Remember the day you moved into your own space for the first time? The walls are empty, the carpets smell of soap from the cleaners you overpaid to shampoo it, and the whole place looks like promise- promise of happy times to come and perhaps a few too many late nights binging Netflix on your hand-me-down couch. After a while, you hang some photos, put together those Ikea end tables, and order a monogrammed cutting board from Etsy to display in your kitchen. Before you know it, walking into your home makes you smile. You are reminded of memories with loved ones when you pass by their photo, the sight of the new slip cover on your hand-me-down couch makes you feel a little fancy (it affirms that you’re better than that 1970’s floral print), and in general, there’s a place for everything and everything in its place
"Decoration can be life-enhancing. It can make dinner parties more fun, kids happier, relaxing easier, talks more intimate, guests at ease."
Deborah Needleman
In many ways, caring for your space is a form of self-care.
Our personal spaces are the ones that set the stage for our lives. They do not require a vision board or even a Pinterest board. And while removing clutter is a huge part of caring for your space, it won’t necessarily reveal the home you NEED, just the one you might think you want. While we can’t control much of anything in this world, we can control what our spaces do for our psyche and our time spent with one another. We don’t need a picture-perfect house or designer furniture to create a haven for ourselves. In fact, if you’re feeling triggered by what you don’t have as it relates to material things, it probably means it is time go inward and explore what you may need emotionally or physically at home to feel more at peace. Easier said than done, but it’s usually what I need when I start comparing my life to someone else’s
So what does my personal haven from the outside world look like?
It’s a place where it is ok to be as messy as I’d like, to cry as loudly as I please, to indulge in frivolity without guilt. It’s having that spot on the couch where we have our hard talks and good fights. It’s where everything that really matters happens. And most of it is right within our four walls.
Start with what you cherish about your life that money can’t buy. Then build your home around it.
Home décor is important because it can affect everything from our self-perception to our confidence and productivity. So, go ahead, buy that new throw pillow or piece of art if it makes you happy. You’re not treating yourself, you’re creating an environment in which you can be the best version of yourself!
