Simple Living: The Slow Lane

Be inspired to simplify your life and take steps to embrace the principles of slow living with designer and author Natalie Walton’s latest book, still: the slow home

- Natalie Walton

Never before have we been presented with such a rare opportunity to hit pause and evaluate our lifestyles – to stop and take a deep breath. Spending more time at home than we ever have before, we’re enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime chance to review and reset the way we live, to break bad habits and also to adopt new practices (goodbye forever, single-use plastic). So Still: The Slow Home by Natalie Walton could not have come at a better time. Within its beautiful pages, Natalie explores 20 stunning homes from around the globe and details the steps each homeowner has taken to live a slower life. Turn the page here to read the author’s best tips for making changes within your own home.

BUILD A VISION

We can live more responsibly within our homes when we consider that our decisions have an impact not just on the world today, but on the form it will take tomorrow. So let’s consider our legacy. What mark do we want to leave on the world? What gift do we have to give? To this end, we can consider the Japanese concept of ikigai – a reason for being. It is based upon the idea of what we consider to be of value in our lives and what gives them meaning. Let us consider the contribution we want to make. When it comes to our homes, can we create them in a way that makes a positive contribution – buildings and spaces that others want to maintain or preserve, for example? Can we embrace choices that will withstand trends or at least won’t deplete the world’s resources irreparably? Our vision is our guide and compass to living in a way that is more aligned with our values.