3 ceiling remodeling ideas for your home & a look at how ceilings impact our minds & moods (includes DIY instructions & photos)

by Jody Ellis

The ceiling can easily be one of the most overlooked places in the home, but can have one of the biggest impacts to elevating the aesthetic of a room and mood of the space. Today’s blog will be broken up into two parts. The first section will be DIY instructions and time-saving tips for three different ceiling remodels and styles that you can do for remodeling your home.  In the second half, cause I love that psychology stuff, we’ll be looking at the effects of ceilings on our psyches.

Part One: DIY Instructions for 3 ceiling designs

First: A ceiling design with a modern, calming tone

Ceiling remodel

What you’ll need:

  • Paint (color of your choosing for walls and trim)
  • Paint brush, paint can opener, paint tray
  • Small decorative trim
  • Circle trim
  • Ceiling medallion
  • Light fixture (Consult with a licensed electrician about the Wattage rating of your current fixture)
  • Finishing nails & Nail gun (I prefer my battery powered one. It makes it so much easier for doing ceilings)
  • Compound Miter saw
  • Cardboard
  • Scissors
  • Measuring tape
  • String
  • 2x wooden pencil

Instructions for border trim:

  1. After painting walls, paint up the borders of the ceiling. To be constant, use the cardboard and scissors to create a template of how wide you want the paint boarder to be. I used a 7-inch boarder for this project. When painting you don’t have to be too exact with your edges since it will be covered up by the width of the small decorative trim.
  2. Once done painting edges, use a measuring tape to get measurements for the trim.  Then cut it with the Compound Miter Saw and attach it with the nail gun.

Instructions for center circle:

  1. Pre-paint the trim and the ceiling medallion
  2. Have a licensed electrician remove the light fixture and make safe the area you will be working around
  3. Take your string and cut it to be half the diameter of the circle trim size (the diameter should be written on the box)
  4. Then, mark out the circumference of circle by attaching the string to 2 wooden pencils at both ends of the string
  5. Hold one pencil at the center (over the light fixture area) and use the other to trace out the circle by extending the length of the string
  6. Once the area is marked, paint the inner circle to match the paint on the walls
  7. Next, attach ceiling medallion and circle trim using the nail gun
  8. Touch-up paint trim and medallion to cover up nails or refresh spots that need it
  9. Last have a licensed electrician attach light fixture

 

 

Second: A ceiling design with a romantic, classic look

 

Ceiling remodel

What you’ll need:

  • Paint
  • Plastic blankets to cover floor while painting
  • Finishing nails & nail gun (recommend battery powered for ease of use)
  • Crown molding
  • 11/16-in primed shoe molding trim
  • Ceiling medallion
  • Light fixture (Consult with a licensed electrician about the Wattage rating of your current fixture)
  • Ornate wooden designs

Instructions for a vaulted ceiling with ornate wooden designs

There are a few ways to get decorative wooden designs.

  1. You could purchase pre-made wood appliques. For example, Etsy’s Customs Bot does a nice large ones for for under $10. Just make sure, wherever you buy them that they are large enough for your design. A lot of times wood appliques are more for furniture accents which would be too small for this look.
  2. You can do like I did and create them at a Hacker Space that has a laser cutter where you just upload the vector graphic file and it cuts the pattern out of plywood for you
  3. If you’re not tech-ie and want more of a custom design, you could hire an artist on Fiverr to create the file for you and have it burned with Pololu.

Instructions

  1. Have a licensed electrician remove light fixture and make the area safe for work.
  2. Pre-paint the trim, ceiling medallion and ornate wooden designs.
  3. Remove popcorn from ceiling, if you have it. DIY Duke has the best explainer video for how to do it yourself that I’ve seen. He really helps make it easy.
  4. Next trim out the border of the room in crown molding.
  5. Trim out the upper edging of the vaulted ceiling in the 11/16-in primed shoe molding trim
  6. Nail the ceiling medallion to the center of the light fixture.
  7. Next, nail in your ornate wooden designs by measuring them at equal length away from the light fixture.
  8. Have the electrician install a new light fixture.
  9. Do touch up paint. Enjoy

 

Third: A ceiling design for an eclectic mix of industrial and traditional 

Purchasing on a budget: Ceiling tiles come in many different material types (i.e. aluminum, copper, tin, etc.) and some of them can get really pricy. So, to reduce cost, I used Styrofoam tiles, which were $3 a tile on Amazon. However, if you’d like other types, an assortment of options and to see good quality photos of each style to help give you ideas, check out Decorative Ceiling Tiles.

What you’ll need:

  • Styrofoam tiles (purchase some extras just for mistakes and backups)
  • Liquid Nail glue
  • Caulk gun
  • Thumb tacks
  • Box cutter
  • Soft-felt tip pen
  • Steel ruler or straight edge
  • Cutting board large enough for the tiles
  • A Light fixture of your choosing (Consult with a licensed electrician about the Wattage rating of your current fixture)

Instructions:

  1. To begin, have a licensed electrician remove your current light fixture and make safe the area you will be working around.
  2. Starting where the removed the light fixture is located (this should be the center of the room), place your first tile, by cutting out a hole for your light fixture would go in the middle of the tile.
  3. Applying ample amounts of the liquid glue to the back of the tile, place it on the ceiling, firmly pressing to ceiling.
  4. Continue placing and gluing tiles. Whenever, you have four tiles that meet each other, take a thumb tack, and pin it in the center of the corners of the tiles (do not pierce the tiles; this will act as a holding device (see photo).
  5. Next, work your way out placing and gluing until you get to the boarders of the room.
  6. When you get to the edges of the room, you’ll need to cut down your tiles. To do so, flip the tile to the back side and place it up against the wall. Using the soft-felt tip pen mark the portion you would like to cut (this will be the gap between the already place tile and the wall).
  7. Place the tile on the cutting board, using the steel ruler or straight edge mark off a straight line.
  8. Using your box cutter, cut down the line removing the extra tile. Place and glue, then repeat until room is completely tiled.
  9. Trim out the room. Let dry overnight. Remove thumb tacks.
  10. Do final touch coat of paint.
  11. Finally, have a licensed electrician install the light fixture

Pro Tip – I suggest pre-painting the tiles before placing them on the ceiling as they are easier to paint on the ground. Important Note: do not use spray paint. It will eat through the Styrofoam causing it to bubble and warp.  Use a water based latex paint or whatever the tile manufacturer recommends.

 

Part Two: Psychology of Ceilings:

The lab results are in:

Did you know ceiling height can affect your behavior? “Researchers found that subjects occupying a room with ten-foot ceilings scored higher on creativity assessment tests than subjects who performed the same exercises under eight-foot ceilings.” (Joyner, 2020) With the higher ceilings people, “will tend to think more freely, more abstractly . . . They might process more abstract connections between objects in a room, whereas a person in a room with an 8-foot ceiling will be more likely to focus on specifics.” (Ceiling height can affect how a person thinks, feels and acts, 2007)

Don’t have ten-foot ceilings? Sean Joyner of Archinect.com has a superb blog for techniques to trick the eye into thinking the ceiling is taller, click here to check it out.

Your body, your thoughts . . . and ceilings:

Psychiatrist, author, researcher, and educator Dr. Bessel van der Kolk explains that, “Research has found that the way that you hold your body determines how you feel. If you sit like this (shoulders raised and tightened towards the ears) you will be an uptight person, your thoughts will be uptight, you’ll hate yourself, because you cannot feel joyful . . . when you hold your hands like this (arms open towards the sky) it’s the gesture of joy . . . Very simply, the way that you hold your body to a large degree will determine what will happen in your mind.” (Kolk, 2015)

Interestingly, in the neck is the sternocleidomastoid muscle, “this muscle is your muscle of curiosity and when you’re curious about something you stretch this muscle . . . Put your shoulders back, breathe from the top of your lungs, stick out your neck . . . This position is incompatible with hatred . . . when you sit like that a lot, life becomes a much gentler business.” (Kolk, 2015)

Well, what do ceilings do? A beautifully done ceiling can cause you to look up and thereby stretch your sternocleidomastoid muscle. Cathedrals in the Middle Ages in Europe illustrate this effect where, “the central nave of many of the great cathedrals of the world . . . are extraordinarily tall—as high as 156 feet in one case. And what could be more abstract than contemplating the divine?” (Joyner, 2020) Below is a ceiling in the La Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona, Spain. I don’t know about you, but when looking at the photo of the ceiling I can feel my neurons firing excitedly.

 

La Sagrada Familia, Church, Barcelona, Gaudi, Spain by Compass Studios, LLC

So, treasured reader, our ceiling can be a space in our daily life that encourages us to raise our spirits and minds. If you would like, let us test it for ourselves. Go back and look at the before and after photos of each room. How did the before pictures make you feel? Maybe a little anxious? Closed in? What about the after photos? Let me know in the comments.

 

References

Ceiling height can affect how a person thinks, feels and acts. (2007, April 25). Retrieved from ScienceDaily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070424155539.htm

Joyner, S. (2020, April 15). The psychology of high ceilings and creative work spaces. Retrieved from Archinect.com: https://archinect.com/features/article/150193563/the-psychology-of-high-ceilings-and-creative-work-spaces

Kolk, B. v. (2015, May 22). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind and body in the healing of trauma. Retrieved from CenterScene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53RX2ESIqsM&t=1s

 



Interior decorating to tame the inner critic (includes DIY décor with photo & video instructions)

by Jody Ellis

Do you have a voice inside your mind that is harsh and critical of you? A voice that will berate you at even the potential of a mistake. This voice, my treasured reader, is known as the inner critic. Today, we are going to look at what it is, how to calm it and some DIY décor to help with it.

The who of it:

First, I want you to know, you are not alone. This is a shared struggle with no boundaries for whose heart can be stung by its words. Psychological researcher/storyteller Dr. Brene Brown explains that this voice is shame and that everyone struggles with it. In her famous Ted Talk, she describes how, “it’s universal . . . the only people who don’t experience shame are people who have no capacity for connection or empathy. Which means, yes, I have a little shame; no, I’m a sociopath. So, I would opt for ‘yes, you have a little shame’ than ‘no, I’m a sociopath.’” (Brown, 2010) For her full Ted Talk on the subject click here.

The how of it:

So how does shame work? In yet another famous Ted Talk, Dr. Brown goes on to illustrate the inner workings of shame by explaining how, “shame drives two big tapes. ‘Never good enough’ and if you can talk it out of that one ‘who do you think you are?’ The thing to understand about shame is it’s a focus on self. Guilt is a focus on behavior. Shame is a focus on self. Guilt is ‘I did something bad.’ Shame is ‘I am bad.'”(Brown, 2012) Dr. Brown continued explaining how this inner voice goes on to have an outer impact in our lives by saying, “here’s what you need to know, shame is highly, highly correlated with addiction, depression, violence, aggression, bullying, suicide, eating disorders. And here’s what you even need to know more. Guilt, inversely correlated with those things.” (Brown, 2012)

 

Shame vs Guilt graphic

Which brings us to how do we deal with the voice?

This struggle boils down to worthiness. It’s the difference between who struggles with a sense of belonging and who does not. In her research, Dr. Brown found that the core difference between the two groups was simply who “believe(s) they’re worthy of love and belonging. That’s it.“ (Brown, 2010) At the bottom of this blog, I’m going to include a list of resources that will further expand on this critical topic and help guide you through this process of changing the shaming voice.

One key piece that can offer immediate relief is to retrain our mind on how we talk to ourselves. (Schiraldi, 2016) To demonstrate, when this shaming voice pushes up into our thoughts, we should tell it to “Stop!” and then practice speaking to ourselves like we would talk to a child that we favored. (Johnston, 2000) Or think, if you wouldn’t speak to your best friend that way, you shouldn’t speak to yourself like that either.

A helpful tip that I’ve found useful is to use pet names when talking to yourself. For example, I call myself “honey”, “sugar” and “darling” all the time.

How does this apply to interior decorating?

Best selling author and clinical psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud teaches in his book “The Power of the Other” that you become an average of the 5 people that you hang around with the most due to their influence on you. (Cloud, 2016) Well, I posit that your home is a place that can be one of those influences in your life effecting change and encouraging you towards growth. For example, hanging motivational wall art up acts as a daily reminder to be kind to yourself. The one below is from the Your Darling Life shop that can be found on Etsy.

 

Wall Art
Printable Wall Art from YourDarlingLife Esty Shop

 

If you’re a do-it-yourself-er, below is a short instructional video for making a DIY wall décor that allows for interchangeable messages. For more in-depth, written instructions check out the second half of my blog for remodeling a fireplace (the instructions are there with tips and a link for the magnetic dots).

 

 

As promised, below is a list of clickable resources to further help untangle the struggle around shame and gaining our sense of worthiness:

I’ll close with one of my all time favorite inspirational quotes from Marianne Williamson done in wall art by Anthi Leoni Decor:

 

References:

Brown, B. (2010, June). The power of vulnerability. Retrieved from Ted.com: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability

Brown, B. (2012, March). Listening to shame. Retrieved from Ted.com: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame

Cloud, H. (2016). The Power of the Other: The Startling Effect Other People Have on You, from the Boardroom to the Bedroom and Beyond – and What to Do About It. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Johnston, A. (2000). Eating in the light of the moon: How women can transform their relationship with food through myths, metaphors, and storytelling. Carlsbad: Gurze Books.

Schiraldi, G. R. (2016). The Self-Esteem Workbook (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook). Oakland: New Harbinger Publication, Inc.

 

 

 

How to Paint Your Old Fireplace for a Modern, Elegant Look and Make it Look Taller! Plus, a DIY Motivational Decorating Idea for the Mantel

by Jody Ellis

Since getting stuck inside with the quarantine, have you been eyeing that old fireplace from the 1980’s with contempt? I know the feeling. Today’s blog will go over how I transformed my old fireplace into a modern, updated version (before/after video below).  The blog will also discuss a DIY decorating idea for your fireplace to help keep you inspired.

What you’ll need to paint your fireplace :

  • Masonry, stucco, and brick paint
  • 3/4 nap roller
  • Angled paint brush
  • Paint pan
  • Ladder
  • Bucket
  • Scrub brush
  • Water & soap
  • Painter’s tape
  • Paint can opener
  • Mixing stick
Paint Supplies
Supplies for painting the fireplace: ladder, paint brush, painter’s tape, can opener, paint roller, paint stirrer, cleaning bucket, Masonry, Stucco & Brick paint, and paint pan

Instructions for painting :

  1. Fill up your bucket with soap & water. Using your scrub brush & soapy water, wash off your fireplace clearing it of any mess, then let dry.
  2. Using the painter’s tape, mask off the fireplace so as not to get paint in unwanted areas.
  3. Paint fireplace with the thick nap roller. You’ll most likely still need to use a paint brush to get into the crevices.
  4. Let dry and repeat for second coating or if satisfied use paint brush for touch ups.

Key tip (save yourself some trouble!) :

Start painting from the top of the fireplace working your way downward; otherwise, you will have issues with dripping paint onto already painted areas or possibly touching wet painted as you move up.

Want a more polished look & perhaps some height to your fireplace?

For a sleek look, trim out your fireplace in crown molding and use wood corner blocks at both the top & bottom of the fireplace. Paint trim to match. The added trim gives the impression of a larger fireplace; as well as, creates sharp lines for a more modern look.

 

Fireplace remodel ideas
Crown molding and corner blocks added to fireplace

 

DIY Decorating Ideas for your fireplace

Since the fireplace is often a focal point of the living room, it’s an excellent spot to place inspirational décor (candles as well – check out my blog on why decorating with candles is good for your mental health here). Below is a breakdown of how to make the decorative sign I used for the fireplace remodel above (it’s the one in the center).

What you’ll need:
  • Picture frame
  • Staple gun and staples
  • Magnetic dots (purchased these through Amazon, about $10)
  • Fabric of your liking
  • Print out favorite inspirational quote on paper of choosing
  • Pair of scissors
  • For added fun, the flower is an old, broken ring (earrings can also be lovely) repurposed by simply sewing it on

Instructions:

  1. Select the style frame, fabric and motivational imagine or saying that you want.
  2. Print and cut out your motivational imagine/saying on the paper you wish to use.
  3. Next, use your staple gun to attach the fabric to the backside of the picture frame. Be sure to pull the fabric taut because the fabric will act as a sort of wall/support for your paper. If the fabric is sagging then the printed image will sag too.
  4. When done stapling, cut off any excess material with your scissors.
  5. Using the magnetic dots, attach the paper to the fabric by placing a dot in each corner of the paper on the front and backside so that it holds firmly a magnetic pull.

Special Note: Since, the paper is held by magnetic dots (and not a more permanent choice, like glue), you can simply remove the dots and replace the image with a new one whenever you like, for an easy change up. Doing so, gives you wonderful options for decorating with the changing seasons or any upcoming holiday!

Here’s a quick guide:

DIY Inspirational Décor

 

I’d like to see what DIY inspirational décor you create : ) Please head over to my Instagram (@jellisbydesign) and drop me a pic of what you made in today’s blog posting. I’d love to see it!

 

3 Decorating Tips to Help with Anxiety, Stress & Emotional Regulation (decorating for ready-made grounding exercises)

by Jody Ellis

 

Have you ever feverishly eaten a pint of ice cream, only to look up from the bowl when you’re done and realize you weren’t even hungry? I can so relate. *sheepish grin* Or perhaps, in an argument your mind goes full lizard brain and slips right into one of the four F’s (flight, fight, freeze or fawn) of stress responses.

Today, we’re going to talk about three decorating tips that can help when you find yourself in one of those spaces . . . head space, that is.

Tip One: Identify where you feel the feels

Sometimes when we’re overwhelmed or stressed out, it can feel like a whirl-wind has overtaken us, and we don’t know where to start. One tip, that can help you begin to calm the storm is to identify where in your body you are feeling an emotion. In understanding where it’s felt, you can begin to listen to your feelings and honor & support yourself around what is happening. For more information on processing negative emotions click here.

Hanging up a visual prompt in your home can aid in helping to find where the feeling is living in the body. Here is an example below which is a spin on the game Operation for a retro look:

 

Find where you feel the feels décor

Tip Two: Smells Good

Did you know that smelling pleasant things can improve pain tolerance and create instant relaxation?  “Sweet tastes reduce pain by activating opioid systems in the brain, and the odor comes to activate the same systems,” says Australian psychologist John Prescott, currently a visiting scholar at Oxford University.” You can also use your sense of smell to deliver instant relaxation, says Pamela Dalton, a sensory psychologist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, in Philadelphia. Pick a distinctive odor, then pair that aroma with a calming meditation session. After a few sessions, the odor itself will elicit a relaxed state, even when you don’t have time to meditate. (The hidden force of fragrance, 2016)

So, I recommend decorating with candles; in particular, lavender ones since that scent was linked to reducing anxiety and stress by 20 % with patients during MRI procedures. (Allina Healthy System, 2016)

Lavender candle, soap, bath salts and purple towel

Now, if you want to doubled-up on your stress relief just add humor. Laughter has been scientifically proven to relieve stress. (How laughter can relieve stress + ideas to laugh it off, 2019). WaxOnFire has a host of funny, hand-poured vegan soy candles to enjoy. Check them out for yourself here.

 

WaxOnFire Shop

 

Tip Three: Walk it off with the Labyrinth . . . no, not David Bowie’s (but yes, David Bowie’s ; ) )

It turns out, “strolling through a labyrinth can help you feel the relaxation response, which is the opposite of the stress “fight or flight” state, says Herbert Benson, MD, founder of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and author of Relaxation Revolution” (Leland, n.d.)

Depending on your level of interest, here are five ways to do a labyrinth:

One: If you’re strapped for space, a finger labyrinth can be quite relaxing:

Handmade finger labyrinth

Two: Purchase a portable labyrinth rug (but fair warning these can get a bit pricy):

Portable labyrinth rug

Three: Paint a labyrinth pattern on the floor:

Painted outdoor labyrinth

Four: Create a rock labyrinth outdoors:

Outdoor labyrinth made of rocks

Five: For the green thumbs among us:

Outdoor labyrinth done in grass and sand

 

In case you were wondering here’s instructions on how to walk a labyrinth:

  • Before entering. Consider a contemplative question, prayer, or favorite image to hold in your mind before you step into the labyrinth and begin walking.
  • While walking. Just follow the path. As you concentrate on your steps, everything else can melt away.
  • Upon reaching the center. Sit or stand with your eyes closed or looking downward. Take three deep breaths, and in silence ask yourself: What am I feeling right now?
  • Walking back. Bring to mind again the contemplative question, prayer, or favorite image you began with.

(Leland, n.d.)

Is there a stress relieving tip you find helpful?

Let me know in the comments

 

 

References

5, 4, 3, 2, 1: Countdown to make anxiety blast off. (2020, June 6). Retrieved from Mayo Clinic Health System: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/5-4-3-2-1-countdown-to-make-anxiety-blast-off

Allina Healthy System. (2016, Sept 8). The effects of lavender aromatherapy on reducing stress and anxiety during MRI procedures. Retrieved from Clinicaltrials.gov: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01809067

Diana Raab, P. (2017, May 23). Are you grounded? Centered? Or both? Retrieved from Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-empowerment-diary/201705/are-you-grounded-centered-or-both

How laughter can relieve stress + ideas to laugh it off. (2019, Nov). Retrieved from University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences: https://www.usa.edu/blog/how-laughter-can-relieve-stress/

Leland, K. (n.d.). Labyrinths: Ancient aid for modern stresses. Retrieved from WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/labyrinths-for-modern-stresses#1

The hidden force of fragrance. (2016, June 9). Retrieved from PsychologyToday: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200711/the-hidden-force-fragrance

 

Learn decorating tips on a budget for your home [using stylish trends, a mix of psychology & spirituality with a splash of whimsy]

by Jody Ellis

Do you ever have problems remembering important things you’ve learned? I do. For example, I love to read, in particular, on topics around psychology and spirituality. I’ll read some amazing, life-changing insight and then . . . about three months later . . . I’m like, “hmmmm, what was that again?”

Well, there is a solution for that . . .

Dr. Brene Brown, renown psychological researcher/storyteller, enlightens us that, “Creativity is the key to how the things (we learn) travel from the head to the heart to the hands.” (Brown, 2010) And that, treasured reader, is one of the reasons why I do interior decorating. Taking those learnings and creating décor out of it, you literally live with those messages which helps the insights seeps into your heart & mind.

Dr. Brene Brown Quote
Dr. Brene Brown quote

What is this blog for?

In this blog, I will show you budget-friendly decorating tips, trends, and styles for whatever space you’re living in, whether that’s a specific room in your home, an office, a RV, or an apartment. My aim is to show you easy-to-do designs that can transform your space; as well as, add personal touches based on psychology, spirituality, and the great minds of the past & present to help motivate and inspire you. At the very core, my desire is for your home to be your own personal sanctuary. The place you want to go to for respite, play and encouragement. A space for your babies to flourish as they grow up and for you to enjoy as you grow old.

Let me explain the name

This blog is called J. Ellis by Design for a couple of reasons. One being, simply that J. Ellis is a version of my name, which is Joanna Ellis, in case you were wondering. Secondly, it’s a play on words (say it three times fast . . . do you hear it? . . . Jealous by Design).

Now, some would say that being jealous is a bad emotion, but according to Dr. Anita Johnston all emotions have “a pearl of wisdom” to give us, and jealousy is the one that teaches us what we want for ourselves, our true yearnings. (Johnston, 2000) This suits me well, since I believe good design speaks to our desires; as well as, our functional needs.

Below is a wall art décor that I made to help explain all the gifts that emotions help us to learn, and its an example of moving the things we’ve learned from our head to the heart to the hands . . . and then decorating with it ; )

 

Emotions Sign
Wall art that explains the different insights each emotion give us

 

What to look forward to

Since my blog is launching on Martin Luther King Day, I’ll show you a quick tip that you can do right now in your home for less than $10, which I personally love and have found to be a great conversation starter with guests.

What you’ll need: measuring tape and a pack of alphabet stickers

What you’ll do:

  1. Select an entry-way or area of your choice in your home
  2. Starting from the floor and going up, measure 5’7 with your measuring tape
  3. With your stickers, place the following at that measurement “5’7 – MLK”

When finished it should look something like below:

MLK Height
5’7 – MLK written in stickers

What you’ve done is place the height of Martin Luther King Jr. on your wall.

After you’ve done so, if you will, take a moment and think over the following:

While, looking at the placement, imagine where your eyes would have rested if you had met Dr. King while he was alive.

Do you have to look up or down to meet where his eyes would have been?

Or are you two close to the same height?

How does this position feel in your neck?

Your shoulders?

Now, you have a better understanding of what it would have felt like to chat with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In my home, I have the heights of MLK, Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou, Gandhi, Eartha Kitt, Harriet Tubman, and Jesus in the entry-way to my dining room. I can’t tell you how I have loved walking up to it and imagining what it would be like to speak with them. I will say though, I’m 5’4 and Maya Angelou was 6 feet tall. I don’t think I could talk to her long standing up because of the crick in my neck it gives me to look up at her. I imagine, if she were alive, I would have to invite her to sit down to talk. Anyhoo, doing this small piece of decorating helps remind me that my heroes existed, they were real people and I feel inspired by their lives.

It’s tips like this one that we will explore; as well as, remodeling larger spaces focusing on principles of interior design in my future blog posts. To close out, I’ll end with one of my favorite Martin Luther King Jr. quotes in honor of his day.

Martin Luther King Jr Quote
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others? – Martin Luther King Jr

 

P.s.

In case you were wondering, here is a short video of the entry to the dining room with the heights of my heroes (I put a mannequin in the shot to give perspective).

 

References

Brown, B. (2010). Gifts of Imperfections. Hazelden Publishing.

Johnston, A. (2000). Eating in the light of the moon: How women can transform their relationship with food through myths, metaphors, and storytelling. Carlsbad: Gurze Books.