I don't own a great deal of stuff - I've lived in small spaces for the last twelve years or so and there's only so much I can squeeze in. Anything that shares my space has to be valuable to me, and I try to do regular clearouts to make sure I'm not clogging the place up with things that aren't needed or loved.
As an animist, I have a relationship with the space and what's in it that includes a sense of spirit. There are stories to tell about many of the items that live with me - including where they came from and who gave them to me. I have a lot of things that belonged to my grandmother - household items including plates and cutlery. Their presence gives me an ongoing sense of connection to her, and it feels good to still be using things that she used. I have a bookcase that belonged to a great grandmother, and I also have her teapot.
As a consequence, places I've called home have always felt like communities. The objects that are in my life often feel like companions. Especially those that have been with me for longer. I also like having things that I made myself, imbued with my intentions to make a homely, comforting space. My living space is full of things that relate to my friends, to my passions, and the things that delight me. There's a lot of colour, books written by friends, things other people have made.
For me, a home is a very deliberate thing, made over time. I'm not interested in decorating fashions, and I've never cultivated a style. That everything is cobbled together and much of it is old means that I tend towards a cottagecore look, but not as an affectation. This is just how I am.
A home is never a lonely place, from my perspective. Get it right, and the community of presences and memories makes it rich and friendly.
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