Robyn Monahan Interior Designer

SELF-CARE, SOMATIC CARE:
My Real Message

I've always believed self-care begins at home.
Everything begins at home.
Design is somatic happiness. It affects your entire nervous system, your mood, your comfort, and how you experience your life every day. Your home should rise to meet whatever you need and desire. To me, that's true wellness.

We are home more than people have been at any other time in history, and I think that's wonderful. I'm completely in love with my home. We originally bought it as an investment, and 25 years later, we're still here because I adore it.

Whatever self-care looks like for you, create a space for it. A quiet space to stretch. A peaceful spot to drink your water before the day begins. A comfortable chair for your morning coffee. A moment that belongs only to you.

I like to ease into my mornings. I literally wake up an hour early for this. My husband bolts out of bed. It takes me a while to bolt anywhere.

This is where the home benefits from a balance of masculine and feminine energy. Together, this creates harmony.

There is even a practical reason for it. Women tend to appreciate a little more cushioning and comfort. We generally have more curves to meet and support, as well as cushioning. Men with straighter bodies often prefer firmer seating and mattresses. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. And this is not gender specific. But this is years of experience.

One of my favorite luxuries is having a masseuse come to my home. No traffic. No rushing. No getting back in the car afterward. Just a cucumber, water, relaxation, and nowhere to be.
That's how I switch gears into the weekend mood.

For me, each day starts with a liter of room-temperature water, a few good stretches, and watching my kittens play. It's still one of my favorite parts of the day. Then, of course, coffee.

Another thing to know about me: I love dimmed lighting in a home. Every room in my home can be dimmed—the bathrooms, kitchen, hallways, dining room, all of it. I even dim my computer and phone screens.
It's something I learned years ago in design school. As we age, our vision changes, and colors can appear different. Understanding that made me a better designer by teaching me to see homes through my clients' eyes, not just my own.

Good design is felt.

It's about creating an environment that supports how you want to feel when you wake up every morning. That harmony you put together with the masculine and feminine, this is where you feel it.
You feel your design....
A beautiful start to the day is self-care.� A beautiful home is somatic care.

And as I'm writing this, I'm remembering my mother saying, "Make your bed and make your room pretty, so the rest of your day can go great."

OMG.
She did this to me.

Please visit some of my projects.
robynmonahan.com