How Design Can Transform Your Life: “Spatial Alchemy” with Olga Naiman
In this episode, I talk with Olga Naiman, author of Spatial Alchemy, about how design can help us move through change, break old patterns, and support who we’re becoming. Olga shares how her own journey—starting with something as simple as reupholstering a chair—led her to a deeper understanding of the connection between our homes and our inner lives.
We get into the core idea of spatial alchemy: using design not just to make things look nice, but to reflect and support real emotional shifts. Olga walks us through how small design choices—like moving a desk, upgrading your water glass, or changing what you look at every day—can help us feel more grounded, clear, and aligned.
This isn’t about buying more stuff or getting it “right.” It’s about tuning into how your space is affecting you, and how small shifts can open up real change.
Watch this entire episode on YouTube HERE
KEY TAKEAWAYS
In this episode of Slow Style Home, I sit down with interior designer and author Olga Naiman to talk about her transformational design philosophy: spatial alchemy. Her book, Spatial Alchemy, is one of my top five favorite design books of all time — and for good reason. It’s not about trends, and it’s not a typical design how-to. It’s about how our homes hold emotional weight, reflect our inner world, and can help us shift, grow, and heal.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in your space or unsure how to move forward in life, this conversation is for you.
Design as a Mirror for Your Inner Life
Olga believes our homes are a direct reflection of our inner state, often without us realizing it. She shared a story about how, during the early days of the pandemic, she was living in fear and scarcity. Her styling jobs had disappeared, and she was in the middle of building a new home while renting another. Everything felt uncertain, and it showed up in how she was living.
The turning point? Reupholstering a chair.
Yes, a chair. It might sound small, but it symbolized something bigger: choosing beauty over fear. That one change shifted her energy — and almost immediately, opportunities started showing up. A Washington Post feature followed, and the idea for her book fell into place.
That’s what spatial alchemy is about: making intentional design choices that support the person you’re becoming.
Small Shifts Can Have a Big Impact
You don’t need a new house, or even a new sofa, to change the energy in your home. Olga recommends starting with the things you interact with daily. Ask yourself:
- How does it feel to drink water from this glass?
- Does this chair support me physically and emotionally?
- Is my desk positioned in a way that makes me feel confident and grounded?
For example, Olga once worked at a desk with skinny, wobbly legs — and only later realized it mirrored how scattered and unsupported she felt in her business. When she replaced it with a desk that had thick, sturdy legs, she immediately felt more grounded. That kind of alignment between design and emotion is at the heart of her work.
Break the Pattern Before You Buy Something New
Before jumping into shopping mode, Olga suggests doing a “pattern disruption” in your home. That means removing items that represent outdated versions of yourself — things tied to identities, relationships, or beliefs you’ve outgrown.
She told the story of Nicole, a client navigating life after a painful divorce. Nicole was sleeping on her sofa because she couldn’t bear to be in the bedroom she once shared with her ex. Instead of buying new furniture, Olga helped her reclaim space by repurposing her guest room into a new bedroom and transforming the old one into a yoga and meditation space. That shift allowed Nicole to grieve, heal, and eventually move back into her original bedroom — on her own terms.
Design for Emotional Balance
Olga introduces six core emotional energies that show up in our homes and lives:
- Stability & Fluidity
- Activity & Passivity
- Connection & Privacy
Most of us need a balance of all of these, and often the imbalance shows up in subtle ways, like feeling overwhelmed, scattered, overstimulated, or stagnant.
In one example, a family in upstate New York was struggling to feel rooted in their home. The furniture was mismatched and flimsy, and the layout wasn’t functional. Olga brought in grounding elements like solid furniture and unified colors. She also created two distinct living areas from one large room: a cozy, dark-painted family room for connection, and a bright, plant-filled solarium for lightness and creativity.
She even helped the family reframe a “bad” design purchase — a big, bulky sectional they didn’t love — by using bold wallpaper to draw the eye elsewhere and add new life to the space.
Your Home Is Always in Conversation with You
One of my favorite takeaways from this conversation was the idea that our homes are constantly “speaking” to us — we’ve just stopped listening.
Maybe you’ve been staring at the same piece of art for years that no longer reflects your taste. Or maybe your office chair makes your body ache, but you’ve told yourself it’s not worth replacing.
Start there.
When we shift small things, we begin to notice how those changes make us feel. And from there, we start to reclaim authorship of our environment — and our lives.
Beauty + Purpose = Power
Olga and I both share a deep belief that beauty is not frivolous — it’s essential. When you place something beautiful in your space with intention, it becomes more than decor. It becomes a visual reminder of the energy you want to invite in.
She calls these “power objects.” One of hers? A beautifully painted basketball placed in her office to symbolize play — something she wanted more of in her life.
This kind of intentional beauty can help us feel more joy, more clarity, more ease — all through simple objects that resonate with purpose.
Design as an Act of Self-Worth
At its core, Spatial Alchemy isn’t just about design. It’s about self-worth, presence, and becoming the person you’re meant to be.
Whether it’s upgrading your dish sponge, moving a chair, or rethinking an entire room, the heart of Olga’s work is this: how you feel in your space matters. And when you make choices that support how you want to feel, your life starts to change in quiet but meaningful ways.
Listen to the full episode or watch on YouTube for more stories, design strategies, and thought-provoking insights from Olga. And if you’ve been feeling stuck or unsure where to start with your home, start small. Start with something you touch every day. Notice how it makes you feel. And let that be the beginning.
Until Next Time
-Zandra
Links Mentioned In Episode
Photos Provided By: Olga Naiman
