Picture:Sophia Roe, Instagram
Food is undeniably a huge part of wellness for Sophia Roe, who describes herself as a “chef and sustenance maker” and “food and feelings advocate” in her Instagram bio. She is known to post odes to seasonal ingredients on her feed (on March 22, the subject was spring peas) and just launched a cooking series called Eat the Rainbow on YouTube. Her holistic view is wonderfully refreshing— “We all need and require different things! There is no one-size-fits-all approach here,” she once proclaimed on her Instagram stories—and it got us thinking: Does her home play a role in her wellness routine?
Well, we asked Sophia just that. Her response: “Massively! Home is where you create a safe space for yourself. Integrating elements that cater to your individual needs is so important. Some people find that having plants in their space encourages a relaxed or calming feeling, while others love when they can see all of their books, so a beautiful floor-to-ceiling bookshelf would be a must! Ultimately, if you can be in a space that creates or contributes to anxiety, you can absolutely create a space that feels open, freeing, and well.” Here, she names six ways she summons those good vibes in her home:
1. Controlled chaos
“OK, so here’s the thing…I love chaos. I come from a pretty hectic background, so, strangely, chaos makes me feel really at home. Obviously, a smelly house is a no-go, but a little colour or print clashing, or imperfection, is heavenly to me. My table at home is covered in various vases, dried flowers, glass containers, candles of various sizes, et cetera. The controlled chaos of it all is really soothing to my soul in so many ways. I love the way ‘imperfect’ spaces feel. Anything that resembles a museum can feel super stuffy, so a little area where you can display some of your favourite knickknacks can feel personal but also chic up the place.”
2. Sage, sage, and more sage
“I deeply subscribe to weekly, or even biweekly, burning-sage sessions in my home. Even the process of lighting sage can feel calming.”
3. Colourful surroundings
“If you don’t have access to natural light or an open window, having a pop of whatever colour that makes you feel soothed or at ease is always helpful. I bought a mustard-coloured couch for my home, and it instantly brightened up my space. Don’t be scared to incorporate texture or prints into your home either. Having a really cool rug or an interesting still life on your coffee table can completely change the way you home feels.”
4. A DIY room spray
“I love aromatherapy. I have a few diffusers in my home, but I have also been known to make a room spray from scratch. I really love using self-esteem-boosting, anxiety-fighting essential oils like bergamot, grapefruit, orange, jasmine, rose, and sandalwood. Sometimes, right when I wake up, as part of my morning ritual, I’ll spritz it all over my house just for the feel-good feeling of spritzing.”
5. A clutter-free countertop
“I keep all of my kitchen appliances hidden and off the counters. I think open counters in a kitchen makes it feels immediately like a cleaner space. I also love to use boxes from public relations send-outs or online purchases as storage containers. I cut the tops off of them. They fit perfectly under my couch, completely unseen. A major win since I’m reusing something!”
6. Plants (with their own names!)
“Not everyone is a plant mom, so I don’t know that incorporating tons of greenery is necessarily stress-relieving for everyone. But I personally can’t have enough plants, flowers, herbs, and living things in my house. If it’s a plant of any kind, I want it in my house; I am immediately at ease in any space with plants. I love snake plants and dragon plants. They’re super easy to take care of and are also incredible air purifiers. Snake plants, in particular, actually turn carbon dioxide into oxygen overnight! So cool! I also have a humongous fiddle leaf fig tree. Her name is Marissa, named after my manager. I name all of my plants, which makes them all feel like friends and family.”
This article originally appeared on AD Clever.
