Recently, I talked a little bit about stress reduction, and I shared something that surprised me when I started digging into the research: not everyone relaxes the same way.
For years, the advice I always heard was the same – rest, sleep, be quiet. But my Oura ring has been showing something strange. Even during the “recovery period,” my body was still stressed. Turns out there’s a reason for that.
Some people calm their nervous system with silence. Others do it with movement. I’m firmly in the second camp.
For me, the fastest way to reduce stress is what I lovingly call puttering. There’s no deadline, no checklist, no real purpose – just wander around the house in peace and do things. Rearranging the shelves. Art in motion. Swap things around to see what happens.
Basically a meditation…but moving.
Sources
Sometimes the Best Way to Relax is to Travel
Recently, I spent about an hour and a half remodeling our kitchen. That’s the kind of window that’s perfect for me – long enough to get lost in, but short enough that I can move on before I start overthinking everything.
And honestly, that’s one of the best styling rules: stop before you overthink.
When I put the pieces on the shelves, there is no solid formula. Sometimes things sit alone, sometimes two or three deep. This time, I started with the blue and white plates on top and decided to carry that color story down to each shelf so it felt connected.
The balance doesn’t have to be perfect. But repetition helps.
Scale is also important. For example, a large white bowl on the bottom shelf helps visually connect the countertop to the artwork above it so the piece doesn’t feel like it’s floating.
Another thing people always ask: Does kitchen art need to be food related?
Not at all. If anything, I love it when I don’t expect it.
Kitchen Fountains
A few more style details from the cage:
- Figs are my favorite – whether they’re on a charcuterie board, in a candle scent, or on fake branches. These feel at home in the kitchen.
- Some copper pots are purposely turned so that you can see the worn side. A little age and patina adds character.
- Everything on these shelves is functional. Chris often takes pots off the shelves.
One last tip that changed the way I write candles: if you’re showing taper candles, they should be lit at least once. (See our tried and tested candles.) The bright white thread makes them look fresh, like they’re just there in the picture. A dimly lit candle is felt to stay inside. Which is, really, the whole point.
Because the best places are poorly written—they are used, moved, and occasionally installed.
Looking for some intentional style tips? I’m sharing a kitchen recipe in this post!
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