“My house is my sanctuary. I know you feel the same way about yours. A home isn’t supposed to be designed to be a show place for the world, it’s a place that first and foremost should nurture your family.”
(Fireplace Details / Sofa Details / Room Sources)
We have been such busy bees around the house this week. It feels so good to have been focusing more on the house lately. In seasons when I’m in the middle of pressing book deadlines (which has been pretty much non-stop for five years, the whole time we’ve lived here, ha!) it’s hard to find the time or creative capacity for all I want to do.
I’ve been in a short season recently without as many deadlines and it’s allowed me more time to ponder. To dream. To do. I’m taking the time to really enjoy taking care of my home. It’s nice to not be in a hurry. I’m getting organized. I also love having the creative mind space I’ve been craving for awhile!
I’m dreaming up so many ideas for the near future but also doing the things we can do right now. I think both are so important. Are you more of a dreamer or a doer? Or a little of both? I tend to be a dreamer, with far more creative ideas than I could ever do. Being as indecisive as I can be makes that process a bit frustrating, though. With so many options and ideas flowing, how does one choose which option is best? When you like ALL of them, it can be hard to decide.
But I don’t let myself feel pressured. I take my time and think through the right choice for our family. When the idea feels right, I feel at peace with it. I don’t just do projects to do projects. I’m intentional with the choices we make. I’ve never been an “influencer” who feels like it is my job to hurry and change my house to inspire someone else. I don’t decorate my home for other people. Although I love that y’all follow along with me!! It’s so much fun to share these thoughts and kindred friends to be on this journey with.
My house really is my sanctuary. I know you feel the same way about yours. A home isn’t supposed to be designed to be a show place for the world, it’s a place that first and foremost should nurture your family. Take your time in making it what you want it to be. When you welcome others in, they are invited to your sacred and safe space. So do what inspires you and makes you feel at home! Creating a home for your family is the best job in the world, isn’t it?
Enjoy the inspiration in this week’s Home Style Saturdays!
StoneGable | Easy Easter Arrangement
The Inspired Room | My Best Secret for Making Cleaning Spark Joy
Designthusiasm | Farmhouse Spring Decor Ideas to Update Your Home
On Sutton Place | Spring Decor Ideas
Shabbyfufu | Choosing Colors For A Spring Tablescape
Southern Hospitality | Daffodils at Gibbs Gardens
Did you check out our Spring Shop yet? We rounded up lots of great decor for spring!
Wow, what a good post! I recently started looking at this blog (I love reading the book The Inspired Room so much), and seeing this post today inspired me a lot! As a student studying interior design, there are countless designers to look to for inspiration, but their busy schedules and huge projects can seem overwhelming to a beginner. This post was a good reminder of how much making a house a beautiful home can be enjoyable and fun! Thank you!
Thank you Anna! I’m glad you are inspired by this mindset. In this industry or even the social media world where perfect homes can feel like the only acceptable goal, it’s so important to focus on our own hearts and priorities. Even if our home is imperfect or evolving over time the process of creating a comfortable home can bring so much joy and serve our family well.
Yes, so true. That’s very encouraging to think about. Thank you so much! :)
I totally your comment about dreaming vs doing! I’m a list lover, and always seem to have a to do list, for both immediate projects as well long term ( some cases very long term😆) I do think dreams have mental health benefits , they let us be most creative, and truly are symbols of a hopeful spirit. So by all means we should all make time for dreams ! Your photos of your home always have such a calm vibe, you always inspire me. Thank you!
I so agree, Karlene! Dreaming and being hopeful and optimistic are so important to our well-being! Thank you so much for stopping by and your kind words. XOXO
I have been following you for a while and checked out your books from the library. This is my dilemma…what’s do you do when no one else in the family seems to care about it being tidy and clean? Seems everytime I clean the house, when my husband comes home, all of a sudden all my hard work goes away. Any suggestions?
Hi Debi! I know how hard that can be. In my book “Make Room for What You Love” (and in Love the Home You Have) I addressed some similar situations this way:
You deserve to have a home that inspires you. Everyone else who shares your home might not have the same vision, needs or concerns you do. As frustrating as it is, it can be nearly impossible to get some people on board with a vision for a clean and tidy home! You might inspire them in time but it doesn’t always work.
I would start with the areas of your home that you can keep clean or tidy or reset every day. Focus on cleaning an area that makes YOU happy. Do you like to see a shiny sink without dishes in it? While you might not get others to share your vision or to do their fair share of the work, keep the sink clear as a gift to yourself.
Perhaps in time your consistency in cleaning will inspire your husband or family. Start in one area and keep it tidy every single day, eventually they might catch on! If you can be honest and explain how much it means to you to keep this one area clean, it’s possible he’ll begin to understand and pitch in with you to keep that spot clean (then you can move on to add another area!). But even if it doesn’t work, my feeling is it is worth it to do it for YOURSELF! It may not be “fair” that others are making a mess or not joining in to clean up, but it’s important that you find joy in your home. Give that gift to yourself!
Thank you so much. I had not thought of doing this as a gift to myself. I will think on this and start with one part of the house. Thanks so much again
Aw you’re very welcome!! xo
Melissa and Debi, I have this on my Yahoo home page and I love so many of the ideas, but life overwhelms me and I generally just skim through and don’t read it all – especially the comments. what you said today, Melissa, was “spot on”. And Debi – about the husband and … . It’s so good to know that these things that frustrate me are not a result of something that I am doing and could possibly change if I could only figure out what it is. It’s just life and human nature. Mine is to deal with it within myself.