If you’ve ever stared at your space and thought, “This doesn’t feel like me,” you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not stuck. In this week’s Homes That Heal episode, we’re joined by interior designer Shawna Buenger, who’s made a name for herself helping people create magazine-worthy homes using budget-friendly and healing home design principles.

Whether you’re designing your forever home or trying to breathe life into a cookie-cutter flip, Shawna is all about helping you create a healing home—one that supports your energy, mental health, and the way you actually live. Let’s dive into her top tips (and mindset shifts) that will completely change how you approach your home.

Start with a Feeling, Not a Floor Plan

When most people start designing a space, they look at furniture or paint colors. Shawna flips that script.

She asks:

How do you want to feel in this space?
Do you want to feel relaxed, energized, grounded, inspired?

This is the foundation of wellness interior design. Instead of chasing trends, it’s about crafting spaces that support your life and nervous system. That might mean calming greens and blues in a bedroom, vibrant oranges in a home gym, or cozy neutrals in a reading nook.

Pro Tip: Color saturation matters as much as hue. A soft sage green and a neon green will give off completely different vibes. Be intentional with your tones.

Use a “Stunner Piece” to Elevate Your Budget-Friendly Healing Home Design

You don’t need to buy expensive furniture sets or go full HGTV makeover mode to get a designer look. Shawna’s go-to trick? Choose one standout element, a “stunner piece”, to anchor the room.

That could be:

• A unique light fixture
• A boldly painted ceiling
• A sculptural chair or coffee table
• A large, movement-based piece of art

Let that one piece set the tone, and build the rest of the room around it using more budget-friendly items that complement the energy.

Sensory-Friendly Decor: It’s Not Just Aesthetic—It’s Healing

Shawna reminds us that what looks good doesn’t always feel good. That sleek sofa might look incredible, but if it feels like a burlap sack when you sit on it, it’s not serving you.

Think about sensory-friendly decor:

• Soft textures that feel calming, not scratchy
• Ambient lighting instead of harsh overhead LEDs
• Natural materials like wood, stone, and wool
• Plants for both visual beauty and air quality
• Elements like fire (candles, fireplace), water (fountain, fish tank), and natural light to soothe and energize

Lighting is a huge one here—fluorescent or cold-toned LED lighting can disrupt your circadian rhythm and kill the vibe. Use warm, layered lighting wherever possible.

Clutter Is the Enemy of Healing Home Design

Want an instant (and free) nervous system reset? Declutter. Seriously.

Clutter doesn’t just look messy—it feels heavy. It can subconsciously raise stress levels, make you feel stuck, and create visual chaos that drains your energy. Shawna’s recommendation? Take everything out of the space, then only bring back what you actually want and need. This is where the magic happens—not just design-wise, but emotionally. Releasing old items can also help you release old energy or stories you’ve outgrown.

Balance and Scale: The Missing Ingredient in Most Rooms

If something in your space feels off and you can’t quite put your finger on it, it’s probably a balance or scale issue.

That oversized coffee table? Too big.
That cute accent chair? Too small for the space.
Those matching nightstands? Too symmetrical to feel soulful.

Shawna reminds us that balance doesn’t mean “perfectly even.” It means that the elements in your room relate to each other in size, weight, and feeling. This is where working with a designer—especially one who “gets” wellness—can make all the difference.

Create a Home You Don’t Need to Escape From

Here’s the golden nugget: your home should be a place that fills your cup, not drains it. Shawna encourages clients to take the feelings they loved on vacation—relaxation, joy, inspiration—and recreate them at home.

That could look like:

• A bathroom that feels like a spa (think plants, soft towels, dimmable lighting)
• An outdoor space designed for grounding and quiet time
• A fun, eclectic office space that energizes and inspires creative flow

And no, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Start with a rug that feels good under your feet and a gallon of paint in a color that lights you up. Work up from there.

Final Thoughts: Design With Intention, Not Perfection

At the end of the day, wellness interior design isn’t about Pinterest perfection. It’s about creating a home that feels like you—and supports your nervous system, lifestyle, and goals.

So whether you’re on a tight budget or just feeling design-overwhelmed, start simple. Start slow. And start with how you want to feel.

Because your home should work for you—not the other way around.

🎧 Listen to the full episode with Shawna to dive deeper into these ideas and hear her real-world examples and pro tips.

✨ Ready to create your own healing home? Start with what you have, let go of what’s no longer serving you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. (Hiring a pro can be a game changer.)

Want help turning your home into a healing home?

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Resources

Bio:

Shawna Buenger is the owner and founder of Nevie LoRu. She is an artist, a budget-friendly interior decorator, and business owner. After a career in high-end property management and development, she quit her job to stay at home with her kiddos. She found herself still searching for a creative outlet and turned to the walls of her own home. Shawna had always loved to create large-scale paintings, and basically all aspects of the creative process, so she took the principles she had learned from interior designers she worked with in property development and applied them to her home.

Shawna discovered that she loved interior design and renovated every home she had, along with friends’ and families’ homes. When she built a home with her husband, Shawna told him that she wanted to create the designs and visions she had in my head, not hire a designer. Their home became the catalyst for her hobby turning into her business. After her children were all in school, her focus became Nevie LoRu. Her daughters are the inspiration for her company’s name. It is a combination of all of their nicknames.

Shawna absolutely loves being able to find stylish options for her clients that do not cost a small fortune. She believes everyone is entitled to a beautiful home that suits their style and needs without having to keep up with every design trend. Shawna works with clients to remodel, renovate, and transform spaces, mostly in residential homes, but also on commercial projects. She works with all budgets, all speeds, and as hands-on as her clients need her to be.

Her philosophy is that there are a lot of designers out there and a lot of artists, but the combo of both an interior designer and her love of art is more of a rarity.

Website: www.nevieloru.com
Email: ne*******@***il.com

Shawna Buenger is offering a **free consultation** when you mention you heard about it on the Homes That Heal podcast!  

More info here: www.nevieloru.com , just mention “Homes That Heal” when booking!

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Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services. The statements and views expressed are not medical advice and are not meant to replace the advice of your medical doctor. This podcast, including Jen Heller and her guests, disclaims any responsibility and any adverse effects you may experience from the specific use of the information contained herein. The opinions of guests are their own and this podcast does not endorse or accept responsibility for the statements made by guests. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you have a medical condition, consult your licensed physician.