How does Friction-Maxxing Bring Intention Back Into Home Decor?

"When it comes to design, friction-maxxing is not about discomfort, but about presence and intention in your space," Peltier explains. In this highlight reel era of Pinterest board-perfect homes that look more like they were staged for a photoshoot than set up for everyday life, friction-maxxing focuses on creating meaning moments in the home. "It’s really about choosing intention over things we mindlessly interact with, then replacing those items with little moments that create a pause and help you reflect and be in the moment," Peltier says.

Just as we can run on autopilot in various other areas of our lives, we can easily make default rather than intentional design decisions for our homes. It may not sound like a big deal, but the reality is the way we design our homes is the way we live in them, and the way we live in them is the way we end up spending our lives. There is a subconscious pressure to have a "perfect", photoshoot-ready home which leads people to decorate quickly and default to purchasing everyone from one place, in one go. It results in a space that's matchy-matchy and void of any soul or personality.

Friction-maxxing takes the longer road and slower approach, but rewards you with a richer, more meaningful space and as a result, life. "It’s really about designing a home that doesn’t just serve you quickly; it’s about one that invites you to stay a little longer in your own life," Peltier says.

Realistic Ways to Incorporate Friction-Maxxing Into Your Home

If the concept of friction-maxxing sounds like something your life and home could benefit from, but you're wondering how to incorporate it in realistic ways, Peltier breaks it down into small, practical actions. "I see friction-maxxing less as making life harder and more as slowing it down in the best possible way," she says. First, it doesn't mean tossing every piece of technology and eliminating every single convenience in your home. Instead, Peltier likes to think of it as adding intentional pauses into the rhythm of a home.

Start with the Entryway

"Start with your entryway—if everything is drop-and-go, you truly never arrive," she says. Her tip is to bring in a small console and style it with a bowl for keys, a table lamp that you actually turn on, and a chair that invites you to take your shoes off slowly. "All these items are gentle forms of friction that shift your mindset the moment you walk in," Peltier shares.

Simplify Bedrooms

Given how much time both adults and kids spend looking at screens, many people are choosing to incorporate screen-free spaces into their homes. Bedrooms lend themselves well to a screen-free, friction-maxxed overhaul. "In bedrooms, it can be as simple as placing a book on a nightstand instead of a phone, or keeping a reading chair that's slightly less 'convenient' than your bed so you choose it intentionally," Peltier notes.

Add Thoughtful Touches to the Kitchen

In a kitchen, the designer says a small accent like a beautiful tray that requires you to set things down with care instead of tossing them on the counter can make a difference. For a more high-impact change, Peltier suggests designing a breakfast nook that invites you to sit instead of eat on the go. "These small interruptions gently pull us back into our lives and make us be more present," she states.