When we nurture others, we help them develop or grow into productive, secure people. Everyone knows that we need this as children.
As an adult, you can still benefit from nurturing, so it’s helpful to determine how to encourage your own personal growth and feelings of security.
You have a lot more control over your own world now than you did as a child. You can choose multiple forms of self-nurturance. One effective way is to create sanctuary in your home.
Nurturing Spaces Defined
Nurturing spaces are places you truly love or that bring you pure joy. Some spaces might make you feel incredibly relaxed while others energize you or encourage your interest in something special.
Regardless of who you are, what interests you have, or the type of work you do, you deserve to create and relish nurturing spaces in your home.
How to Design and Create Nurturing Spaces
1. Getting started. In order to create your sanctuary, first make a list of the things you love, enjoy doing, or are interested in. Knowing what makes your heart sing will help you determine how to construct special places in your home that reflect those interests.
2. Remind yourself of favorite activities. For readers, try a small collection of magazines or books stacked by your bedside. They’ll be ready and waiting for you to browse through upon retiring for the evening.
- Maybe the beautiful silk scarf you bought on your cruise or vacation would bring you joy, draped over your bed’s headboard. Or if you sew, hanging up pictures of your fashion inspirations could help keep you excited to work on your projects.
- Whatever brings feelings of comfort and contentment can be strategically placed throughout your home to create nurturing spaces.
Creating Nurturing Spaces Room by Room
Think about how you can create environments you love in every room. Below are some ways to construct special areas that may bring you comfort while relaxing or stimulate creativity while you’re creating or producing.
Living Room
If you love to play the piano or another musical instrument, set up a part of the room to play your music. Unless you use a large instrument, a small corner will do for most people.
Perhaps you’re an avid TV buff. You’ll want to have a nice television, comfortable seating and a remote control nearby. You might even want a stack of Entertainment Weekly magazines so you can flip through them.
Family Room
Depending on how you use your family room, possibilities for nurturing spaces are endless. For avid readers, maybe that sunny corner of the room is a great place for a comfy chair and a stack of books you want to read on a side table.
Those interested in drawing or other artwork might use a well-lit area of the room to practice their art. Some special tools or canvases may put you in the mood to create. Regardless of your interests, place elements of them in your family room.
Kitchen
If you love to cook, you might like a shelf or bookcase with your favorite cookbooks and recipe files. Consider placing an unobtrusive chair nearby to sit and browse recipes at your leisure. Each time you enter, you’ll see this nurturing space and feel comfort and joy.
Bedroom
For people who seek comfort in the bedroom, consider having plenty of cushy pillows. Place cherished photos, knick-knacks or decorations on the bedside table. Surrounding yourself with possessions you love helps to create nurturing, relaxing spaces.
Bathroom
A large glass decanter filled with an assortment of seashells may call to mind your last adventure at the beach. Or use a table lamp that harkens back to the time you went to a flea market in your favorite vacation spot. Take advantage of relaxing aromatherapy with scented candles or potpourri and let luxurious bath oils, bubbles, or salts pamper and nurture you with every bath.
You’ll be very satisfied as you take the time to compose places in your home where you can feel secure and experience growth. When you create nurturing spaces in your home, your life becomes richer. You’ll be filled with joy, peace and serenity!
