need to change. Is the room looking too cluttered? Is that wall colour too dark? Why do I have 10 vases? Being away helps us cast a critical eye over our home when we return so we can use it better and enjoy our rooms again.
Inspiration – When we travel we see new things. Travel has certainly become something that gives me great inspiration. I love seeing the tiles used on centuries-old churches, the furniture used in hotel lobbies and window displays in the shops of quaint little English villages. I then translate these into ideas that I can use back home. Recently for a bathroom makeover, I used tiles that were inspired by the patterns in old churches in Italy.
New appreciation – When we see the same things day in day out, there is a familiarity. You may lose appreciation for some features in your home and forget they are there. For example, after staying in a tiny hotel room, I really loved seeing the north sun coming through my living room windows when I got home.
Souvenirs – One of the things I love about travelling is collecting objects from different places. Often you can find things that you can’t get at home. And your trinkets will bring back memories of your travels. I have a beautiful glass vase from Venice that we purchased back in 2009 that proudly sits on our mantel. It’s cost a small fortune but our memories of the private boat trip there, the espresso we had at the factory (before we made the purchase) and the excitement of opening the package when we got home are fun memories. It helps make our house our home.
Sense of belonging – Travelling can be exhausting and depending upon how long you’ve been away, you can get a bit homesick. Simple familiar things in your home can mean a lot more when you get back. There are memories, objects and mementoes at home that help remind you of who you are and what you’ve experienced.
And decorators can also help see your home in a new and objective way. For help on decorating your home, contact me at katie@katieriddell.com.au. To receive helpful tips and inspiration direct to your email inbox, please sign-up to receive my “All Things Interiors” newsletter.
