It happens to the best of us, you find yourself in a rut, and no matter where you look, you can’t find inspiration.It’s a common obstacle interior designers face, and if you’re in this position, it may be time for a mental break to boost your creativity.
New sounds, smells, tastes, and scenery work wonders to revitalize the brain.Below are three design retreatsto get your creative wheels spinning.
Visit A New City
Nothing spurs creativity like being in a new city. The culture, people, restaurants, architecture–experience what’s going on in a place different from your current surroundings. National or international, exploring several days in another metropolitan area is sure to give you new ideas for projects.
Think SoHo in NYC, London’s Brompton district, and other design-friendly cities such as San Francisco,Rome, and Montreal. Make a point of finding the design district in the city you visit to get you in the design head space. Scope out furniture stores, tile shops, lighting showrooms, even different hotel lobbies for ideas. Different public areas will shed new light and insight as to how these spaces were put together.
Outside of design districts, visit a variety of other neighbourhoods in the city to see the difference in resources, space, and what can be done no matter the size. Walking around a new city fosters a connection with others and provides a new perspective on different walks of life.
Explore an Exotic Destination
Leave your current cultural bubble for something truly outside of the daily scope. Think exotic retreats: South America, the Maldives, Zambia, Costa Rica, Thailand, Indonesia, Morocco, Mexico–these are just a few options.
A place completely outside of your normal comfort zone should provide plenty of areas to look. Locations that differ vastly from your own backyard have a lot to offer in landscape and scenery. The colours and textures of an exotic place can,in ways unlike your current geography, refresh your mind to generate inspiration. Choosing destinations possible only in the imagination will surely leave your mind racing with new designs.
Getaways that include a little culture will allow full immersion in the history and culture of the surroundings that defines these places. If it’s just the beach that calls your name, pick somewhere that’s rejuvenating and relaxing. That way, you can take in the surroundings and appreciate how to bring these ideas back home.
On a Budget? Play Tourist
A plane ticket or luxurious getaway may not be in the budget right now. That’s okay because there’s plenty of local ways to get creative with design retreats. Many of us wander through our own surroundings without actually paying attention to them. Take a short trip to a part of the city you don’t often visit. It’s time to take in your local neighbourhood through a new lens.
Consider a mini vacation atthat nice hotel you’ve walked by dozens of times. This gives the feeling of being away without having to drop too much money on a full getaway. When you feel like you’re away, you’ll be able to experience your city with renewed appreciation.Venture into buildings you usually scurry past, and stop in public spaces and neighbourhoods you normally have no reason to see.
Sometimes a creative boost doesn’t mean traveling halfway across the world. It just needs fresh eyes on the same scene. Getting away–even if it’s a hotel in your home city, gets you out of your daily frame of mindto put anew perspective on a familiar space.
Regardless of the destination, take pictures and make notes on these design retreats so you don’t forget what inspired you. You’ll come back relaxed, ready to be productive, and all set to get those ideas off the ground.
