How to Design a Life and Home That Reflect Your Core Values

Nov 13

Taking a philosophical approach to creating a home and life you love is about diving deep into the beliefs and principles that shape who you are. I like to think of it as becoming extremely aware of what drives you, what you believe, and what truly matters. Someone recently described me as “earnest” in this pursuit of truth—and I loved that. To me, there’s power in seeking truth with purpose, in being intentional about how we show up in our homes and in our lives.

Defining your values is where the real transformation begins. It’s a process that brings clarity and direction. When you understand what you truly value, you start making decisions differently—more purposefully. You start aligning your surroundings, your actions, and your intentions with those values. And that’s where a real, authentic life begins to take shape, a life and home that don’t just look good on the outside but feel good on the inside, because they reflect your true self, and all that you are, and all that you are to become.

It’s this genuine commitment that fuels the transformation we seek in our personal lives, homes, and even work. But how do we begin to design a life—and a home—that reflects this inner truth? It all starts with defining your core values. When you take the time to identify and clarify what you truly value, something profound happens: your vision becomes clearer, and your actions start aligning with your true desires. You become intentional with—your decisions, your relationships, your surroundings, and how you show up in the world.

Your values are the quiet guiding force that influence behaviours, decision-making, culture, actions, and growth. Your values are the foundation upon which everything else is built.—When you stay true to them, you can move through life with purpose. Core values must be clearly defined, consistently communicated, and authentically lived out to create positive results. Start by reflecting on experiences, beliefs, and the principles that guide your decisions and actions right now. Your core values should stem from what is deeply meaningful to you—whether personally and or professionally. When you know your core values, you show your core values, which allows you to lead with confidence and consistency in day to day life. I love the saying “You become what you believe” by Jon Gordon. Once you identify these values the next step is to assess how well your current life aligns with your values—ask if your home, routines, relationships, what you surround yourself with, what you bring into your home and work reflect what matters most to you. Take one small action in each area to bring it into alignment. Then, design your life and home intentionally around these values. For example, if creativity is a core value like it is for me, create a dedicated space for it, or carve out specific time to actively be creative daily, or if connection is key, design spaces that encourage and reflect this priority for you. Set manageable goals and intentions to integrate these values into your routine, and focus on gradual, intentional changes rather than perfection. Finally, make it a habit to practice gratitude and reflection by regularly checking in with yourself. (This is the winning ticket!!) Acknowledge and celebrate even the smallest wins, and approach yourself with compassion as you continue the ongoing process of aligning your life with your core values. You may find that your core values for home and life naturally extend into your work as well. This is a powerful reflection of how your values shape the way you show up each day, allowing you to live as the best version of yourself, professionally too. The way you approach your work is just as important as how you live your personal life, because both stem from the same foundation of purpose and mind. When you shift your perspective to see that life hasn’t happened to you, but for you, and realise that you have the power to live your life on purpose and with meaning, everything changes. This realisation has been a profound journey of self-discovery for me.

Here are some ideas for core values: (there are plenty more!!)