After staying in more than forty holiday rentals over an eighteen-month period, one thing became clear to me about creating a space others connect with.

The most memorable weren’t necessarily the biggest, newest, or most expensive.

They felt considered. They had a point of view. They seemed to know who they were for.

Whether you’re shaping a holiday property or refining your own home, the same principles apply.

Here are three principles for creating spaces people connect with:
1. Knowing who you’re welcoming
2. Clarifying your vision
3. Designing with confidence.

1. Creating Connection: Be Clear About Who You’re Welcoming

Every space carries an emotional tone.

The most memorable ones are created with a specific person in mind, not an abstract “guest”, but a real, imagined individual whose needs, rhythms, and preferences you understand.

This isn’t about demographics. It’s about resonance.

When you are clear on who you’re designing for, decisions become easier. You also become clearer about who the space is not for, which is just as important.

That clarity creates ease, for you and for the people who arrive.

2. Let the Vision Come Before the Detail

Design works best when it begins with a feeling rather than a finish.

Before choosing colours, furniture, or layouts, it helps to step back and ask what you want this space to express. About your values, your lifestyle, and the experience you want others to have within it.

Without this grounding vision, it’s easy to be pulled in too many directions. With it, decisions feel steadier and more intentional.

The space starts to take shape with less effort and far less second-guessing, and you’re well on your way to creating a space others genuinely connect with.

3. Allow the Space to Stand in Its Own Way

People often believe that standing out requires doing more.

In reality, it usually requires doing less, but doing it with confidence.

When a space reflects a clear point of view, it doesn’t need to compete. The right people recognise themselves in it. The connection feels natural rather than forced.

Just as we’re drawn to certain people because of who they are, we’re drawn to spaces that carry a distinct and authentic presence.

A Closing Thought

The spaces that work best, whether homes or places we share with others, are rarely the result of clever positioning.

They’re the result of alignment.

When a space reflects who you are and what you value now, it quietly attracts people who connect with the same things.

And everything else begins to fall into place.

Ready to explore this further? 

The Sanctuary Alignment Guide walks you through understanding what your space currently reflects and where alignment might want to shift. No decisions. No pressure. Just clarity.
Download HERE