As I spend the start of Summer away from home I’m reminded of all I love about where I live…
Welcome to my travel-inspired design series! I’m starting close to my heart with my home… Ojai (pronounced O-hi) isn’t just the place I love to live; it’s a place people travel to in search of something they often can’t name. Ojai is more than just my hometown—it’s a feeling.
Whether you’ve visited (or dreamt about visiting), you know there’s something special here—an ease, a grounded beauty, a soulful quiet. Luckily, you don’t have to live here to bring Ojai’s essence into your space. Here’s how to channel the spirit of Ojai in your home—no matter where you are.
1. The Pink Moment
Get Grounded & Get Glowing
The famous Pink Moment—when the Topa Topa mountains blush with soft hues at sunset—is pure Ojai magic. It’s a fleeting moment that invites stillness and awe. A beautiful blend of earth and sky.
At Home:
Incorporate soft pink, rose, or peach tones in art, textiles, or accent walls.
Use warm, dimmable lighting, candles, or Himalayan salt lamps to reflect that golden-hour glow.
Create a “sunset ritual”—pause each evening, even just for 5 minutes, to be still and connect.
2. Farm-to-Table Everywhere
Local Seasonal Products & Plenty of Earth Energy
Ojai’s farmers markets and citrus groves are a way of life. From local Pixie tangerines to handmade olive oils, Ojai is a bounty of delicious simplicity and local abundance.
At Home:
Display fresh fruit (especially oranges - or the famous Pixies) in a ceramic or wooden bowl as a centerpiece.
Grow herbs on your kitchen windowsill or plant a small citrus tree in a pot.
Keep your dining area clear, beautiful, and ready for shared, mindful meals.
Design isn’t just how it looks—it’s how it feels to live in your space.
3. Connection to Nature
Blur the Line Between Indoors & Out
Whether it’s the sound of the wind through the oaks or a hike on a Ojai Valley Land Conservancy trail, nature is a core part of Ojai’s soul. It’s easy to feel grounded here, simply by stepping outside and enjoying the region's stunning natural beauty.
At Home:
Open windows often to invite in fresh air and sounds of nature.
Use natural materials like jute, linen, stone, and reclaimed wood.
Create a cozy sitting area by a window—even one overlooking a tree or plant—to ground and recharge.
Feng Shui Tip: Plants are wood energy—symbols of growth and new beginnings. A happy houseplant can uplift a whole room.
4. Small-Town Feel
Curate Space That Foster Connection
In Ojai, you know your barista, florist, and neighbor. Life feels more human when it’s personal. Supporting small businesses is a missing piece for many communities and something we should strive to bring back #shoplocal.
At Home:
Create space for conversations—think two comfy chairs a tea setup, a record player.
Support makers: bring in local art, handmade ceramics, and small-shop treasures - pieces that tell a story
Display handwritten notes or photos with loved ones.
5. The Mystical Side
Make Space for Magic
Ojai is a sacred place—from Chumash reverence to modern-day healers., it’s spiritual energy is undeniable. This is a place where the mystical is woven into daily life.
At Home:
Create a small altar: include meaningful objects, crystals, candles, or heirlooms.
Use calming scents (lavender, sage, palo santo) to ground and clear energy.
Clear stagnant energy with bells, chimes, or sound bowls.
Bonus: Check out Ground and Gold where you can bottle up these Ojai feels and bring them right into your home. Created the lovely Kathryn Schiff.
6. Slowing Down
Design for Ease, Not Hustle
One of my favorite Ojai bumper stickers reads: “Enjoy Ojai… slowly.” Here, slowing down is a way of life. Coffee is sipped a little slower— taking your time is a luxury that Ojai is all about.
At Home:
Remove excess furniture or clutter—space to breathe matters.
Create a phone-free zone, maybe with a basket to rest your tech and encourage presence.
Display objects that invite slowness: a teapot, a journal, incense tray, or hammock.
7. Spa Life
Welcome Everyday Indulgence
Whether you’re having a bougie day at the Ojai Valley Inn, or tucked away in a healing mineral spring, spa life is part of the landscape. Ojai teaches you to care for yourself deeply.
At Home:
Add spa touches: plush towels, bath salts, essential oils, and tea trays.
Use calming colors— think sage green, cream, muted earth tones.
Include a bench or stool for slow beauty rituals.
Bonus: Look up Earth Tonics, an Ojai-based skincare line made with love and intention.
8. Hippies & Cowboys
Embrace Your Own Contrast
Ojai is full of dualities: healers and ranchers, artists and farmers. You don’t have to choose just one identity—neither does your home.
At Home:
Mix materials: leather + linen, rustic wood + modern art.
Combine high and low, vintage and new, earthy and refined.
Let your home reflect all of you—serious, playful, soulful, and practical.
Feng Shui Tip: Each home needs a balance of yin and yang. Don’t be afraid to mix textures, styles, and moods to find your harmony.
9. Bart’s Books Vibes
Create The Unexpected
No list of Ojai is complete without Bart’s Books—the iconic open-air bookstore where you can literally buy a book off the sidewalk and drop coins in the slot. It’s peak Ojai: community, beauty, and quirkiness all in one.
At Home:
Creating an outdoor reading or lounging area.
Keep books visible—leave a few favorite reads out and accessible.
Let curiosity and joy shape your space—leave room for magic.
Ojai at Home: It’s a Feeling, Not Just a Style
You don’t have to live in Ojai to feel its warmth. You just have to choose beauty, presence, and intention in how you live every day.
That’s the real power of design—and of Feng Shui. It’s not about making your home look like somewhere else. It’s about inviting in the feeling: grounded, warm, connected, open, and quietly magical. Use what resonates, trust your instincts, and remember—design can be spiritual. It’s a practice of choosing what supports you.
And if you’re missing Ojai already?
Pour some tea. Step outside. And just… slow down.
xo,
Abby
Stay tuned for so many more of my favorite travels and the design that is inspired by them!
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I love these ideas Abby! Ojai is on my list (I must make it to Magic Hour’s tea salon). I love your suggestions on how to bring the feeling into our own homes. Chicago is a long way from Ojai, so I am eager to see how I can create a similar feeling here, in the flat Midwest.
Ojai's pink moment is spectacular and is a good reminder of how lovely it is to mark the end of the day by stopping to watch the sunset. I've noticed how much I miss having a sunset view in our last two homes and look forward to trying your ideas to bring that moment inside. I hope you are having a wonderful vacation by the way!