Michelle Ogundehin Quotes

Sadly kitchens often fall into the decorative trap of defaulting to basics: plain white units, tiled splash-back behind the sink or hob and possibly a large jolly-coloured standalone fridge-freezer as the one note of individuality.

No amount of fancy decor will make the slightest bit of difference to your ability to sleep soundly if you do not take heed of what you do before you get anywhere near your bedroom. Only once this has been addressed, can this room become one of your most powerful allies in pursuit of wellbeing, happiness and good health.

Most people do not need more space, they need less stuff.

In an era when Fear of Missing Out has its own universally understood acronym, recuperative rest and relaxation are not always regarded as the intensely worthwhile pursuits that they are. Instead, we are harrassed into believing that we must be constantly available to be of value, that peak productivity and performance are directly related to presenteeism, and that to snooze is to lose. This couldn't be more wrong.

What is gardening but tidying and maintaining an outside space? And yet we don't think of it as a chore; we see it as a pleasure and something that relaxes us. Crucially, it is something that often fully absorbs us while we do it. This is the very definition of a mindful activity.

Home-making is not frivolous, it is absolutely fundamental to good health and happiness.

A home that supports and sustains you can be your secret superpower.

Believing more is always the answer only reflects the pervasive conviction that a newer, bigger, faster, updated whatever must be better. This is nothing more than marketing, often based on a model of built-in obsolescence, which can blind us to the opportunities of the here and now.

Keeping "best" dinner sets for use only when you have guests comes with the assumption that unless it is a "special occasion", you do not deserve to eat off them. This is a subtle dig that goes right to the core of your self-esteem. Are you alone not deserving of the best?

To gather together around a table – the ultimate symbol of communion – is the only truly authentic way to properly prioritise the ritual of eating.

Lights are the jewellery of the home, so think of pendants as finishing-touch earrings for a room.

The pleasure of a freshly-dressed bed is one of the finer things in life, and yet many stumble here, not sure what can go with what, or whether it's okay to mismatch pillows and duvet cover. The simple answer to this is that anything goes.

Most people do not need more space; they need less stuff, combined with a rethink of the space they do have.

Clutter is the arch-enemy of the restful home. It is the interiors equivalent of a to-do list that never gets completed, undermining any attempt at relaxation. Physical clutter equates to emotional debris, stifling energy and dampening enthusiasm.

Nothing makes me sadder than seeing pristine children's rooms decorated in the same style as the rest of the adult home – it's as if the children are not really allowed to exist.

Looking at a plain wall is akin to staring blankly into space. We have a fundamental need for visual nourishment and stimulation in our homes, for our eyes to dance lightly over surfaces and not find them wanting.

A house is never empty with a pet in situ, nor is an owner alone – a pet provides security, companionship and affection too.

If we observe young children, it is clear that they intuitively understand that time spent in play is never time wasted. A lesson that seems to get lost the older we become.

With room to breathe and room to think, we can live a more meaningful life. And this type of 'room' is not necessarily physical space; rather, it is the absence of all that is extraneous alongside the sweet feeling of liberation that comes with realising that you have enough, and that you are enough, just as you are. To put it another way, that you can become spacious in yourself as your home becomes your place to be fearless, completely at ease and absolutely splendid in your imperfections and obsessions.

We can only ever gain mastery over ourselves as individuals, but the impact of that can be far-reaching. And it is my sincere opinion that taking charge of the space in which you live is a very good place to start.