Spring Topics | The Art of Curation with White Sage
The act of curation becomes magic when an interior designer is given a quaint corner. We’ve seen this magic placed in a cohesive visual on the soothing and carefully attended Instagram page White Sage, ran by mood board aficionado Xanthea.
Through the careful integration of interiors, sculptures, precisely focused fashion images and juxtaposed furniture and artworks, Xanthea now inspires an audience who is searching for that perfect quaint corner, and more so, a space full of intent and inspiration.
To understand how these design-focused pages are thought out from beginning to end, we questioned Xanthea about her ultimate direction and inspiration for White Sage. Be sure to read the introduction to Week 1 of our Spring Topics series ‘The Art of Curation’.
What made you want to start an Instagram page based on the idea of a mood board?
I’d admired other mood board accounts and when telling a friend one day they said, “you could do that!” I started White Sage in my first year of design school. My course focused more on the construct of “interior design” rather than the aesthetics of it. White Sage was an outlet for me to put aesthetics out and then focus on making messy things in my real life explorations. I was already in love with the work of Art Director Carlota Guerrero and then Solange released ‘A Seat at the Table’. I was infatuated with the vibe she’d created sonically and visually and its consistency spanning different mediums. While White Sage is an Instagram page, I feel it gives me clarity when expressing myself in other forms.
Solange - ‘A Seat at the Table’ live performance.
Did you go into White Sage with a strict theme, or did you let that develop over time?
It kind of developed over time! I’d began loving that Summery warm seaside vibe and as I got deeper into my studies I learned about more sculptors and designers. My focus went more onto posting about them and soothing spaces.
Do you feel a tug at your willpower when curating on Instagram, and if so, how do you stay inside the lines?
I do! Sometimes I’ll post something, look at it beside other posts and decide to delete it. I know there are different phone apps to help visualise the overall mood of it - but my approach is quite impulsive. When I see something I like, I post it. I do consult with my partner on whether a post actually fits a ‘White Sage’ aesthetic or not. However, I’m a sucker for cute cat posts. During this strange time I’ve found it important to post lighter images of cute animals and dreamy outdoor settings to distract viewers from their indoor situations.
What do you think is important in curating an Instagram as it directly relates to gaining a following?
You can create your own sort of world on an Instagram profile. That’s what viewers will subscribe to. I didn’t create White Sage with gaining followers in mind, but seeing businesses use the platform, it’s a huge opportunity to communicate a brands ethos and gain potential clients. It’s a really exciting thing!
How did you go about choosing your niches to focus on, and how many do you think one should have?
Each niche is an interest I have, then communicated through my aesthetic. I love interiors, animals, yoga and fashion. I couldn’t stick to one strict niche as I’m fascinated by the crossovers and how one thing can inspire or influence another. I think by having a few, it brings you out of just being one sort of an Instagram profile. I don’t mind being associated with interior design as it is the forefront of my life.
Can you share a specific guideline you have when deciding on content for White Sage?
I try to post more minimal, white photos between fuller posts. Some spaces or images are too exciting not to post so I work to dilute it’s intensity then on my profile. I do love images of unmade beds so I’m aware to not only post those! If an image has yellows to it, I’ll balance it next to blues.
Stay tuned for our next interview with Sasha Mei, and keep up to date with the Spring Topics series on Instagram.