Rooms for Retreat and the New Intimacy of Interiors
You arrive back home from work tired and overwhelmed. And then you see it: the piles of laundry and the unmade bed. You’ve dreamed of lifting your legs up, but now, even if you do, the chaos around you drains even more of your energy. Sounds familiar?
It is in such moments that we realise the emotional relationship we have with our homes. Their functionality diminishes, and they turn into refuges from the overstimulation of modern life. But when we don’t know how to nurture our retreat, we refuse ourselves the luxury to unwind and relax properly.
A new style of design is emerging to help us find the rest we need to reconnect with ourselves. Welcome to the new intimacy of interiors.
A Need for Rest Rooted in History
Although it feels like a new wave of approach, rooms for retreat have existed throughout the history of interior design. Many homes, big or small, had a designated library room or a private study, all the way to the French elegant boudoirs emerging in the 18th-century wealthy homes.
Such rooms had a designated function: reading, working, or dressing, but they were also designed as sanctuaries where one could find peace and intimacy and steal some time to reflect and simply relax.
Contemporary interiors are now trying to revive the magic of such places and prioritise retreat so your modern home can finally breathe.
How to Cultivate a Restorative Home
It’s all rooted in the sensory experience. Think warmth and search for tactility. Embrace the luxurious touch of plush velvets, boucle armchairs, and layers of linen throws. They’ll be there for you when you’re craving softness.
In terms of colours, and keeping in mind that we’re trying to build a place to relax, we suggest you turn to nature. Muddy ochres, earthy greens, and chalky pinks will help you find your ground after a long, busy day in the office.
The shape of your furniture pieces can also have a say in the matter and influence the mood. A proper retreat favours round silhouettes and gentle curves. And for that extra feeling of being safe and held, diffuse the lighting.
To complete the atmosphere, hear the rustling of textiles, play gentle acoustics in the background, and dive into the comforting aroma of cedarwood and chamomile.
Now, enjoy.
The Bedroom: The Ultimate Sanctuary
When we think of building a place for retreat, our minds naturally wander to the one room in the house that already stands for rest and relaxation: the bedroom.
As a true sanctuary, you should approach it with softness in mind. Plush bedding in natural fibres, padded headboards, and layers of soft textiles can create a cocoon-like effect. To create the ultimate ambience, switch to blackout curtains and warm, muted colours like soft terracottas, moss greens and baby blues to promote tranquillity.
However, besides being the house’s sanctuary, bedrooms are also becoming more multifunctional. It’s there that we take a pause with a good book, enjoy a slow morning with a cup of tea, and spend a quiet moment journaling at the end of the day. So get a nice, comfortable chair, place the personal objects you love around you and see how your room transforms into a truly deeply restorative place to relax.
The Bathroom: Your Spa Haven
Running a hot bath with a glass of wine after a long day? What’s better? If you plan on building the perfect retreat, you simply have to embrace the bathroom as your opportunity for a personal spa.
To really make the place live and breathe with tranquillity, we suggest decorating it with natural stones and shells and switching to soap dishes and dispensers made from marble or matte porcelain. The devil’s in the details, so make sure you have plenty of them: soft rugs, heated towel rails, nieces for your favourite skincare, and the softness and beauty of elegant bathroom wall art.
When the world doesn’t seem to stop, our bathrooms become one of the rare places where we can close the door, turn inward and return to ourselves, even if it’s just for a few precious moments.
The Living Room: Peace in Shared Spaces
Yes, the living room is the social core of the house. Yet, even in shared spaces, there are times when retreat and softness are welcomed.
Designers are now turning away from old, formal designs and favouring deep sink-in sofas, low-slung coffee tables, and layered rugs underfoot. The goal now is to invite people to linger, stretch out, and slow down.
The key here is multifunctionality. The living room may be where we gather, but it’s also where we curl up alone with a film, practise yoga, and take quiet moments to ourselves. A successful design will strike a balance between openness and retreat.
The Beauty Hidden in Stillness
Craving intimacy in our interiors means we need to learn to slow down and find the time to ground ourselves by noticing textures, shadows, and the beauty of silence. Here, we’re not striving for perfection; we simply try to be present in the surroundings we love.
In the end, a retreat can be anything: a big revamp or a simple chair in the corner, bathed in afternoon light, with a great book awaiting us in the quiet hour. And perhaps, it’s exactly in such small moments where the luxury of modern design resides.
