Whether you are a self-proclaimed sensitive person or live with someone with this type of personality, here’s how sensitive people design their home differently.
1. They Prioritize Emotions in Their Spaces
There’s no doubt about it—if you are a sensitive person, you thrive on emotions and feeling them deeply. You are the person who is comfortable getting vulnerable, opening up about difficult things, and engaging others in nitty-gritty conversations. As a result, you’ll likely think about your home design in terms of where emotions naturally flow. For sensitive people, shared areas (like kitchens or living rooms) are all about comfort and sociability. Their home design includes open spaces, roominess, and seating that faces one another to induce natural conversations. For private areas, like bathrooms or bedrooms, there might be a focus on peacefulness and an ‘escape-like’ feel. This means light or neutral tones and comfortable furnishings, and furniture, and maybe even low light.
2. They Are Attuned to the ‘Vibe’ Each Room Gives Off
Sensitive people are tuned into the ambiance that each space emits and, as the designer, how to create that ‘vibe.’ This can manifest in the colors they choose, the physical layout of an area, or even the art and photography they hang on the wall. Sensitive people recognize and purposefully create each room to be distinctly different, and as they’re designing, they are less worried about following the trends or having the most picture-perfect spaces as they are about creating the ideal feel.
3. They Have Separate Looks and Feels for Each Space
One of the biggest ways sensitive people design their homes differently is in how they see unique parts rather than a unified whole. Whereas a ‘typical’ designer may prioritize the connections between rooms and how the overall house fits together, a sensitive person is more focused on the differences rather than the similarities. For example, a sensitive person isn’t worried about the paint in the dining room matching the paint in the bedroom. Instead, they appreciate the contrast as a much-needed separation between areas in order to avoid sensory overload.
4. They Enjoy having a ‘Safe’ or Comforting Spot
As much as sensitive people enjoy the company of others, they often thrive on time spent alone. In a home, this can manifest as a ‘retreat’ or sacred space where deep-thinking, reflection, journaling, resting, napping, listening to music, and creative work can happen Whereas more social people may prioritize a shared space (and dive into the design of that space more than others), a sensitive person puts the most energy into creating this ‘safe haven.’ This is where they feel the most at home.
5. They Are Incredibly Intentional
Regardless of how the home unfolds, sensitive people are intentional about every aspect. Because they are so connected to their emotions, they don’t see their homes as just houses—they see them as connection points. The bedroom is a place for intimacy and closeness with loved ones. The kitchen is a shared space for conversation and consumption. Even the backyard can offer a much-needed release and reset from the rest of the fast-paced world. As a sensitive person designs their home, there is intentionality behind everything from the colors, to the blankets, to the candles. Although this type of person may not follow the latest trends or be an experienced designer, there’s no doubt about the thought put into creating a homey, special, and safe place for themselves and the company they keep.
