“All the world’s a stage”. Shakespeare
Designing an interior is a lot like creating a stage set. 
A few weeks ago, I attended Pacific Northwest Ballet’s rendition of ‘Giselle’ – a truly lovely and engaging performance.
While gazing at the pastoral stage setting – meant to evoke a hot, summer’s day – I was struck by the similarities between stage designs versus home design.
The one is theatrical, strictly for show with the sole purpose of telling a story – with all its nuances and drama.
Yet our homes also tell a story.
The story our homes tell is about the people who live there. These stories may not be as exciting or dramatic as theatre, yet there is still drama – just drama on another level.
With this in mind, let’s explore how our room settings can be a little like a stage set – the only real difference being they house REAL people, not characters in a play.
Scene 1: Your Inner Stylist
When the curtain rises at the theatre, we are instantly clued in to the story that is about to unfold.
This is achieved through a number of devices, but the first thing we usually notice is the stage set, which – when truly successful – elicits a delighted gasp from the audience.
The setting for ‘Giselle’ was clearly traditional. I felt as if I’d been transported back to the 18th century, landing in a pastoral scene straight out of a rococo painting.
Everything – from the set design, costumes and music – reinforced the traditional mood of the ballet.
(Another performance might have resembled a gentleman’s study, with a multitude of books lining the shelves, a sturdy desk front and center, and perhaps a mini bar off to the side – well-stocked to accommodate any guests that might stop by – tthe message conveyed here is one of ease and comfort, in true gentlemanly fashion).
Sometimes there are no props whatsoever – just the dancers and the stage. But as with the ballet, our homes invariably reflect the style that we are most drawn to – whether traditional, modern or somewhere in-between.
Scene 2: Engaging Your Senses
This is where the Magic happens.
When we are fully engaged in a performance, we are actively using all our senses. Our eyes are entertained by the set design, captivated by the sensuous colors and textures, and the myriad details orchestrated by the music and a talented set designer.
Our auditory system is on constant alert, listening for cues in the music that hint of what’s to come. The musical score alternates between joy or sadness, or pending tragedy, carrying us along in its grasp.
While a lilting tune invites us to join the dancers on stage – if only in our imaginations – our eyes drink in the colors and textures.
We might be captivated by a particular material – the rich feel of satin, or brocade, or the roughness of a tree stump. We can feel the coolness of a breeze rustling through the woods and imagine the heat of a hot summer’s day.
Should the previously mentioned gentleman pour himself a glass of scotch, we can almost taste it. A party scene might activate our taste buds and make us hungry for an actual meal.
Even our sense of smell is awakened .We imagine the familiar pine scent of the forest, or the heady bouquet of flowers – whatever might be present on the stage, we drink it in.
In doing so, we are instantly transported.
You might not be aware that the same sensory activity is also taking place in your home, but I can assure you it is.
It is always there, in the background, like a subtle musical score. In fact, that’s exactly how you want it to be, because good design doesn’t hit you in the head.
It welcomes you, and makes you feel alive.
Scene 3: The Elements of Design
Which brings me to this: what constitutes good design, and how does one create it?
Of course, part of this is in the eyes of the beholder.
Each of us is different, as far as our tastes, our interests and how we’d like our homes to reflect our unique personal chemistry – as well as the chemistry of our immediate environment.
This is where the elements of design come into play – the tools that designers, architects and all creative types invariably use in their craft.
The elements of design include everything from color, space, balance, shape, line, proportion and much more – while lending interest and excitement to a space.
When we imagine a stage set without lighting, it feels flat, lifeless. In terms of the story enacted onstage, we wouldn’t know night from day, or summer from winter. Truth be told, it would be hard to see anything.
Now translate that to your home.
Lighting is an often overlooked aspect of design, yet the role it plays in our homes and our lives is crucial.
Color is equally important, as is the tactile quality of the finishes and fabrics you choose. It’s a delicate balance, the way these tools interact with each other and create a certain rhythm – whether in your home or on the stage.
Scene 4: Creating A Mood
We might not be aware of it, but it is the interplay of these design elements that makes our homes – and the stage – come alive.
Sometimes you need to use your imagination, and that’s fine.
Subtle surprises are good!
Paired together on the stage, color, music and lighting certainly convey the overall mood, whether a scene of tranquility or abundant joy.
The same goes for your home – with the overall mood of your living spaces defined by the lighting within.
If your home is feeling a bit flat and uninspired, you can be fairly certain that one of these key elements is off, or missing altogether.
As with a discordant musical note, harmony is always a welcome guest.
Which begs the question: Whether for your home, or your health, how do YOU set the stage?
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