There are so many videos and blog posts out there about why your home might feel “off”, and how to fix it.
Usually, the advice centres around getting your rug size right, improving your lighting, or investing in better window treatments. And honestly, all of that has its place. I offer that kind of guidance too. But here’s the thing:
Those tips are usually focused on why your home looks off…not why it feels off.
And those are two very different things.
You can have a home that looks picture-perfect but still doesn’t feel right. Or you can have a space that looks a little unfinished or unconventional but feels absolutely nourishing to be in. Of course, it’s ideal when both align. And how your home looks definitely feeds into how your home feels. But there are other, less tangible reasons that can have an even bigger impact.
The Missing Piece Most Designers Don’t Talk About
When I was studying interior design, I read a book by Ilse Crawford (Home is Where the Heart is), who is a designer, and was a long-time editor of Elle Décor magazine. She reflected on how many of the beautifully styled homes they photographed, while they looked amazing, many of them felt emotionally flat.
That insight stuck with me. As a life coach and meditation teacher, I knew that I when I finished my training I wanted to help people create homes that nurtured them on every level—physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.
Design shouldn’t be just about aesthetics. It should also be about energy. About how you feel when you walk into your home.
So Why Does Your Home Feel Off?
If you like how your home looks, overall, but no matter what you do something continiously feels a bit off to you, it might be down to one (or more) of these three reasons:
1. You’re Listening to Experts Instead of Your Intuition
Designers can be incredibly helpful — we offer guidance on layout, style, functionality, colour, scale, and more. But we’re not you. And your home isn’t a showroom.
The only person who truly knows what feels right in your space is you.
So while expert advice is valuable, it’s not gospel. Use it as a guide, but let your own instincts take the lead. Pay attention to what makes you feel calm, grounded, energised, or inspired in a space. That internal compass is your best design tool.
2. You’re Following Trends Instead of Curating Your Own Style
This one’s a classic pitfall. It’s tempting to copy what you see on Pinterest or Instagram, especially when the images are so beautiful and polished.
But that kind of inspiration can lead to a surface-level fix — a dopamine hit that fades fast.
True satisfaction comes from a space that reflects you. Your tastes, your lifestyle, your memories, your dreams. That takes time to discover. It’s a journey of personal expression, not a weekend makeover. Be patient and allow your style to evolve with you.
3. You’re Decorating in a Hurry
This is such a common trap. We move into a new home — or we finally decide to tackle a room — and we put ourselves under pressure to get it “done” as quickly as possible. That urgency often leads to impulse purchases, mismatched styles, and a space that may look okay but doesn’t feel cohesive or authentic.
I talk about this more in this piece on Slow Decorating, but in essence this is the takeway: taking your time is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself and your home.
Give yourself permission to not have it all figured out right away. Take the pressure off so that you can slow down and enjoy the process.
Creating a Home That Feels Right
If you’ve been doing all the “right” things and your home still doesn’t feel quite right, I hope you will consider taking a more internally-inspired.
Start tuning into how you want to feel at home. Let that guide your decisions. Trust yourself. Trust your space. It will tell you what it needs, if you slow down and listen. I have a short meditation that can help you with that — you can check it out here.
Thanks for reading. You might also be interested in:
How your Home can Help Heal You.
The Lost Art of Slow Decorating: A Better Way to Create a Home that Truly Reflects You.