Blog: Home, a space of life
From emptiness to warmth: A tale of awakening
Written by: Lili Vogrinec
Every one of us carries within us an idea of a home. Some find it in an old townhouse apartment, others in a minimalist little house, a large homestead, or perhaps outdoors under the stars. In spite of various forms and ideas, the essence of a home remains the same: it’s a space of life, a place where we feel safe, accepted and loved.
When I now walk through the door of my home, I remember how cold the walls were initially. They almost evoked awed reverence. I was surprised by the dull sound of my footsteps when I walked through the rooms. Everything was sterile, soulless. I stood in the middle of the central space and thought about how to fill up this new dwelling with life, how to create something distinctly mine. It started with small things. I placed pots of fragrant herbs on the window sill to give the space a scent of nature. The next morning, the sunlight touched these small plants, as if wanting to tell me, “You’re here. This is your home.” The sounds followed next. The old gramophone, which I discovered at a flea market, filled the room with the sounds of my favourite vinyl record. The music filled the void, and vibrations, like invisible threads, began knitting the story of a new life.
But magic happened on the day I baked bread for the first time and the place smelled just like my grandmother’s kitchen used to. And later, when we sat at a thoughtfully prepared dinner with my loved ones in the dining room, which is my favourite room in the house. The place came to life with laughter, talking and clinking glasses. At that point, I realised what home really was – it’s not what you have, it’s what you bring into it.
Today, it breathes with me. It’s a mix of warm memories, personal items and moments I share with those I love the most. Home is not something that evolves on its own. It’s a process we co-create with love, attention and mindfulness.


HOME IS OUR FOUNDATION, OUR TEMPLE, OUR SPACE FOR REFLECTION AND GROWTH
Sociologists frequently highlight that home is the focal point of our identity and our connection with community. It’s a place where relationships are formed, where memories are built and where the threads of our life stories are woven. Home is a symbol of social stability and security – something we all strive to attain.
Psychologically, home is a space where we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and where silence is a desired moment. In the fast pace of modern life, home is frequently the only place where we can unwind and regenerate. Research shows that the homeliness and tidiness of the place can calm us down, reduce stress and promote creativity. Wall colours, arrangement of furniture, even the smell of the room – all of these affect our wellbeing and emotional state.
At a spiritual level, home reflects our inner world. It’s a place where our dreams and values are expressed through minute details – books on the shelves, paintings on the walls, small objects carrying special stories.
I have always wondered what impact travelling has on our homes. Is it possible that we somehow subtly imprint the places we visit into the corners of our homes? So that the smells, colours, textures and decorations we bring from our travels not only convey the stories of faraway lands, but also of ourselves – what touches and inspires us. Travelling is not a mere escape from everyday life, but serves as a mirror reflecting our home/space, which constantly grows, evolves and draws inspiration from the world that we explore.
The importance of home is particularly revealed at times when life shows its frailty. Natural disasters, such as the fires that destroyed thousands of homes in Los Angeles this month, are a warning of how quickly everything that we build can vanish. But a home is more than mere walls and a roof: it’s the heart in which affinity, solidarity and love exist. When the wind sweeps away material things, what is left is indestructible: a sense of belonging and the strength of the human spirit.
