Now that we’ve all spent some ample time at home over the past few months, some of us might be looking to freshen or spruce up our spaces. One way to do so is to curate a mindful living space — one that’s inviting, calming, and comfortable to be in. Enter — Noor Wadhwani of NOWAD HOME — this interior design extraordinaire is here to share with us some tips for creating the ideal mindful living space on our own.
About Noor
Noor, the creative mind behind Nowad Home, grew up in Delhi, India. She moved to the United States 11 years ago and over the past decade, she and her husband have relocated on average, once a year, to a whole new city and state, all along with their two children. Each move has inspired her to create a new home for her family, exploring new design ideas and ways of living, along the way. Noor has creatively used her name and documented their nomadic journey through her design company, Nowad Home.
Noor’s Guiding Principles
Going into the fourth month of a global pandemic, we could all use some design inspiration and Noor’s “Nowadic” journey provides just that. Her designs invoke a feeling of living a slower, more mindful, and present life. They induce a desire to pause, reflect, look within, and sip that coffee a little slower, for just another moment.
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Over the past few years, Noor has worked on renovating numerous apartments in Hoboken and neighboring towns and suggests that big or small, your home should reflect your personality. She strongly believes that transforming a cookie-cutter home into a home starts with intersecting functionality and personality. She recalls using a budget as a strength rather than an obstacle while working with a first time home buyer in Hoboken recently. “Get creative with materials and their applications. Shop high and low, invest in anchor pieces that can move with you over time,” Noor shares.
Noor leaves a part of her in every space she designs. She puts her heart and soul into the design process. Her expertise, however, goes far beyond residential design. Noor ventures into commercial spaces just as comfortably as she switches up homes. As the interior design for “The Village” play space and cafe in Edgewater, she didn’t want the space to be just another play space. She conceived the entire design concept while keeping “family” in mind. She wanted to spark the imagination of young minds from the minute they walked into space.
Following in Noor’s Footsteps
If you’re re-designing your space, Noor has some food for thought to share.
She suggests using this time to declutter your mind and your home. Surround yourself with things that bring joy and instill positivity. Make functionality a priority and then layer in meaningful elements that evoke the senses. Small details like lighting a candle, adding some fresh, new art, bringing in fresh cut flowers from a local market, and playing music can instill wellness into your home. She lives by the Vivienne Westwood quote, “buy less, choose well.” In a world that is more connected than ever, Noor thinks it is important to check in with ourselves and ensure we work towards less “house” and more “home.”
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An avid believer that there is always a story behind local brands and heart and soul in their products, Noor recommends shopping local. Her local favorites are Beethoven’s Veranda for vintage vases, and freshly cut greens & The Village Edgewater for a curated selection of diverse dolls and wooden toys.
Noor and her family currently live in a beautiful home in NJ. Will they stay or will they continue their “Nowadic” Journey? Follow @Nowad.home to find out!
