Before my life as a retreat centre owner, I was an interior designer (amongst other things) which is why I leapt into the renovation and design of the Grand Quinta Project with childlike enthusiasm. My equivalent of being let loose with a bottomless wallet in a sweet shop, is to be let loose on a huge renovation project with carte blanche to do whatever I wanted to. 

No, I didn’t have a bottomless wallet, but that added to the deliciousness of the challenge. I love creating astonishing interiors with a fraction of the budget needed for an astonishing result. Watch the creativity and innovation rocket when budgets are tight! (More about that in the How to Create Knock-out Spaces on a Shoestring article, due to be published in April 2024.) 

Another challenge was to complete sections of the project in record time – just to see what I could manifest with a big time crunch. If you have ever listened to me discuss the renovation, you will have heard that the main manor house, Oak Lodge, was renovated in just 12 weeks. True story!

But there is another kind of challenge with decorating, besides the shortages of time and money.

It is to decorate slowly, taking your time with intention.

Why is this a challenge? 

Well, for me this is a huge challenge, as I like to get everything wrapped up quickly so that I can move on to the next thing. For others it is a challenge because an excess of time breeds indecision and flip-flopping between ideas.

But I propose a new way of taking it slow – doing it with intention and curiosity.

In a world that glorifies instant gratification and fleeting trends, there exists a timeless approach to home decor that champions patience, intentionality, and authenticity. Enter the realm of slow decorating—a philosophy that invites us to cultivate spaces imbued with soulful beauty and enduring charm.

Why You Need to Be a Slow Decorator

I didn’t think I would ever say this, but – Thank you, Lockdown! 

If ever we all had a time to get to know our living spaces intimately, it was then. And we all found many things that did nothing to enhance our time here on this planet, and others that we hugged to our pyjama-clad chests daily. 

It is time to create spaces that enhance your energy, not drain it, and a slow and intentional approach is just the way to get this done.

At its core, slow decorating is a deliberate and mindful approach to curating your living environment. It eschews the frenetic pace of consumer culture in favour of a more considered and sustainable ethos. Rather than succumbing to impulse purchases and fleeting trends, slow decorating encourages you to cultivate a deeper connection with your surroundings, fostering spaces that reflect our unique personalities, values, and experiences.

And in the process leave you energised in spaces that make you happier.

How to Embrace Slow Decorating: A Gentle Journey

1. Start with Introspection: 

Take a moment to reflect on your personal preferences, lifestyle needs, and emotional resonance with your living space. Consider the stories you wish to tell and the moods you wish to evoke within your home. 

Simply put: what do you like? What blows your hair back? What do you already have that makes you feel good? 

Look at your spaces with fresh eyes to see what leaves you cold (start the toss-it pile), what you are indifferent to, and what you gravitate towards.

2. Make Space:

Slow decorating means taking time to create a space you love – so first, declutter! Toss the things you never look at or use. Fling out that vase you inherited from your Aunt Mildred and keep in case your mom comes. It is time to make your spaces into places you just totally love to be in.  

3. Curate Thoughtfully: Resist the urge to rush into purchasing furniture and decor items. Instead, take the time to research, explore, and source pieces that resonate with your aesthetic vision and align with your values. Embrace vintage finds, artisanal craftsmanship, and heirloom treasures that possess character and history.

4. Embrace Imperfection: Embrace the beauty of imperfection and asymmetry, allowing your home to evolve organically over time. Rather than striving for perfection, cultivate an atmosphere of warmth and authenticity that celebrates the unique quirks and idiosyncrasies of your living space.

5. Savour the Process: Slow decorating is not a race, but rather a journey to be savoured and enjoyed. Take pleasure in the process of curating your home, relishing each moment of discovery, creativity, and transformation. Allow yourself the freedom to experiment, make mistakes, and learn along the way.

But, as in Life, Here be Dragons

• In the land of renovations, there is only so long you can live with dust before you throw the sink out of the window. Allow enough time for feeling the space and thinking but plan to finish before you become a wild-eyed and crazy-haired nutter. 
• Slow decorating may require a longer time frame to achieve desired results compared to quick fixes or instant makeovers.
• It may involve higher initial investment costs for quality, artisanal pieces rather than mass-produced items.

Dragonslayers aka The Benefits

• Slow decorating fosters a deeper connection with your living space, resulting in a home that feels truly personal and meaningful.
• It promotes sustainability and ethical consumption by prioritising craftsmanship, longevity, and conscious consumption.
• It cultivates a sense of mindfulness and intentionality in our daily lives, encouraging us to savour the present moment and appreciate the beauty of our surroundings.

Slow Decorating in Action:

The Vintage Sanctuary: Imagine a cosy living room adorned with curated vintage finds—a weathered leather armchair, a well-loved Persian rug, and a collection of antique books that whisper tales of bygone eras. Each piece tells a story, infusing the space with soulful charm and timeless elegance.

The Inspirational City Retreat: Picture the relaxing muted tones on walls and floors which contrast with works by artists you have followed and whose art you have come to know and love. The furnishings are well-designed and inviting, and you are surrounded by all the conveniences you love. The feeling of spaciousness extends to the bedroom and kitchen, where smart storage allows for clean surfaces and a curated display of treasured books, framed photographs and objet. Coming home feels like an expansion of spirit.

The Nature-Inspired Home: Envision a sunlit kitchen adorned with natural materials, botanical prints, and foraged treasures from the great outdoors. Fresh herbs line the windowsill, while a rustic farmhouse table serves as the heart of the home. Here, the beauty of nature is celebrated in every detail, fostering a sense of tranquility and connection to the earth.

My Slow Decorating Project

Like all electricians, builders, decorators and plumbers, I left my own home until last. Our personal home on the farm is located in what was the old Adega, or wine barn where the wine of old was created. It was the last space to be renovated, and it is the last space to be designed and decorated. 

We moved in 18 months ago, and I am still varnishing the bookshelves and choosing rugs.

After completing the rest of the spaces at the speed of light, I am really appreciating the time to ponder and savour the result. We bought the first artwork a year after we moved in, and the joy in the work is compounded by the remembered delight of visiting many galleries and waiting and seeking and then finally saying, ‘Yes!’

I have grown a new muscle with this phase of the project – the ‘patience’ muscle, and have discovered a wonderful feeling of peacefulness as things evolve slowly.

The Best is Yet to Come

In a world that often moves at breakneck speed, slow decorating offers a welcome antidote—a gentle reminder to pause, breathe, and savour the beauty of the present moment. By embracing intentionality, authenticity, and mindfulness in our approach to home decor, we have the power to transform our living spaces into sanctuaries of soulful beauty and enduring grace. 

May your home become a reflection of your deepest self and a source of joy and inspiration for years to come.