Creating Space: The Art of Making Room for What Matters
Every year, instead of setting resolutions, I choose a word or phrase that serves as my North Star—a guiding principle to shape my focus for the year ahead. This year, I’ve selected Creating Space as the phrase that will direct my thoughts, actions, and vision for 2025, one that will also act as a beacon for our team and projects. For me, creating space is about intentionally making room—whether it’s clearing mental clutter, finding time to recharge, or helping our clients create homes that reflect a new chapter in their lives.
For many of us, the new year represents a fresh start. Turning the page on the calendar always feels significant—my late-year birthday on December 31 adds a personal layer of reflection. I use the metaphorical and actual shift as a chance to reset, embrace new beginnings, and consider how I want to move forward—both personally and professionally.
Creating space resonates deeply with me. On a professional level, it influences the projects we take on at Glenna Stone Interiors. Life changes often inspire our clients to renovate their homes. Their spaces become the embodiment of a new season in life, offering an opportunity to align surroundings with aspirations. Our leadership team will use the theme to guide roundtable discussions, refining our approach to design projects and helping clients make room for what matters most—functionally, aesthetically, and emotionally.
Personally, creating space is about carving out the mental and physical room we need to thrive. In a world where so much feels rushed and redundant, I believe creating space fosters creativity, clarity, and fresh perspectives. Often, the best ideas emerge when I give myself permission to step back and recharge.
One way I create mental space is during solo drives. I skip the radio, podcasts and other distractions, letting my mind appreciate the quiet. I now look forward to those trips where I can ask myself, “How can this be done better?” or spending time future-casting with “Where do we go from here?” Others may find clarity through meditation, fresh air, exercise, or even quiet moments in the shower. For bigger resets, I turn to travel—removing myself from the day-to-day allows me to see new perspectives and unlock creativity that can be hampered by agendas, tasks and troubleshooting. I’ve found that being in unfamiliar surroundings insists that your brain is fully present and open to new inputs and ideas.
If you’re looking to reset for the year ahead, I encourage you to try this practice. Choose a word or phrase that feels meaningful to you—one that serves as a focus for your growth. Remember, progress is an evolution; it doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient, check in with yourself, and embrace the journey. Most importantly, find joy along the way—aligning happiness with the journey makes the practice that much better.
For me, Creating Space is about opportunity—fostering both personal and professional growth. By intentionally making room to reflect and recharge, my team and I can approach our work with fresh energy, helping clients embrace their own new beginnings. I look forward to where this phrase takes me—and the Glenna Stone Interiors team—throughout 2025.
Glenna
Check out last month’s perspective on Gratitude and Design: A Year of Reflection, Growth, and Joy at Glenna Stone Interiors here.
Glenna Stone Interiors is an award-winning Philadelphia interior design firm serving Philadelphia, the Main Line, and surrounding cities. Utilizing her background and training in interior design, architecture, and engineering, Glenna specializes in creating interiors for residential and commercial design settings. We invite you to visit our website, view our portfolio, and catch up on the latest interior design concepts in our perspectives!