Home Remedy: How To Communicate Better

Filed under: Your Home, Storage & Organization, Furniture

This week, four designers offer their expertise on how to streamline your home to help you communicate with your loved ones better.

This week as we look at how your home can help solve your problems we're exploring how it can help you communicate better with your friends and family. We reached out to the New York Design Center's new Access to Design designers to get their thoughts and tips on how your home can inspire you to be more creative in communicating with those you love. (You can also get great advice and find a designer at accesstodesign@nydc.com.)


Tara Seawright of Tara Seawright Inc. recommends smart furniture placement.
"The key for focusing on more intimate communication is to avoid distractions. I tend to avoid placing a television in the bedroom. I opt for a sensual vibe with a chenille rug, relaxing music and silk drapes."


Robert Passal or Robert Passal Interior and Architectural Design believes it's in the ambiance.
"Smaller, darker, moodier rooms tend to foster conversation better. Soothing music coupled with dimmed lighting is an easy way to get down to stimulating conversation."


Michelle Slovak of Michelle Slovak Interior Design is all about a relaxing gathering spot.
"Whenever possible, I like to use a banquette in lieu of the usual four chairs around a dining table--it definitely creates a more comfortable spot to gather friends for some sparkling conversation. Or, better yet, imagine enjoying a romantic, intimate dinner with your lover. A comfortable banquette or bench never fails to inspire your peeps to sit, talk, reconnect--and not text! Seriously."


Jason Oliver Nixon of John Loecke Inc. suggests kicking back with a few beverages.
"How can my home make me communicate better? I ask my home the same question every night. And since our little maison is so high-strung and high-falutin, she gives me the cold shoulder when all I seek is a little together time and cuddling. But no, there will be no mea culpas on my part. Invariably I end up at the bar in our living room and then I feel better. And then I have another spot of the brown liquor and I start feeling a bit braver and then I frankly don't give two shakes if the damn house wants to speak to me later or not. 'I have a headache,' I say, 'and am not giving up the goods.' So short story long: Pull together a good bar and keep it well stocked. Who wants to talk so much anyhow? Especially to a house. Loose lips sink ships, not that I like boating, but it's still good advice."


Gillian Rose of Gillian C. Rose Interior Design believes in striking the right balance of comfort.
"By creating balance and harmony...all the rest is white noise."


Looking for more tips on how to stay healthy indoors? Check out our previous Home Remedies on How To Get Creative and How To Be Productive.

 

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