Designing for Chaos: How to create calm in a busy home.

If your house is full of tiny feet, big feelings, backpacks, dog hair, endless snacks, and constant motion… you're not alone. Life with a family is beautifully chaotic. But just because the pace is fast doesn’t mean your home has to feel overwhelming. As a designer who works with real families every day, I believe your home can be a source of calm even when life feels anything but. Creating a peaceful space doesn’t mean silencing the joyful noise of family life. It means designing with intention so there are places to breathe, rest, and reset within the everyday busyness. When your environment supports your routines and soothes your senses, the whole family feels more grounded.

So how do we do that? We design for calm inside the chaos.

First, let’s talk about color. The colors we surround ourselves with can deeply affect how we feel. Soft, earthy tones like sage, clay, warm beige, and muted blues naturally quiet the mind. I love using these as the base and layering in texture through textiles like chunky knits, natural fiber rugs, or linen curtains to add warmth without adding visual clutter. It is also important, we think about zones of calm. Even in a busy home, it’s powerful to carve out small spaces where each family member can go to decompress. A window seat with a few pillows becomes a reading nook. A chair in the corner with headphones and a small basket of fidget toys becomes a retreat for a sensory-sensitive child. For parents, a bedside tray with a candle, a book, and a charging cord can turn a bedroom into a sanctuary at the end of the day. You don’t need a full remodel—you just need to notice how you want to feel in your space and design accordingly. Another trick? Declutter with grace. I’m not saying your home needs to be spotless… mine isn’t either! But I am saying that visual clutter adds to mental clutter. Storage matters. We design in closed storage where we can: baskets with lids, benches with hidden compartments, cabinets that look polished but hold the chaos. It’s not about hiding real life, it’s about creating breathing room for it!

Now, lets not forget the power of lighting. Harsh overhead lights does no one any favors after 5 PM. Try layering in softer lighting: a table lamp in the hallway for evening wind-downs, a nightlight in a child’s room that feels cozy, dimmers in living areas. Lighting sets the tone, quite literally. Most important of all? Remember that calm doesn’t mean quiet or boring. It means intentional. It means creating rhythm and refuge in the middle of a very real, very alive household. Your kids still get to play. You still get to breathe. You’re not designing a silent retreat; you’re designing a livable space that gives your nervous system a break. So ,if you’re craving that sense of calm but don’t know where to begin, let us help. Whether we’re reworking your family room or just resetting your entryway, the goal is always the same: make space for what matters. Let’s bring a little calm into the chaos… one room at a time.