It Starts With Home

We talk a lot about “creating calm” and “finding peace,” but have you ever noticed how the unfinished parts of your home: the half-hung frame, the cluttered nightstand, the paint swatches still taped to the wall - can quietly weigh on your energy?It turns out, there’s science behind that. In 1927, psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik discovered that our brains remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones, a phenomenon known as the Zeigarnik Effect.Translation? Your brain literally keeps a mental tab open until the loop is closed.In this episode, I dive into how this simple yet powerful truth connects to the way we live, decorate, and feel in our homes, and how finishing even one small task can bring you closer to sanctuary.✨ In this episode, I explore:The psychology behind why unfinished spaces drain usHow to turn completion into a form of self-careWhy closing loops creates peace (and regulates your nervous system)The connection between Marie Kondo’s “spark joy” philosophy and energetic clarityFive practical ways to cultivate sanctuary with intentionThis episode is your reminder that sanctuary isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence. It’s about creating psychological closure so your mind (and body) can finally rest.🌿 Resources Mentioned:✨ Free Masterclass - From Inspiration to Action: Design a Space That Feels Like YouRSVP HERE → https://calendly.com/ariel-arts/interior-design-masterclass-x-ariel-arts/2025-10-25T11:00:00-07:00?month=2025-10&date=2025-10-25📞 Book a Call with Me - Let’s talk about your space and what you’re creatingGET YOUR SPOT HERE → https://calendly.com/ariel-arts/quick-chat-with-ariel?month=2025-10 📖 My Book - Your Space Made Simple GRAB YOUR COPY →https://www.amazon.com/dp/195096891X/ref=asc_df_195096891X1760266800000?tag=43544-arielarts-20&creative=395261&creativeASIN=195096891X&linkCode=asn&ascsubtag=srctok-9370861a2a1e0428&btn_ref=srctok-9370861a2a1e0428💛 Follow along for more home therapy, design psychology, and real-life transformation:Instagram → @arielartsTikTok → @arielartsWebsite → www.arielarts.studio🪞 It Starts With Home is about more than interiors, it’s about healing through space. Each week, I explore the connection between design, energy, and personal growth, helping you turn your home into a reflection of who you’re becoming.

Ever wonder what really happens behind the scenes of interior design projects? In this episode, I’m spilling my client secrets — the honest, funny, and sometimes emotional truths I’ve learned working in people’s homes. From the universal junk drawer to the sacred objects every family holds onto, this is the side of design that never makes it onto Pinterest.I’ll share the quirks, confessions, and real stories that prove your home doesn’t have to look “perfect” to feel like you.And if you’re ready to take this deeper, I’m hosting a free Interior Design Masterclass on October 25th at 11 AM PST. We’ll talk about how to make your space reflect who you are, with tips you can actually use right away. Don’t miss it!!RSVP HERE: https://calendly.com/ariel-arts/interior-design-masterclass-x-ariel-arts

What happens when you strip your home down to nothing but a mattress on the floor? In this episode, I share my journey of living in an empty apartment, selling my TV, and discovering what the “void” can teach us about design, creativity, and intentional living.For most of my life, I’ve lived in completed spaces - decorated bedrooms, furnished apartments, and styled homes. But now I’ve chosen something different: to live in an empty apartment without the comfort of a finished room, to remove distractions like the TV, and to sit with the discomfort of space as a blank canvas. This decision has led me to uncover new truths about design and about myself.This is not just an episode about interior design. It is about how we live, how we create, and how we connect with our spaces. So often, we rush to fill the void - to buy the sofa set, to mount the TV, to decorate quickly so a room feels “done.” But design isn’t about speed or perfection. Design is about listening. It is about noticing how we want to feel in our homes, and then carefully choosing pieces that reflect that feeling.Living in the void has forced me to slow down and reflect on how I want my home to serve me. Without the TV as a focal point, I’ve noticed deeper conversations and more intentional energy flowing through my space. Without furniture, I’ve had to confront boredom and stillness, and I’ve realized how powerful those states can be for creativity.In this episode, you’ll hear me talk about:• The lessons of an unfinished space and why discomfort can be the starting point for transformation• How decision fatigue shows up in interior design and how to reframe your approach from individual choices to holistic design thinking• The power of the story behind your furniture, art, and objects, and why energy and intentionality matter when creating a home• Why living without a TV has opened up new ways of connecting with friends and myself• What it means to design with all six senses and how music, scent, texture, and color all contribute to how a space feels• Small shifts you can try today - moving furniture, experimenting with silence, adding intentional objects - to unlock creativity in your homeI also share about my summer hiatus, my recent design projects, and what sitting in this “void” is teaching me as a designer and as a person. My hope is that wherever you are on your design journey - whether you are moving into your first apartment, refreshing a bedroom, or navigating a full renovation - this conversation helps you reimagine what your space can be.Too often, we approach design as a checklist. Buy the sofa. Find the rug. Hang the art. Check the boxes and move on. But our homes are not meant to be styled showrooms. They are living reflections of who we are. When we slow down and approach design with intention, we begin to see our homes not as finished products, but as mirrors of our identity and our growth.The void teaches patience. It teaches us to live with less, to notice what we miss, and to discover what we truly value. From there, the design becomes not just functional, but deeply personal. It is about creating a home that reflects who you are today and supports who you are becoming.Read my latest Substack essay on creativity and hidden gems: https://arielarts.substack.com/Order my book Your Space Made Simple: https://amzn.to/3KuTkK2Learn more about Space Therapy: https://arielarts.studio/services/space-therapy/Follow along on Instagram @arielarts for design inspiration and behind-the-scenes updates

n this heartfelt episode, interior designer and author Ariel Magidson dives into a unique approach to designing your home when you're feeling stuck: externalization. Learn how to create a space by designing for your higher self, future version, or bestie—even when you’re in a season of doubt or transition.🎁 Free Download: [Find Your Style in 5 Pins]→ The 5-minute visual exercise that helps you stop doom scrolling and start making aligned design decisions: https://courses.arielarts.studio/Style-in-5-Pins✨ What You’ll Learn:Why designing for yourself can feel so hard (and what to do instead)How to remove emotional overwhelm from the design processThe power of mood boards and visual anchorsA simple 3-step process to design with clarity and intention🌿 Interior Design meets Emotional Wellbeing 🌿This is for anyone craving a space that feels like home—inside and out.

Burnout doesn’t just live in your body — it shows up in your home. In this vulnerable and grounding episode, Ariel opens up about her personal experience with burnout and the quiet power of creating a space that supports your nervous system.You’ll learn how to:Recognize the early signs of burnout through your environmentUse small, sensory-based rituals to regulate your nervous systemCreate a low-effort, high-impact sanctuary (without needing a full renovation)Rebuild your energy with one tiny task at a timeSupport yourself through burnout with intentional design that nurtures your high and low seasonsWhether you're in the thick of it, crawling out, or trying to prevent burnout altogether, this episode offers tangible, gentle tools for using your home as a cocoon for healing.✨ Because it all starts with home.🔗 Mentioned:Book: Your Space Made SimplePrevious episode on the 5 senses: https://youtu.be/ha2smM0PAZQ?si=lSg_XKWY3cc0pIJH

Welcome to Episode 9 of It Starts With Home! Today we’re creating the ultimate spa-like bedroom, a space that feels calming, intentional, and deeply you. I’ll show you how to move beyond Pinterest-perfect and build a space that actually supports your wellness through texture, scent, movement, lighting, and your own intuition.We’ll talk:How to define your version of calmWhy texture > pattern (every time)Lighting tips for instant cozinessUsing all six senses to build emotional connectionThe #1 step most people skip that makes the biggest impactAnd if you're feeling stuck, I’ve got you . . . my design course From Doom Scroll to Design Plan will help you create a space that feels like you. ✨→ https://courses.arielarts.studio/doom-scroll-to-design-plan-fullLet’s design a space you actually want to live in.🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and tag me with your spa bedroom transformation!

Ready to finally pull your home together, without the overwhelm? In this episode, I’m walking you through my signature design process that helps every client go from scattered ideas to a space that feels like them. We’ll talk about:How to start with emotion (not style)Why layout comes before mood boardsThe key anchor pieces to choose firstHow to layer in soul + personalityWhether you’re moving, renovating, or just stuck in the doom scroll, this is the grounded, feel-first process that always works.🎧 Listen to the podcast: It Starts With Home📘 Grab my book: https://amzn.to/4lDcfQf🎁 Freebie – Find Your Style in 5 Pins: https://courses.arielarts.studio/Style-in-5-Pins💻 Course – From Doom Scroll to Design Plan: https://courses.arielarts.studio/doom-scroll-to-design-plan-fullIf this episode helped you or sparked a design idea, send me a message or share a pic, I’d love to see it ✨

Ever walk into your space and think something just feels off You have bought the furniture, you have styled the shelves, but the space still doesn’t feel finished I hear this all the time and I have been there tooThe truth is most people are making the same handful of design mistakes without even realizing it In today’s episode I am sharing the 10 most common design slip-ups I see again and again from awkward rug sizes to the wrong lighting to skipping the planning phase entirely and I will walk you through exactly how to fix themBecause when your home feels aligned intentional and grounded your whole life starts to settle These simple shifts will have your space feeling more elevated cozy and like you no more guessing no more second guessing just a home that finally feels doneInside this episodeHow to hang artwork at the perfect height yes there is a formulaThe secret to choosing the right rug size for your spaceWhy layered lighting makes all the differenceMixing wood tones like a designerPlanning your space so it actually works for how you liveThe styling details most people forgetHow to design from alignment not trendsIf you are stuck in the endless scroll for inspiration but your space still feels unfinished this one is for youMentioned in this episodeMy book Your Space Made Simple all the layout rules and sizing guides made easy https://amzn.to/4lDcfQfMy course Doom Scroll to Design Plan your roadmap from scattered inspo to a space that feels done https://courses.arielarts.studio/doom-scroll-to-design-plan-full

Did you know your home can heal you? In this episode, I’m recording from my dad’s newly designed space (hello, proud designer moment) and sharing the unexpected ways your home reflects your nervous system, your self-worth, and the version of you that’s still becoming. We’ll talk about:How your space can help regulate your nervous systemThe sneaky connection between your home and self-worthWhy every room is a mirror and how to make it reflect who you really areMy take on ‘design with a capital D’ and tiny, powerful home ritualsThe real reason I still don’t have my dream chocolate velvet sofaWhether your home feels supportive or draining right now, this one will help you reconnect with your space and yourself.→ Ready to create a space that feels like you? Check out my course: https://courses.arielarts.studio/Doom-Scroll-to-Design-Plan

Not sure how to start designing your home? In this episode, interior designer Ariel Magidson shares her proven method to transform any empty space into a finished, personalized home. Learn how to design with confidence, avoid decision fatigue, and finally create a space that reflects how you want to feel, without the overwhelm. Perfect for anyone stuck with a blank room, new home, or unfinished space.You’ll learn:✔️ How to design an empty room step by step✔️ The #1 mistake people make when starting their space✔️ Why feeling comes before furniture✔️ Ariel’s no-fail interior design formula for beginners✨ Free Visualization Tool: ⁠https://arielarts.studio/resource/visualize-your-space/⁠✨ Learn more: ⁠https://courses.arielarts.studio/doom-scroll-to-design-plan-full

This one's vulnerable, babe. I’m recording from my dad’s freshly designed home, but back in my own space . . . I’m sitting in the raw middle of a breakup. In this episode, I open up about the transition, the emptiness, and the quiet beauty of rebuilding home after a chapter ends.Whether you're moving through heartbreak, shifting into solo living, or simply feeling like your space doesn’t quite fit anymore, this is your reminder that emptiness isn’t a failure. It’s fertile. It's a beginning.I’m sharing:Why the “mattress on the floor” phase is sacredThe power of anchoring your next chapter in one small object (like a throw pillow)How to create ritual and safety when your nervous system is in survival modeThe one thing I deeply regret not doing in my last space, and how I’m doing it differently now✨ Resources mentioned in this episode:🛋️ My design course From Doom Scroll to Design Plan → https://courses.arielarts.studio/doom-scroll-to-design-plan-full🌿 My free grounding visualization → https://arielarts.studio/resource/visualize-your-space/You are not behind. You are rebuilding. And babe . . . it’s going to be beautiful.

In this raw and real episode of It Starts With Home, Ariel opens up about the five most common interior design mistakes she sees — and has made herself. From rushing to furnish a space to falling into second-guessing spirals, this episode is your no-fluff permission slip to slow down, trust your gut, and design with intention. Whether you're sitting in an empty room or surrounded by pieces that just don’t feel quite right, Ariel walks you through each misstep with humor, honesty, and practical tips to help you shift into confidence and alignment.✨ Topics covered:Why your space might feel “off” even when it’s fullThe real reason decision fatigue is holding you backHow to stop designing piece by piece and start telling a storyWhy ignoring your senses is the #1 reason your space doesn’t feel doneThe personal regret Ariel still carries — and what she’d do differently💡 Plus:Grab the freebie Find Your Style in 5 Pins, and register for Ariel’s free masterclass — Pulled Together, Finally — to go from scattered inspo to a space that feels like you.👉 Register here: https://form.typeform.com/to/ncfL9An6

Ever feel like your home is draining you — emotionally, mentally, or even physically?In this episode of It Starts With Home, I’m sharing the real reason your space might be holding you back — and how to fix it (without the pressure to be “done”). This one’s personal.I open up about my ADHD diagnosis during the pandemic, how clutter triggered anxiety, and the tiny design shifts that helped me feel grounded again.💫 We’ll talk about:How your space affects your energy, habits, and emotional healthWhat “slow dopamine” is and how to design for itWhy hotel lobbies and vacation vibes changed how I show up at homeMy one-item-a-day method to move through overwhelm🎟️ Free Masterclass — Pulled Together, FinallyHappening June 17 at 10am PT — get my exact method for designing a space that feels like you.👉 Register: https://form.typeform.com/to/ncfL9An6📘 Want more? Check out my book Your Space Made Simple More at arielarts.com

I’m Ariel Magidson — interior designer, author of Your Space Made Simple, founder of Ariel Arts (@arielarts), and your cozy corner design bestie. I’ve worked with clients around the globe — from Fortune 500 headquarters to real-life apartments and tiny studios — and through it all, one truth always emerges:✨ Our homes are a mirror of who we are — and who we’re becoming.This podcast isn’t just about design tips (though you’ll get plenty of those). It’s about how your space holds your story — the messy, magical, healing parts — and how transforming your home can help you transform your life.In each episode, we explore:The energetics of space — how your home affects your mood, nervous system, and habitsHolistic design principles — blending intention, emotion, and functionalityClient transformations and personal stories — because real homes > Pinterest-perfect onesAccessible tools and rituals — so you can create beauty on any budgetAnd most importantly — your own inner voiceWhether you’re a design lover, a renter with a tiny budget, a creative soul in transition, or someone simply craving more meaning in your space — this podcast is for you.💫 Episode 1: The Design Advice No One’s Talking AboutIn this first episode, I talk honestly about why I started this podcast — and what I felt was missing in the design world. From rearranging my childhood bedroom to designing global offices, going viral on TikTok, and writing a book, this episode lays the foundation.I didn’t want to make another podcast about throw pillows or color trends. I wanted a space to talk about how your home can heal you.🎧 Listen if you’ve ever thought:“My space doesn’t feel like me.”“I want to love my home, but I don’t know where to start.”“I’m tired of fake-perfect homes that don’t match real life.”“Can a home really support my mental health and growth?”✨ I believe yes. A hundred times yes.You deserve a home that feels like home — right now. And I’m here to help you get there, one episode at a time.📖 Grab the book:Your Space Made Simple — a recipe-style guide to designing a space that feels like youLink: https://rstyle.me/+bd6135KdyfF0Q4-p00GZWw🎟️ Join my FREE Masterclass:“Pulled Together, Finally” — happening live on June 17 at 10am PSTSave your spot: https://form.typeform.com/to/ncfL9An6📬 Say hi or explore more:Visit: https://www.arielarts.studio

I created It Starts With Home to talk about the things we don’t always say out loud. How our space holds us, reflects us, and sometimes even heals us.This short teaser is a little love note about why I started this, what you can expect, and how your home can be more than just a place you live.If you're craving a space that actually feels like you - you're in the right place.I’m so glad you’re here. 💛