Ritual at Home
I was listening to one of my favorite interior design podcasts the other day and I was completely inspired by Jeremiah Brent’s conversation about ritual. Most especially how it relates to our homes. I know it appeals to me because I am a Virgo with a strong need for organization, repetition, and clarity. But I started to think about how ritual in my own daily life creates the rooms in which we live in.
For instance, I always start the day with opening the window shades and letting in the morning light. That sets the tone for my day. A bright sunny morning inspires me to get moving, to get outside, check things off my list. Conversely, a gray cloudy morning might make me feel cozier and more introspective. Automated window shades are on my To Do list.
Obviously, the kitchen has a massive impact on my daily rituals. Feeding my cats and dogs, making coffee for my husband and myself, preparing for the day that starts here. My husband and I love cooking and baking. Holiday meals are huge for us, and we love to entertain friends and family. I know that the art of making food is an act of love and caring. Planning for how we work in our kitchen spaces affects how we feel about cooking. We love to see our clients find a renewed interest in cooking once they have completed a freshly remodeled kitchen with modern new appliances. Our day begins the process of winding down in our kitchen. We make a point to sit down to dinner. Our dining table happens to be in our kitchen since we removed a wall that formerly separated the spaces. I am particularly attached to the ritual of setting the table. I will spend weeks planning a holiday meal and what the table will look like. But I try to make the daily ritual an act of caring.
Our sectional plays a part in the ritual of relaxing. Yes, I am an occasional supporter of dogs on the sofa. Nothing makes me happier than all of us piled together watching tv. Durability and cleanability are extremely important here. Just like our clients, we want furnishings that live with us, and nothing is too precious not to be used. In summer, we enjoy having the ceiling fan and windows open to enjoy the end of the day while in winter we like to relish sitting in front of a warm fireplace wrapped in cozy blankets and pillows.
The bathroom of course plays a vital role in ritual. My mother always taught us to bathe before bedtime and now I know it helps me prepare for sleep. A shower or bath, a cup of tea, and reading my beloved history books all help me to make the transition to sleep time.
A beautiful bedroom, a comfortable bed, and exquisite lighting all lend to the act of ritual. Warm Italian sateen sheets for winter and cool crisp cotton percale sheets for summer.
Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter bring about other rituals at home for me. I swap out bedding, change colors and textures, and rotate my clothes in the closet. A deep clean in every room from top to bottom includes moving furniture, vacuuming hard to reach places, rotating mattresses, and looking for things we do not use to donate. Storage is another essential aspect to ritual. Planning where I am going to put all those things associated with ritual is imperative.
Ritual to me is comfort, process, and structure. It is reassuring. It is meaningful. It marks the movement of time. I can think of a thousand more ways that I have ritual in my life…but I will stop here. How do rituals work in your life and home? What do you require from each space to continue your rituals?