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Full disclosure - that’s not my line. The quote, “An empty canvas is full,” can be attributed to Robert Rauschenberg, a celebrated painter and graphic artist. Today, however, I’d like to explore this concept from perhaps a slightly different perspective than Robert intended. I’m going to define my canvas as the space in which one lives - and in this instance, from the perspective of mothers of young children.
As outlined in my blog intro, the focus of The Psychological Blueprint is to explore interior design while considering the psychology that drives peoples’ choices based on specific conditions, particularly life phases. It is not my intention to generalize people as to exclude the wonderful peculiarities that define our styles. This is simply a blueprint - we get to fill in our own details.
All that said, one trend that I have seen repeated among mothers of young children is a desire for a design that is dominated by shades of white, with natural materials and earth tones incorporated. This is fascinating - I believe there are many reasons for this. Some are obvious; others less so. Let’s examine.
What adjectives pop into one’s mind when imagining babies, toddlers, kindergarteners? Adorable, loving, precious chubby fingers, giggles, drool…and messes on an epic scale. Spit up, diaper disasters, cracker crumbs, finger paint on those precious chubby fingers. So why white? Moms like white homes for the same reason that many people love white kitchens. Yes, it shows dirt. But then you can see the dirt, you can clean the dirt, you can bleach to your heart’s content, knowing that you are doing your job as a mom to provide a clean and safe environment for your family. It’s parenting 101. Keep ‘em clean. Done and done.
Furthermore, new parents are typically on some kind of budget. No matter your income, we can all agree that adding another person to the family has a significant impact on the pocketbook. Attractive options at almost all price points are available in white. A white slipcovered Ektorp sofa from Ikea looks amazing when paired with plants, wood tables, and a few fun pillows. Every modern farmhouse girl’s dream! Designers have built empires based on this fundamental truth. It’s affordable, practical, accessible, and virtually timeless. White palettes can be made traditional, transitional, mid-century, or modern based on the lines of the pieces, well chosen artwork, and accessories. Not to mention the fact that the neutrality makes it pretty easy to incorporate your existing belongings into a new design. If you can log on to the internet, it does not take a huge budget or team of stylists to realize your dream space. It can work in any home, anywhere. What’s not to love about that?
But if we were to continue our examination of a mother’s affinity for white spaces and natural materials, we’d have to pivot to a more existential evaluation. Ask any mother of young children (heck, any mother…but those with young children in particular), what they desire most for themselves, and the overwhelming responses are: peace, quiet, focus, tranquility, calm, rest. Elimination from distraction. The conversion from independent adult to full-blown caregiver of a helpless baby whom you love more than words can say is overwhelming - figuratively and literally. A soft, clean space that is largely devoid of pattern and color allows a mind to rest. A young mother can discern more easily anything out of place or potentially harmful to her children, allowing her brain to relax. Calm down. The incorporation of natural materials also indicates a use of renewable resources, which is likely influenced by a desire to protect the world for our future generations. The psychological benefits of spaces designed in this way and their benefits on general well-being, focus, efficiency, have caught the attention of several Fortune-500 companies who’ve implemented “Zen spaces,” or “Meditation Rooms” for employees. The reasoning is simple – when you’re expending tons of mental energy creating, problem-solving, and innovating, you need somewhere to recharge. Ha! They take the credit - but MOMS had this figured out long before corporate America validated it.
So to all the moms out there - what started out as a simple couch selection or paint color is clearly influenced by a deeper set of priorities, whether we acknowledge this or not. Women have evolved over the course of many millennia to protect and care for our young. We are smart, strong, perceptive and capable. Heave that big sigh of relief. Be in the moment, cherish your children, remain calm. Suddenly, you can enjoy your empty canvas that is truly full - full of love and safety, with your mind focused on what matters most.