Inspirational and religious imagery comes in all forms, from Hindu statues tucked into bookshelves to antique crosses displayed beside beds. These objects mean different things, depending on the individual, and when homeowners and designers use spiritual items in home decor, it makes the interiors more personal.
“I enjoy the journey to find personal antiquities that I think a particular client would enjoy — at times this leads to the selection of a religious symbol. It is an honor to visually tell the story of our clients lives through our aesthetics,” said designer Teri Duffy of T. Duffy & Associates in Atlanta.
If you’re thinking about adding a spiritual element to your home, here are three ways to do so with style.
Inspiring decor
It’s important that the religious imagery in your space has a connection to your faith or inspires you in some way, designers say.
“We went to Bali for a family vacation, and our whole family was very inspired by the spirituality of the Hindu religion, and the peacefulness, and we wanted to bring back a couple of pieces to reflect that,” said designer Karen Shapiro of the Atlanta-based KRS Designs, who has a white limestone statue from the trip in her bathroom.
For Druid Hills homeowner Emily Cook, a collection of crosses that she and her son have bought on trips together has become an essential part of her decor. Her son, now 11, picked out the first on a trip to Mexico about four years ago, and whenever they travel, they buy another one to add to the display on a wall by their kitchen.
“There’s so many stories to be told based on that wall,” said Cook. “So not only does it symbolize our spirituality, but it symbolizes a lot of memories.”
Shapiro prefers to use antiques, like the wooden Italian cross she recently installed beside the bed in a bedroom of an Atlanta home, that resonate with her clients.
Religious reminders
Icons and imagery can serve as messages for homeowners and guests in their daily lives. Incorporating these pieces into decor can clear mirrors of sticky notes with Scriptures and meditative phrases, leading to a less-cluttered style.
Allie Ott, who has a hand lettering and calligraphy business, said having Scripture on her walls helps keep her faith and important memories at the forefront of her thoughts. Ott paints Scriptures and religious phrases on wooden signs, something she started doing after seeing similar pieces on social media.
“Sometimes the Scripture I use to create a piece marks a monumental moment in someone’s life or a verse they choose to symbolize something important to them,” said Ott, who sells her art on Hudrydesigns.com. “A lot of people will put it in a place that they can see as they walk through the door. They might hang it over their mantel as a centerpiece.”
Creating calm
Duffy recently installed several religious pieces in Atlanta homes, including a piece of an antique altarpiece centered over a bed and a small antique Buddha statue, which she styled on a side table with coffee table books.
“It just brings around a really good feeling if you believe,” she said.
After finding a silver statue of a Buddha at Garden Ridge (now At Home) for $39.99, Michelle Jackson decided that Buddhas have a calming effect in her Atlanta home. She displayed four, including a ceramic buddha that sits in a zen-themed outdoor space.
“Every time I look at one it just brings peace over me,” said Jackson.
The statue in Shapiro’s bathroom reminds her of her family’s trip to Bali, which she said was restorative and spiritual.
“I was inspired. Hinduism is a very spiritual religion and it’s very calming,” she said.
Shapiro suggests homeowners who want to create calming spaces use a combination of spiritual elements, textures and colors.
“Every home should have a space where you can feel calm and tranquil and kind of get away from it all,” she said. “Don’t overload the room with visual distraction.”
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