Discover Healthier Living Through Conscious Home Design with Talor Stewart, Architect
Dec 18, 2025
Our homes quietly shape who we become. I recently sat down with Talor Stewart who iis a licensed architect with over 25 years experience. His book Conscious Home Design has hit the #1 best seller list in 7 countries so far.
Specializing in single and multi-family homes and intentional communities, Talor works with clients all over the United States and select places internationally. He also offers a certification program for other designers and architects to learn the CHD method to help their clients apply the life changing principles wherever they are.
This is a brief overview of our conversation, and some of the nuggets of wisdom Talor Stewart shared with us:
"Through Conscious Home Design, I intentionally use my space to support my health, happiness, relationships, and the future version of myself I’m growing into." Talor
What Conscious Home Design Means
Conscious Home Design begins with a question: Who am I becoming, and how can my home help shape that future? Instead of focusing only on décor or trends, I look at how each room impacts my mood, habits, and connections over time. When my environment makes the right choices easier, I depend less on willpower and more on design.
Buildings exert a slow, steady pressure on us—the colors we live with, the light we wake up to, and the clutter we tolerate quietly influence our energy and self-image. Since my body responds to my surroundings whether I notice or not, I treat design as a daily form of gentle coaching.
Relationships at the Heart of Design
One long-running happiness study from Harvard shows that the strongest predictor of a long, fulfilling life is the quality of our relationships, not wealth or career success. That insight put connection at the center of how I approach home design.
I think in terms of three key relationship types: giving, receiving, and reciprocal. Giving relationships include caring for children, pets, or anyone I mentor. Receiving relationships are the places where I am nourished by elders, mentors, or spiritual guides. Reciprocal relationships are the friendships and partnerships where there’s a natural give and take. I aim to make sure my home offers physical space for all three.
Light, Color, and Subtle Support
Light is one of my favorite tools. A single sunny patch on the floor can transform how inviting a room feels, drawing people and pets into that spot. Research on nature and daylight shows that exposure to natural views and light can reduce stress and restore mental focus, even when the “nature” is a photo or framed view.
Color works on a physiological level too. Certain hues and brightness levels can raise or lower arousal, affect heart rate, and change how calm or energized I feel in a room. Soft, warm yellows can create a gentle, uplifting atmosphere, while blues and greens often support relaxation. When I choose colors, I ask what state I want the room to invite: calm, focus, play, or creativity.
Designing for Habits, Not Just Looks
I don’t blame myself when a habit won’t stick; I look at the floor plan. If my workout gear lives in a dark, cold basement corner, I’m building resistance into every session. If my creative tools are buried in a closet, I’m telling myself that my art is optional.
Instead, I:
-
Place movement equipment where I naturally pass by it.
-
Keep creative tools visible and ready in a defined nook.
-
Remove friction—clutter, poor lighting, awkward adjacencies—that makes good habits harder.
By treating my home as an ally, I let my environment quietly pull me toward the life and relationships I care about most.
Find out more by visiting https://ConsciousHomeDesign.
Watch the full interview below.
