The most important thing that's overlooked... the VIBES
It's elusive, you can't buy it but everyone needs some good vibes in their homes.
You know it when you’re in it. But you can’t put your finger on it. A space that just looks, smells and feels amazing to be in. It has a good vibe.
It can be hard to pin down exactly what it is that gives a space vibe, so let me start at what it isn’t.
Spaces with no vibe:
a showroom aesthetic - it looks more like a catalogue than a home.
no signs of people. There are no personal touches such as weird objects, books and the stuff of everyday life.
Everything matches. The sofa matches the armchair. The bedside tables are in the same set as the bed. And the worse one, the artwork matches the cushions.
It’s too uptight. The cushions are arranged neatly on the sofa with the karate-chop styling.
No artwork on the walls.
Everything is new.
Nothing organic such as a plant or flowers.
Huge tv if the focal point of the space (tv’s are vibe-suckers).
The space is filled with iconic pieces. Yet having a lot of money and buying the ‘predictable’ things doesn’t give vibe.
I’m not going to use examples and throw shade on spaces with no vibe, but hopefully you get the picture.
Spaces with VIBE
I hope that some of these room examples below can explain a vibey room more than words, but I’ll try!
The space is co-ordinated yet not matching. For example, the cushions are all different yet there is a common colour or material that ties them together.
Patina- there are old things in the room. A vintage leather armchair with beautifully soft leather that shows wear on the armrests. An antique family heirhoom that shouldn’t work, but it just does.
Lots of lamps are essential to creating a vibe. Floor lamps, pendant lights, wall lights, you name it and they’re everywhere giving a beautiful warm glow.
Lots of artwork but not the kind of art you see on hotel walls. It’s handed down, it’s gifted for a milestone birthday or anniversary or just picked up in a Parisiene flea market for next to nothing.
No bare white walls.
Family photos. Now I know these aren’t ‘chic’ yet they can be displayed tastefully and they make a home have a warm vibe. They just do.
Something weird. A strange chair or side table, gnarly pottery, loud floor rug. Something that is a bit ‘off’ has vibe.
Confidence to pull off the above.
Music. Extra points for a record player.
Everything is from a different place and time. It’s not all bought from one store and delivered over the weekend. Vibe can take years to get.
So, when you’re renovating, building a new house or decorating, don’t forget to think about the vibe.
Creating a good vibe means that guests feel relaxed and everyone feels good. We can let our hair down and be our true, authentic selves. All of our senses are engaged, but it’s not too much. Rather the space smells good, there’s background tunes and there are points of interest all around the room. A space with vibe isn’t just revealed in one go - it’s not about a single knock-out paiting on the wall - it’s moments created in the room. A comfortable armchair to sink into with a lamp for reading. An easy conversation flows when furniture is arranged in a functional layout. Guests gather and aren’t afraid to pull out a chair and sit at the table.
In the midst of designing your space, don’t forget to think about creating spaces with a good vibe!
If you’d like to know more, I’m offering a course to help you design just as a professional interior designer does. Join the waitlist to hear about it first.
Have a beautiful week!
Lauren
So true! I host a few parties a year and have learned a thing or two…and “vibe” is the word I come back to. When I teach people how to host, the basics of planning are built around this word. 🥂
Definitely agree that something weird is required to give a space a vibe. I love the examples you pulled! Thank you for sharing these great tips—I've been looking for ways to inject a bit more life into my space.