The Essence of Home

Use your home to explore and celebrateyour unique style and personal story.

Our homes reflect our inner state. Knowledge of this private space within reveals how best to nurture our growth and wellbeing no matter where we are, how to tune into what we need in an outer home to help us THRIVE. This discernment with what we bring into our outer space shows how little we truly need to feel at home wherever we find ourselves.

What if we looked at style as a feeling: an energy we want to evoke rather than a trend or fashion?We would feel our way into the pieces we bring into our space, from basic furniture elements to the decorative additions. We would notice what patterns enliven us and understand which colors soothe us.We might just find that shape or material that calls us HOME every time.

Over the past year my family has been living in a bus where we travel and explore daily. By downsizing and aiming to surround ourselves with only the things we love and enjoy—those things we find useful and pleasing to our eyes—we are arriving at the essence of a home that supports our values. Though I don't consider myself a pure minimalist, this mindset has helped me to discover what I truly enjoy.

Bringing in our personal sense of beauty and comfort is also fun! We’ve authentically styled our traveling home by decorating without the rules. We’ve added “expression and passion” as Elizabeth Gilbert puts it. By being honest about how we live and assessing what we are naturally drawn to, our home—despite being a bus—supports our passions. And, of course, it is a space unique to us!

To allow your natural design aesthetic to unfold, ask lots of questions. Reflect on the home in which you live and the things you’re surrounded with. Do they support your chosen lifestyle? Does your home allow for exploration of your full self? A love of travel, adventure, and creative pursuits leads my family to a tiny home on the road, reflective of our family’s essence.

Where will your desires lead you?

Dwell on This

When we intentionally create a home that reflects our desired experiences, our home becomes a personal expression of our inner life and personal tastes. The following are some practices I’ve put into place in my own (tiny) home:

1) Think Practically.

Consider focusing on needs rather than trends, choosing beautiful yet practical items. Our old dining table was cut down to make our new dining seats. My favorites are hand woven baskets including our repurposed birdfeeder, and the tile in the center of our table adds character while also serving the function of holding hot pots at dinnertime.

2) Explore and Document.

Seeking inspiration? Keep a visual journal including images and notes of spaces and things you are inspired by (Pinterest is an option too), then decode what you have saved and use the elements you see repeated the most to inform your decor decisions. On the bus our love of nature and color are reflected in feather and fish patterned curtains, and the various woods used to build the casework has become a main feature.

3) Take Risks.

Let your space be a work in progress. Try things out, choose things you are drawn to and they are likely to find a harmony with each other. Textiles and art are two simple and easily changeable ways to try out new colors, patterns, or styles you’re unsure of. Add one or two things to a room at a time and sit with them before adding more. Allow your home to evolve as you do.

LaToya Burton is a mama / imaginer / gypsy nomad who explores life through the lens of interiors imagination and inspiration. She lives on a bus with her husband and son exploring the Australian landscape. For more inspiration, follow her @latoyaburton_musing.

Photos by @latoyaburton_musing.