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12/3/2025

3 Designer Tips For Making your Home a Sanctuary This Winter

As an Interior Designer based in Portland, Oregon, I see how transforming a home through design creates healing and restorative places to dwell for our lives.

The end of year can bring on feelings of burnout and the need to go lie down until the New Year!

And in the Pacific Northwest this time of year signals time to retreat and be cozy at home. As an Interior Designer based in Portland, Oregon, I see how transforming a home through design creates healing and restorative places to dwell for our lives. I’ll share my insights on how to design your own personal sanctuary that reflects your style and brings you peace.

Let Yourself Dream

What does a personal sanctuary mean to you? Is it a place where you feel creative or peaceful or simply happy. The desire for a personal sanctuary can be inspired by an airy renovated bathroom. Maybe a built-in reading nook in your living room or a primary bedroom that is so dreamy. Imagine and dream with possibility beyond our examples to what is personal. 

Imagine what your personal sanctuary could be and how it can be a haven from the chaos of daily life. 

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The Elements of Design: Bring on the Color, Texture, & Lighting 

Maybe we aren’t doing a full renovation right now to give you the sanctuary you’re dreaming of. But, there are elements you can bring in now that create instant cozy and calm. The main three are color, texture and lighting. 

Intuitively, earth tones (think warm terracotta, moody greens, and sea blues) bring feelings of grounded connection and calm. But color is uniquely personal in what feelings they evoke. Muted and earth tones aren’t necessarily the key to calm, if you love pinks and warmer colors (oranges, reds, yellows) then bring on the color and creativity!

Once you’ve got your vision for color, pair your colors with textures. Texture can be highly underrated and overlooked. Adding in smooth fabrics like linen and cotton, natural woods, and cozy wool rugs all contribute to a welcoming place you want to be in.

The last element is lighting and it is your best friend in turning up the cozy! Adding in plenty of accent lighting like wall sconces and lamps instead of overhead fixtures all create a calming atmosphere. 

Make it Personal, Make it You

What I love about interior design is how unique and personal it is. We often crave more than a curated copy of a photo we saw on Pinterest. We want our own place, to see our lives and unique self in our sanctuary spaces and home. 

Now that you have a basic vision of your sanctuary and the core design elements to add in. We can now infuse more of you into your space. You can get creative here- paint your own wallpaper, add in photos you’ve taken, hand-made pottery, art from friends and travels. Add in elements of your own creativity. 

Use textiles to add in your favorite colors or patterns, whether it’s through decorative pillows, curtains, or a beautiful throw blanket. Think about what you love and how to have more of that in your sanctuary.

Your Personal Sanctuary Awaits

We know that the wildness of life doesn’t necessarily settle when we get a New Year. We have seen that life can feel a bit lighter in a home you love and feel refreshed in. Wishing you well this year end! 

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