Mary ~ I received Joanna Gaines’ new book for Christmas, Home Body, and inhaled it within a day. After a massive work project this holiday season of outfitting afresh a client’s entire remodeled cabin, I realized that I actually quite enjoy interior design. Figuring out which colors, shapes, and textures go well together throughout the house is an intriguing puzzle, and one that, when done well, brings almost as much satisfaction as modifying a chaotic room into an organized haven. Once I closed the door on that job, I looked around my own home with new eyes and saw some areas that could use improvement.
I also found some nooks and crannies that aren’t achieving their full potential, a topic Joanna covers with passion in her book. She encourages you to walk through your whole house, paper in hand, and make note of a corner here or small area there that could be re-purposed into a retreat which will bring you joy. I was so inspired by this idea and my new interest in design that I, in a fit of post-Christmas fervor, completely changed two areas in my home.
Now, instead of a family room overshadowed by a large desk darkening a corner, I sent that puppy to the basement and replaced it with more seating, creating the possibility of entertaining larger groups. I updated the color scheme with pillows, added green in the corner with a nice-looking potted tree, and created warmth with a rug and different couch. Everything I found was on sale or secondhand, so at least the project didn’t go against my goal to keep things simple.
Meanwhile, upstairs, annoyed by the black screen staring at me in my bedroom, I relegated that computer to an adorable new little office area carved out of my master closet. It’s now where the printer and desktop computer live, while the crisp white desk back in my bedroom, looking out towards the mountains, still provides an inspiring place to write on a laptop or get work done by hand. This addition to my closet was only made possible by decluttering my wardrobe. Though I cull my clothes and shoes regularly for any no-longer-loved items, I was proud to get rid of substantially more this time through, to make room for the desk!
Joanna talks about having your home tell your story, and while my living room already does this with my Wall of Greats gallery, I brought a book stand downstairs to put next to the new chair in the family room, and arranged some of my favorite books in it for display. Now, when I work at my kitchen counter, this collection is the first thing I see, and it brings me a little jolt of happiness every time I peruse the titles of those favorite, beautiful books.
Since these changes, I have felt such revitalized energy in these rooms. Feng shui has to be real! Whenever you clean, organize, update, or improve a space in your home, it’s like it sends little love vibes thanking you, along with unspoken invitations to come and stay awhile.
What areas in your home could use some help? Is there an unused corner where you could put a comfy chair and lamp? A closet that could find a different use than storing forgotten dusty things? A place in your line of sight during menial tasks that could highlight something beautiful you’ve always had but never displayed? I wish you well in your efforts to give your home a breath of fresh air for the new year. Please share with us what you’ve done!