Nesting is inevitable during pregnancy. Internally, our bodies create a sacred “nest” for our babies to grow and develop. Externally, we often receive an instinctual impulse to clean and redecorate our homes just in time for the arrival of our children. Interior Designer, Anita Lang challenges us to consciously reflect our family’s values when we are nesting.

Interior Design is past pretty rooms.  It is a way to create emotional responses, create function and organization and reflect who you are to the world. In this process there is a great opportunity to highlight the values and habits we want to pass on to our kids as part of their heritage.

One area is Sustainable Design and teaching responsible stewardship of our earth. Do we have an organized, easy area for recyclables for our family? When it comes time to a freshen space, can we look for ways to repurpose furniture or other items instead of adding to a land fill. A fresh coat of paint can go far.

If we involve our kids in the design of a space it helps create respect for belongings and a pride of ownership. I have had clients tell me that they’ve never seen kids keep their rooms so neat before. By thinking through function and organization in designing a space we can help develop some good habits that are easier for kids to implement. It’s easier for kids to put toys away when they know the games go in this drawer and the dolls go on this shelf.

Taking the initial time to think through the interior design of our homes is worth the effort since it becomes the backdrop of our family’s life.

Interior Motives, Inc was founded by Anita Lang, a member of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) for over 17 years. She has been recognized with 24 ASID Design Excellence Awards over the past seven years. As well as the Designer of Distinction Award in 2008 for the work her firm does within the community. As an extension of her philosophy of the power of good design, IMI’s Inspire Foundation, a nonprofit 501(3)(C) corporation was created to benefit local community organizations as well as nurture young design talent. For more information, visit www.interiormotivesaz.com.

We all remember our childhood homes. As moms we have the opportunity to create a space that is not only the backdrop but also part of the experiences. For kids it can go past just being pleasant to feeling magical.

When designing a space it is good to view it from the kid’s perspective, get on your knees and see how differently you see the space. It will influence the design, even where you hang the art to having built in stools at vanities and such. Think through the activities and functions, the kids will be performing in the space, reading corners, play area with storage for toys, nooks that can magically turn into anything from a castle to a grocery store.

Kids rooms don’t need to be over designed or thematic. In fact keeping a looser design, still well done, with interesting colors, textures, and patterns and of course scale creates an environment that has a positive emotional response. Its better to have a design that becomes a platform for your children’s imagination versus it laid out in a theme specifically. You can use interactive finishes that allow for input such as touch or white board, chalk board paint, or metal wainscot with magnets for display.

Design is a powerful tool that can be used in creating an amazing experience for your family.

Interior Motives, Inc was founded by Anita Lang, a member of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) for over 17 years. She has been recognized with 24 ASID Design Excellence Awards over the past seven years. As well as the Designer of Distinction Award in 2008 for the work her firm does within the community. As an extension of her philosophy of the power of good design, IMI’s Inspire Foundation, a nonprofit 501(3)(C) corporation was created to benefit local community organizations as well as nurture young design talent. For more information, visit www.interiormotivesaz.com.