What are Good Surroundings?
The quiet power of surroundings that make you feel alive.
I recently went on a trip that took me across the country. I arrived fairly late, and the next morning, I had to wake up early for a meeting. Let me tell you—the jet lag was real.
Even though I woke up feeling tired and foggy, I remember posting an Instagram story with the caption: “Sleep deprived but at least the surroundings are good.”
Later in the trip—once I’d regained some sleep and brain clarity—I kept reflecting on that thought. What did I mean by good surroundings?
It dawned on me that this was it. Good surroundings can lift you up and make you feel alive, even when everything else feels a bit off-kilter.
I hadn’t gotten great sleep. I didn’t have my perfect morning routine (which I usually do). And yet—I felt okay. Almost energized.
I owe that to the environment around me.
The space itself gave me energy. It lifted my senses. The light in the room, the design of the furniture, the thoughtful palette, the considered objects—all of it combined to make me feel expansive in a state when I would normally feel depleted.
That’s what good surroundings do.
They meet you where you are—tired, messy, hungover, anxious, whatever the state may be—and they lift you. Gently. Quietly. Without asking anything in return.
They don’t just look good on the good days. They show up for you on the bad ones. They’re the spaces that make you feel that gentle high when you’re already on cloud nine—and the same spaces that hold you up when you’re at your lowest.
I want to live in environments like that. And if I have anything to do with it, I want to create more of them—spaces that invite that kind of aliveness in the people who inhabit them.
A Working Definition
To me, good surroundings aren’t about having a perfect space or the trendiest sofa. They aren’t about creating a place that looks just like a magazine.
They’re about how your environment actually makes you feel, day in and day out.
On the days when you’re running late, or feeling anxious, or waking up a little hungover—does your space help you reset? Does it soften the edges of your day? Or does it just add to the chaos?
I think good surroundings are the ones that do the opposite of overwhelm.
They ground you when your mind is racing. They make you feel lighter when life feels heavy. They can energize you, calm you, or sometimes do both at once.
And if they’re designed with care, they can bring out the parts of you that feel the most like home.
The Best Spaces Reflect You
I’ve always believed that our surroundings are a reflection of our inner world. But I also think they have the power to shape it.
Your home should feel like you—even on the days you don’t quite feel like yourself.
Someone should be able to step into your space and say, “This is so you.”
Maybe it’s the art you’ve collected over the years, or the way your favorite chair sits next to a little stack of books. Maybe it’s the mismatched patterns that most people would say don’t go together, but to you, they do—perfectly. Maybe it’s the fresh flowers you always keep on the table, or the meaningful heirloom vase you arrange them in.
The best spaces aren’t perfect. They’re personal. And that’s what makes them feel alive.
They’re built slowly, intentionally, over time—with pieces that carry memories, colors that make you feel something, and details that remind you of what matters most.
This is what I think about when I design. Not just how a space looks, but how it works—how it supports you on the days you feel inspired, and the days you don’t.
What makes you feel calm when everything else feels busy?
What details help you drop back into yourself after a long day?
What colors or textures make you feel most like you?
Design isn’t just about how things look. It’s about creating a space that feels like your favorite place to be—one that supports you through every season and reflects who you are.
If You’re Craving That…
If you’ve been craving a space that feels more like you—or just want some help exploring what that could look like—I offer both one-on-one consultations and full interior design services. Feel free to inquire here if you’re interested.
Whether it’s your whole home or one corner of a room, I’d love to help you create surroundings that support you in becoming the person you’re already becoming.
Because good surroundings? They don’t just sit there looking pretty.
They make you feel alive.
And if done well, they help carry you forward.
Xx
