Over the past two years, our homes have become multipurpose spaces. They’ve had to serve as classrooms in ways they never did before March 2020 — as offices, gyms, and beyond. Because of our homes’ new roles, it’s understandable that home might not feel as relaxing as it once did.
In celebration of Mother’s Day, we reached out to some of our favorite moms for their take on their home, the importance of carving out spaces dedicated to unwinding, and tips on creating sanctuaries within your own space. If anyone deserves to relax at home, it’s mom.
Keep reading to learn more about the DIY enthusiast & creative powerhouse behind the blog Dwell Aware, Amanda Walker.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself, for those who don't know you.
A: My name is Amanda, and I run Dwell Aware, a blog that helps empower others to find healing and joy in DIY and design. I hope to inspire others to choose contentment over perfection, hope over fear, and beauty in the everyday as they make their home a space that is safe and uniquely beautiful for them.
Q: How long have you been a mom?
A: I have been a mom for 7 years now! I have two boys who are 7 years old and 3 years old.
Q: When the pandemic started, our homes had to turn into classrooms, offices, gyms, etc., overnight. Because of that shift, has your view of your home changed?
A: I feel like our view of home has shifted so much since the pandemic started. Our homes have become multi-use spaces where we need to have the ability to flex and breathe from all the different functions and responsibilities of life. I now view home as a much bigger extension of our lives. How we make our homes has a major impact on our overall well-being, and I think we all have felt that over the last two years. I also saw the amazing things accomplished and relationships built from home.
Q: Because of our homes' new roles, did you make any significant changes to yours?
A: Within the first few days, I knew some big changes needed to happen. I suddenly felt the need to make sure we were utilizing every inch of space well. We converted our guest room into a shared room for our kids in order that we could have a full playroom/ school space downstairs.
This made nap and quiet times for my kids a lot easier, with them each having their own space for it. This also brought more overall peace and rhythm into our home. I also worked on creating many more areas to retreat in. I created a few throughout the house, and I was surprised by how much mental clarity and calm they brought. They weren’t complicated to create; a comfy chair under the stairs with a lamp and plant to sit and take a breather, read, or have some sips of tea. My big renovation was our sunroom area, which now feels like a total retreat.
Q: What was the most challenging part of staying at home?
A: Our home needed a lot of changes given how many roles it had to take on, so we slowly started tackling the different areas with projects to help our home meet our needs in the unprecedented changes.
Q: Was there a specific room in your home that you gravitated toward during lockdown?
A: Since it was difficult in the pandemic to stick to having dedicated spaces for work, school, and play, I wanted to have dedicated relaxing spaces throughout my home. I created a corner in my bedroom for that with a comfortable and stylish chair, a place to set my tea and take some deep breaths or journal. I will often even pull out my electric foot massager to deepen those few moments of slowing down.
Sasha Pendant & Vicky Table Lamp | @dwellaware
Q: What about that space do you find relaxing?
A: I kept a lot of texture in the space while choosing a lot of neutrals, which contributes to a relaxing vibe. Lighting is one of my favorite parts of transforming any room. There is nothing like a soft glow to give a peaceful mood to the moment.
Q: What does self-care look like for you? Do you make it a priority in your schedule?
A: Self-care for me often looks like grounding and reminding myself of the present moment. As a mom, I give so much energy to my kids that it can be easy to put taking care of myself last. It helps me so much to take a moment, even if it’s 5 minutes, to have a cup of tea to myself in my sitting nook.
Q: How can other moms create sanctuaries in their own homes?
A: I think it has to be intentional but straightforward. It is easy to let life pull us away from prioritizing our spaces and mental health. Our environment has such a big impact on our daily well-being. Home can be a haven, but we have to plan for it, or something else will always come in the way. For us, keeping our home clean is a lot of work for the stage of life we are in. So focusing on one area where you can have some beauty and refreshment in your home helps greatly. Think about a seat or a nook and create a design around it that brings you joy and peace. Elements like plants, cozy throw blankets, incorporating a color that brings you joy, or your favorite candle can help prioritize you because you are worth it!
Vicky Table Lamp | @dwellaware
Q: What is something unexpected that the pandemic has taught you?
A: The pandemic taught me that there is a certain beauty in slowing down as a parent. Emotions were high as the world changed so much, and my kids really needed the extra care and love from me as a mom. It was easier without all the distractions to be present and meet the needs of my kids. I think the memories we make, especially at home, will be something we will hold with us for a long time. And I try to continue to remember to take those slower and more present strides in the rhythm of our lives.
Q: Looking ahead, what are some new design elements that you want to add to your home?
A: I love design trends, and I am always looking to incorporate them into my DIYing and home design. I am currently planning to make built-ins for our playroom space and office space and add arches to the top of them. I love the softness that an arch adds to a room. I am planning to make some modern yet classic lighting changes to our home also. Lighting is one of my favorite ways to help makeover a space and make a beautiful statement. This year I am loving all the floral patterns, and I’m hoping to get some more floral wallpaper in my design mixes.