Reclaiming Home
How Women Utilize Interior Design
to Ground and Energize Spaces
story by Madeline Paradis
Home requires a definition unique to the individual. It may be the place that houses your things, your people, or your heart. For some, it is the house their parents brought them home to and raised them in, amidst their siblings, pets, and clutter. For others, it is a van that travels for hours on the highway and stops for rest only when the driver is weary. But for all of us, home can exist in many places, at many times, and with many people. As we age, these places often become defined solely by ourselves; thus, we must create spaces that meet our individual needs and wishes.
In the United States, women’s long-standing connection to home has been dictated by a man’s ownership and the upkeep of the household. Women were defined by how well they could cook, clean, care, and decorate, all under the scrutiny of their spouse’s approval. However, today’s freedoms allow us to form a home according to our own approval and preferences. Home has become a space for play, hosting, exploration, and entertainment.
Most recently, home has also become a space for work. This shift in lifestyle has required people to reevaluate the functionality of their homes. Spending more time at home places greater value on our space and introduces new needs. Paige Wassel, an LA-based prop stylist and all-around interior extraordinaire, shares advice, resources, and opinions on her YouTube channel @wasselpa and via her homeware store newsletter. Through various video series, including “STOP DOING THIS SHIT TO YOUR HOUSE” and “DON’T do this, DO that,” Wassel provides lighthearted guidance on minor changes with major impact.
She praises second-hand shopping and investment pieces, functional beauty, and
timeless comfort.
How Women Utilize Interior Design
to Ground and Energize Spaces
story by Madeline Paradis
Home requires a definition unique to the individual. It may be the place that houses your things, your people, or your heart. For some, it is the house their parents brought them home to and raised them in, amidst their siblings, pets, and clutter. For others, it is a van that travels for hours on the highway and stops for rest only when the driver is weary. But for all of us, home can exist in many places, at many times, and with many people. As we age, these places often become defined solely by ourselves; thus, we must create spaces that meet our individual needs and wishes.
In the United States, women’s long-standing connection to home has been dictated by a man’s ownership and the upkeep of the household. Women were defined by how well they could cook, clean, care, and decorate, all under the scrutiny of their spouse’s approval. However, today’s freedoms allow us to form a home according to our own approval and preferences. Home has become a space for play, hosting, exploration, and entertainment.
Most recently, home has also become a space for work. This shift in lifestyle has required people to reevaluate the functionality of their homes. Spending more time at home places greater value on our space and introduces new needs. Paige Wassel, an LA-based prop stylist and all-around interior extraordinaire, shares advice, resources, and opinions on her YouTube channel @wasselpa and via her homeware store newsletter. Through various video series, including “STOP DOING THIS SHIT TO YOUR HOUSE” and “DON’T do this, DO that,” Wassel provides lighthearted guidance on minor changes with major impact.
She praises second-hand shopping and investment pieces, functional beauty, and
timeless comfort.
For those of us maturing out of our childhood spaces, Wassel provides thoughtful, accessible recommendations. In her video “TRANSITIONING YOUR DECOR: dorm,” she encourages audiences to replace plastic organization items, such as Command hooks and bathroom storage drawers, with permanent materials. By introducing items with longer lifespans, your spaces begin to feel less transitional and more stable. These small changes and reassurances provide comfort during a time of so much uncertainty.
Another suggestion from Wassel is thrifting vintage artwork. Often, pieces found at donation centers and antique stores are authentic and well-framed, at a much lower cost. Avoiding trendy artwork means that this décor will last with you through many spaces and feel much more personal. This is an opportunity to spark joy in a timeless piece and individualize your space.
Routine can also be an energizing and grounding introduction to home. Installing curtains, decorating with lamps, investing in good bedding, and growing plants provide actionable ways to connect you to your space. By choosing items you like, it feels less like a chore to make your bed or do the dishes. Having plants can be a motivator to take care of your space and feel that it is equally dependent on you for connection. These are small opportunities to establish long-term joy and energy.
As we mature, it is important to evaluate where our wants and needs have changed and find new places that can fulfill them—home being one of them. During times of change, it can be crucial to design a space of true calm and self, no matter where or with whom. Continuous consideration of this allows us to be more connected with our environment, our work, our desires, and, most importantly, each other.
Another suggestion from Wassel is thrifting vintage artwork. Often, pieces found at donation centers and antique stores are authentic and well-framed, at a much lower cost. Avoiding trendy artwork means that this décor will last with you through many spaces and feel much more personal. This is an opportunity to spark joy in a timeless piece and individualize your space.
Routine can also be an energizing and grounding introduction to home. Installing curtains, decorating with lamps, investing in good bedding, and growing plants provide actionable ways to connect you to your space. By choosing items you like, it feels less like a chore to make your bed or do the dishes. Having plants can be a motivator to take care of your space and feel that it is equally dependent on you for connection. These are small opportunities to establish long-term joy and energy.
As we mature, it is important to evaluate where our wants and needs have changed and find new places that can fulfill them—home being one of them. During times of change, it can be crucial to design a space of true calm and self, no matter where or with whom. Continuous consideration of this allows us to be more connected with our environment, our work, our desires, and, most importantly, each other.