The juxtaposition of mind and surroundings is ever with us. We are continually influenced by the way an exterior experience makes us feel – and that includes the way we perceive simple things around us such as furniture, lighting, colour.

To focus on that interaction between our thoughts and our surroundings takes some concentration – a clear, deliberate moment when we stop our hurried thoughts, our busy brains, and say: Look! Look and feel the moment. See the bed, the blanket, the untidy row of shoes. See it! And confront it in the moment – and analyse how you feel. And how you can put it right, make it better. That is mindfulness coming into action in décor.

The meaning of mindfulness

Mindfulness means experiencing with full awareness and heart our feelings in a moment-by-moment view, our bodily sensations, our surroundings. Mindfulness means looking at things in a way that is unjudgmental and critical. Mindfulness quietens the soul, and focuses on the present fully so that issues of the past, or fear of the fear, slip away and leave us with a clear, calm vision of what we are experiencing in a current moment. It gives us the ability to make more rational decisions.

Naturally it requires practice. It isn’t the easiest thing to do. Our minds are often dominated by worry of what ‘has’ to be done and what ‘might’ happen. Busyness can be both detrimental and beneficial; but bringing your conscious mind into focus in moments of anxiety can be extremely relaxing. In a moment, you can stop, look, and feel. Mindfulness and the environment means bringing a host of elements into balance, streamlining shapes, colours and combinations. When there is space in a home for a mind to relax, then mindfulness becomes easier.

Ways to streamline, relax and really see and feel your surroundings

One: Your house as a whole. Firstly, look at your home as one entity, flowing from room to room, and creating its character from the way space has been used, and the way one item of furniture works with another, or how a set of cushions or a picture carry a sense of continuity through the house. Nothing garish that suddenly clashes with the mood of each room.

Two: Colours. Probably one of the most important exterior aspects to affect the senses and bring the mind into focus is colour. For a sensation of relaxation, you need to avoid bright, vibrating colours like red and yellow. Instead, choose tranquil shades like pale calico, dove greys, blue and green, stone colours, and shades reminiscent of the sea. Even gentle pastels like lavender and pink could work, mixed in with white. Matte is better than high gloss. Furnishings should follow a quieter flow of colour, including artwork and pictures. When there is a blend of colour rather than a clash, even if that might seem trendy and effective, the mind will feel less pressure and greater clarity.

Three: Texture. Bringing in different materials, juxtaposed for light and shade is enormously stimulating for the mind, giving an extra dimension in sharpness and comprehension, which is important to mindfulness. Use beading, wallpaper, wood, alternate rough furnishings with smooth. The desire to touch is important and adds another aspect to the atmosphere of mindfulness you’re trying to create.

Four: Declutter. Nothing benefits mindfulness than less stuff. Get rid of anything that has no purpose and is really just in the way. Too much busyness in your surroundings can cause subtle agitation – which certainly unproductive in the mindfulness book. Minimalist is of course the perfect way to go, but you don’t really need to live in a naked house – you can balance and match furniture and objects by colour and style, have enough to please the eye and comfort the soul. It’s not always the amount of stuff, but the way you arrange it. Low furniture for instance, always gives a sense of more space.

Five: Windows. Let there be light – the more the better. If you have small windows use blinds instead of curtains. This opens up the window area and lets in more light. Wider windows can be framed by curtains, but keep to paler shades to complement the light coming through. Light is important to enhancing mindfulness, it makes you more aware of objects and surroundings. It channels your attention to hues and shapes. Natural light is always a good feeling.

Six: Natural materials. The warmth of wood, the security of stone, the shine of silk, the rough comfort of pure wool – all these materials will add a sense of permanence and reality to every moment. Surrounding yourself with the touch of natural energy is helpful to bringing the mind into harmony with the environment.

Seven: Plants. Greenery and life growing in strategic places brings you into closer touch with nature even in the confines of a home. Plants give a greater sense of air, bring the breath of life from the outside to the inside. And plants pulse and grow in their own moment; non-judgemental they simply exist and let you be, enhancing mindfulness.

Eight: Tidiness. Keeping things in place and neatly stored is hugely conducive to keeping the mind clear. If your surroundings are clear of clutter and things lying about, you will find it easier to focus your mind on clear moments, challenge yourself to feel time shrinking to highlight a moment of pure enjoyment, of satisfaction, of simply being without worry or harassment.

Nine: Scent. This is important. Scent will lead the senses every time. If you have soft scents of lavender or geranium in your home, you will feel a heady sense of relaxation. Scent, soft and calming or aromatic and uplifting, acts as a reminder of that floating feeling every time it pervades your home, keeping the mind both relaxed and energised.

Ten: Old and loved. Keep it real. If you have an environment that is starkly minimal or furniture that is just for show and you’re worried something may leave a mark, then you will never learn to relax. Keep order, but make a home where you can wrap into your own thoughts. Choose finishes and materials that get better with age: Persian carpets, leather chairs, some loved antique pieces, pillows that give real comfort. A lived-in home with some old-worldly charm and vintage pieces will never lose its appeal. Love for these things is not materialism but rather love in the moment, for all the memories they evoke in a quietened mind and a grateful heart.

Udumo’s Mission: The combined energy of empowerment and aesthetic design

Udumo Group delivers interior décor and design services by empowering unemployed people with skills development initiatives. We believe in investing in the individual, nurturing inherent skills, and uplifting communities. Our interior design philosophy is to design beautiful spaces that are both functional and timelessly pleasing. We believe that through promoting the values of creative excellence, discipline and commitment, we are able to bring out the best in people, motivating positive surroundings and the value of living and working in such spaces.

For information on Udumo Group, visit: www.udumogroup.co.za