Ingredients for the Home: Fresh Air, Space, & Life

It’s been about six months since we’ve been at home now. During this pandemic, I’ve found “home” has evolved from the place we live to the place we live pretty much all the time. I’m extremely thankful for our place - our sanctuary that we continue to adapt with the times.

fresh air

Fresh air is something I’m appreciating more and more with the quarantining and now the fires in California. This very trail we were on, caught fire just a few weeks after our visit. Since then, we’ve been using an air filter at home until the smoke and ash dissipate.

space

While we were out here, there was something liberating about the open space, unbounded by the four walls and ceiling we’ve grown accustomed to these many months. As we’ll continue sheltering in place for an undefinable amount of time, I’ve been trying to incorporate thoughtful design approaches to the indoor spaces at home. I’ve been using brighter, warmer whites and Scandi minimalism in my decorations. We’ve Kondo’d all our belongings to only those that bring us joy. It’s collectively given us a sense of peace with the chaos going on in the world. We can more easily wake up physically to the metaphoric “blank canvas” in the morning with a fresh start.

life

Another aspect I missed was the bountiful greenery outdoors - so much visible life around us. Now that we’re fairly isolated from the liveliness of human company, the life of the greenery gave me comfort (without the anxiety of being around people during a pandemic). So I’ve been gardening at home, however small and looking for indoor plants to add life into our lives. It’s these little details that make a difference for me.

Thanks for reading. I hope some of these thoughts help inspire you with ways to make staying indoors in times like these “more at home.”