Style Spotlight: Intentional Design and Decor

Intentional living is the new design trend that’s not a trend at all—it’s a way of life. More and more people are embracing intentional design and decor because it reflects who they truly are, meets their needs, and brings a sense of harmony to the home. Expressing intentional living through design choices allows you to experience ultimate comfort in the sanctuary of your space. It gives the freedom and convenience of having exactly what you need available, when and where you need it.

What is Intentional Living?

As a lifestyle, intentional living is very much about deciding who you are, and then making your choices based on that concept. It is the process of establishing your priorities, your desires and what brings you joy. This can be anything from major choices, like where you live and what you do for work, down to the tiniest details, like a plush rug in your bedroom or beautiful cabinet hardware in the kitchen.

Establishing these core values is the first step in intentional living and intentional design. Once you know what you favor and cherish, what you dislike, and what you want to show the world, you can make every decision from a place of true self-knowledge and expression. Your home becomes a showcase, bringing peace and convenience that suits your lifestyle impeccably.

Choosing items for intentional living is the exact opposite of following fads blindly or copying all the items from a magazine spread. The best interior designers and decorators do this instinctively, working with you and your family to craft authentic spaces that speak to who you are. Intentional living also embraces the flexibility of adjusting as time goes on, so you can reevaluate and keep spaces relevant as life progresses. This ensures the home is eternally a place that everyone can utilize and connect with.

Slow, Conscious Design

There is a slow, even languid pace to intentional design. By taking time to truly map out your home, and your life, you can build each element into something functional and inspiring. Consider foot traffic through spaces, what you see when you wake up each morning, what spaces you want connected, and what rooms are better with a bit of isolation.

There is also an element of futureproofing that can be considered. Everything should be chosen to suit the current version of yourself and your family, but the best intentional living design choices offer flexibility for changes ahead. This includes wall sconces and overhead ceiling lights that provide maximum room for furniture and people within a room’s footprint. It could be designing an intentional bathroom with a spacious wet room. That same at-home spa can be accented with benches or ADA-compliant handrails to make a shower that accommodates aging in place.

At some point you may choose to turn the kid’s playroom into a hangout area for teenagers or change a nursery into a guest bedroom. Even appliances like beverage centers can transition from cocktail stations to wine storage, be moved to the family room and stocked with child-friendly snacks, or be positioned in the bathroom to hold skincare items. There’s a true sense of joy that comes with discovering all the potential that a piece has!

Value-Based Choices

All of us live with our own custom set of values, but many don’t realize how these values can be expressed within the home. Value-based design choices will reflect what you hold dear, what you support, and what matters most in your world. Your values may include creating an incredibly comfortable shared space, so you can be a “living room family” that enjoys spending time together in common areas. Or they may include the decision to be more of a “bedroom family”, where each person enjoys their alone time in a private space made just for them.

Your house may have a secluded meditation area, prayer corner or peaceful garden that calms your mind. Perhaps you are passionate about sustainability, and so you choose water conserving, EPA-certified faucets and plumbing. If you’re focused on health, you might prioritize an exercise room or whole-house water filtration system. Your home could include decor that reflects your stances on any number of issues, and personal memorabilia that offers a true window into your inner world.

Sustainability and quality are essential components of intentional living. Choose pieces that are well-made and sure to stand the test of time. This allows you to ignore passing trends and instead appreciate modern classics that fit and function perfectly within your home. When it is time to update an element, you’ll know that you’re making an intentional choice on something that you will value for years to come. Combine this with flexibility in purchasing smaller, more frequently changed items that bring you joy in the moment—throw pillows, wall art, lampshades and drawer pulls, among other options.

Multi-Functional Spaces for Everyone

No one in the family is left out of intentional living design. You, your children, your pets and even frequent guests or extended family should be factored in if they use the space often. Multi-functional rooms, furniture and design elements make this easy and beautiful. A mudroom can also work as a dog cleaning and feeding station, while a guest bedroom can do double duty as home office and living quarters when visitors arrive. For furniture, something as simple as a large dining room table can reflect your family’s emphasis on togetherness and shared meals, while also providing space for gatherings, working on school projects or enjoying arts and crafts.

When creating an intentional home, be sure to consider lines of sight and what areas should be open versus closed. Perhaps you prefer an open concept kitchen, dining and living area, but would appreciate a serene primary bedroom that is set apart from the common rooms. Factor in needs like soundproofing, easy access, and daily functions. Do you get frustrated carrying every load of laundry up and down the stairs? An upstairs laundry room, complete with a washer and dryer set, double hampers, and drying racks can make that chore easier, improving your life every day.

Hobbies and downtime should play a big part in your intentional design if they play a big part in your life. The smallest of details can bring you happiness and function on a regular basis. Aspiring chefs can add pot fillers and high-quality appliances to the kitchen, while BBQ-masters can outfit the back patio with a top-of-the-line grill, outdoor dry pantry, and comfortable seating.

Emotional Well-Being & Biophilic Design

Your personal well-being is key to intentional design. Choose harmonious colors and palettes that appeal to your eye and consider how you want each room to make you feel. This could be a kitchen equipped with everything you love, a bedroom that instantly calms your mind or a bathroom that invigorates your spirit. Think about how sights, sounds, and smells come together. Things like outdoor views, aromatherapy, easy foot traffic paths, and sentimental decor make every moment in your home feel just right for your life.

Biophilic design is a great way to accomplish this goal. This enduring style is based on using the elements of nature as design inspiration and embracing them with all five senses. The sights, sounds, smells, textures, tactile feelings, and even tastes of nature can all be emulated within the home, creating a space that appeals to us on a very basic and primal level. It also encompasses many of the same concepts as intentional design. By choosing pieces that connect you to nature, you are making your house happier and healthier for everyone who enters. Humans are inherently pleased by decor, design and elements that bring the outdoors inside and simulate experiences from the natural world.

Many people do this without specifically planning a biophilic focus—they simply love the feel of a ceiling fan’s cool breeze, the smooth marble of a kitchen counter, or the glowing warmth of a firepit in the backyard. Others use nature itself as inspiration, utilizing natural building materials and indoor plants to achieve harmony within the home. Modern technology gives us many new ways to incorporate biophilic design, with options like climate-controlled HVAC systems and shower systems that feature rainfall faucets and light therapy. Whatever you choose, this inspiration has the added advantage of being the ultimate classic design element. There’s nothing with more longevity than the beauty of nature.

Editing & Organization

It should be no surprise that purposeful editing aligns with intentional living. Removing what is unnecessary, unappealing or outdated makes room for what you truly appreciate and can find use for. The concept of “a place for everything, and everything in its place” is paramount here. Not because it’s important for control, or because your intentional home must be spotless and perfectly arranged. It’s simply about making your space more convenient and comfortable for everyone.

Furniture and design that effortlessly incorporate organization make this achievable and beautiful. Think about couches with storage ottomans, home entertainment systems with cubbies and bookshelves, or gorgeous bathroom vanities with a multitude of deep drawers. Similarly, a well-placed dish drying rack, cupboards with lazy Susans, and a dishwasher with slots for your wine glasses or big platters can make for an ideal kitchen. An organized bedroom closet allows you to see everything you have, making it easy to wear what you buy, and buy only what you need or love.

There is something to be said, though, for the concept of “intentional clutter”. This term encompasses the mementos, family photographs and prized collections that provide happiness and satisfaction at every glance. Intentional design is never about sacrificing personality or pleasure for the sake of how a home “should” look. Decide for yourself what you want and need in your home, and revel in the chance to make that vision a reality. There’s no buyer’s remorse here, just a sense of joy when you find that perfect piece or discover a new use that brings life to an old favorite.

Apply these concepts to your next project with the help of thoughtfully curated collections from Ferguson Home. We’re here to help you survey your options and find exactly what you need to create an intentionally designed space.