Now that the tree is gone and the lights are down, you might be missing that holiday magic. Maybe the desire to keep those New Year’s resolutions has begun to fade. If this sounds like you, take heart. The prescription for success is accessible; once you truly understand the mechanisms at work, you are halfway there.
Unbeknownst to many, our environments play a key role in helping us to reach our goals. The transformative power of interior design and its proven power to shape our lives is the cornerstone of our philosophy at Pygmalion’s Pedestal.
In fact, our tagline, Expect the Effect, is rooted in the psychological phenomenon that higher expectations yield greater results known as the Pygmalion Effect. Conversely, low expectations typically yield poor performance, known as the Golem Effect.
Both the Pygmalion and Golem Effects can be used wittingly or unwittingly. Either the Pygmalion Effect will uplift you, or the Golem Effect will derail you. Beauty awakens the soul to its potential. It triggers positive emotional responses in the brain and influences our personal performance. In our illustration, instead of a teacher or parent affirming, it is the environment that is encouraging you, influencing your performance. The inclination to goodness, which enables positive outcomes, is being articulated by a homes interior design. This is why we believe that beauty is not something that would be nice to have, but something that we need to have. When we experience beauty, our brains release dopamine–the “feel-good” chemical–and stress hormones begin to drop. To borrow a humorous line spoken by Legally Blonde darling, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon)
“Happy people don’t kill their husbands – they just don’t!”
Once you understand how your home surroundings influence you, you can take steps to change them, making your home a welcoming oasis you hate to leave. Imagine looking forward to inviting guests for dinner instead of feeling overwhelmed.
To help you get started, here are a few of my design tips for 2026.
1. Reevaluate existing home furnishings before investing in new home accessories. Be strategic, not impulsive, lest you wind up with a group of disjointed elements that in and of
themselves, might be beautiful, but do not work together. Don’t buy anything just because it is a bargain. Make sure you love it and it will work with your existing surroundings. Chachkas have their place, but too many can be off-putting. Consider re-purposing and/or purging what no longer works.
2. To create the illusion of larger rooms and taller ceilings, paint the interior walls and ceiling using the color drenching method: paint the envelope (ceiling and walls) and trim the same color.
3. Keep styles cohesive. While some styles we love do work together, others do not. For
example, we would not blend modern farmhouse with art deco. However, art deco and mid-
century modern do get along. There should be a cohesive sense of style or synchronicity
throughout the house.
4. When remodeling, approach trends with caution. Most contractors are not designers. Unless indicated otherwise, they are likely to recommend what they have quick access to, or whatever is trendy at the time. This is not necessarily what is best for you and your home environment, which should stand the test of time. As an interior designer my job is to
advocate for my clients and execute their personal vision. Would you hire your dentist to cut your hair? They are completely different roles.
5. Never settle. Design slowly and intentionally by investing in at least one “wow statement
piece” rather than trying to curate everything all at once. This could be a high-end sofa,
striking coffee table, or a beautiful light fixture, for example. As they say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Be okay with negative space – and have faith that the right piece will come, often when you least expect it.
If you get stuck, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Our team at Pygmalions Pedestal can assist with an array of services, from a complete remodel to a micro-makeover in a special room. De-cluttering is great, but it won’t satiate our spirit. As the Russian author Dostoesvsky wrote in “The Idiot”, “Beauty will save the world.” We need beauty!
