I'm a Senior Project Manager for a performance marketing agency, with a freelance side job in creative production. I've lived in London for more than six years now, in six different homes.

Like many, I’ve lived in rented accommodation for many years. In most cases it’s been shared flats or houses, where completely separate lives have to coexist, your own things jammed into a single room. Much of the décor and furniture would come with the property (usually in a state of disrepair) or would be picked up cheaply from somewhere or other. Then I had the opportunity to live in the best rented flat I can imagine, just me and my partner at the time. Beautiful, clean, flooded with natural light, it was a completely blank canvas. Only the best would do. ‘The best’ meant things that enriched our home life. Everything was hand picked carefully. Furniture, plants, art, all bought to fit together with the space, with our happiness and with our existing belongings. Never have I lived in a place where I felt so at peace so quietly. As we continued to choose items for the home, it felt more and more personal, peaceful and mentally enriching.

As it turns out, I had to move out of that flat and into one that was a less spectacular blank canvas. But I’ve kept hold of everything I learned. Now I think carefully about every purchase for my home. How does it make me feel? How do I make the space work in harmony with my mental state. How do I make the most of the comparatively limited light? How do I use art to break up the monotony of magnolia walls – introduce colour without creating a visual riot? How do I use textiles and plants to create comforting calm, warmth and yet freshness? It’s a journey of discovery in every new space. But it’s completely worthwhile, because I’m not just discovering the rhythm of the space, but the importance of my own self care.

Adam. F