ELEMENTAL

JUNE 2025 ISSUE

WATER: Fluid Spaces

In Stillness, There Is Flow

There is a silent wisdom in water, the way it moves without resistance, adapts without effort, and reflects without judgment. This month, we turn our attention to Water as an elemental design muse. As summer begins to stir and light softens, Fluid Spaces becomes a guiding concept: one that invites softness, reflection, and emotional release within our interiors.

Just as water curves and dances around its surroundings, so too can our homes be shaped by its essence, open, calm, ever-changing. This is not a call for blue-on-blue repetition, but rather a deeper inquiry into how space flows. Through mirrored surfaces, undulating forms, and translucent layers, we craft interiors that don’t just look calm, they feel it.

Palette: Oceanic Serenity. Inspired by foggy mornings and sea foam evenings:

Soft Cerulean
Sea Glass Green
Oyster Shell Gray
Cloud White
Transparent Blues & Iridescent Neutrals

These colors evoke cleansing, healing, and introspection, all characteristics of water’s emotional intelligence. Paired with neutrals or warm metals, the palette becomes modern and serene.

Moodboard: Emotional Stillness & Movement

Mood Words:
Calm · Reflective · Intuitive · Expansive · Cleansing

Scent Pairing:

  • Eucalyptus – clarity and breath

  • Sea Salt – cleansing and freshness

  • Jasmine – dreamy and fluid

Materials & Textures

  • Rippled or wave-patterned fabrics – on throws, bedding, curtains

  • Glass – clear or frosted, to play with light

  • Polished concrete or tumbled stone – grounding yet smooth

  • Shimmery tiles – pearl, shell, or mother-of-pearl finishes

  • Lacquered woods and glossy finishes – reflecting light like water's surface

Introduce mirrors with soft or curved frames, acrylic furniture, or glass shelving to maintain visual openness while bending the light throughout the day.

Key Design Approaches: Let It Flow

  1. Open Layouts
    Reduce visual blockages. Allow energy (and bodies) to move with ease from one space to another. Think furniture placement that mimics meandering rivers, not rigid grids.

  2. Curves Over Angles
    Choose circular dining tables, rounded-back chairs, arched doorways, or wave-edged mirrors. Curves bring softness and encourage emotional ease.

  3. Reflective & Translucent Surfaces
    Use materials that interact with light, think glass, mirror, high-gloss tile. These mimic water’s reflective nature and expand perceived space.

  4. Flowing Fabrics
    Install sheer or gauzy curtains that catch the breeze, evoking movement even when the room is still.

  5. Intentional Water Feature (Optional)
    A small indoor tabletop fountain or gentle wall fountain adds literal water energy and a meditative soundscape.

Designing with the water element is an invitation to slow down, let go, and move with grace. Whether you’re adding a sea-glass candleholder or reimagining your living room’s layout, allow space for flexibility and flow. This isn’t about being trendy, it’s about being present.

And when in doubt, ask: Does this space breathe?

Sources & Inspirations

“Wabi-Sabi Welcome” – Julie Pointer Adams (Artisan Books)
“The Architecture of Bathing: Body, Landscape, Art” – Christie Pearson (MIT Press)
“How to Create a Calming Home With Water-Inspired Design” – Livingetc
“Interior Design Inspired by Water” – Design Milk
“The Psychology of Blue in Interior Design” – The Spruce
“Calm Spaces: How to Design for Stillness and Flow” – House & Garden
Aromatherapy & Scent Influence on Mood – National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy
Images from Pinterest