Recently I heard someone say that the inside of your home is an indicator of the current state of your life.

No judging here, but you’ve got to admit that it makes sense. We all have super busy times where we might have to choose between sleeping and cleaning up and I’ll pick sleeping every time! But if my home is chronically messy or just not functioning well for me, I get overwhelmed and cranky pretty quickly.

The tagline for my brand is “does your home make you smile?.” We didn’t choose that phrase because it’s catchy. I know for a fact that if your home makes you smile when you walk in the door at the end of the day, then you’re probably doing a good job at taking on the world outside that door.

Home is an escape, an incubator and the keeper of memories. Your home is a sanctuary. But that doesn't happen without some thought.

Just like your work desk, there should be a place for you to drop your keys and the mail at home. Also a place to sit down and kick off your shoes and a place —well, I think there should be an easy place for everything.

When you think about the time you spend frantically searching for car keys—ugh, doesn’t it drive you nuts? SO frustrating!

You can put a stop those time suckers by giving everything a place to be and training yourself to use that designated spot exclusively. I think 50% of organization involves training yourself to use the products and behaviors that you’ve identified to make things work better. For example, if you put the dog’s leash in the same place every single time you return from your walk, you never have to look for the leash again. If you drop it wherever it’s convenient at any given moment, you will always be searching for it.

A hook on the wall is all it takes to end that frustration. Even cuter are those little plaques with hooks that say “man’s best friend.”

How about a tray, box or bowl on the kitchen island that holds phones and keys? A tray in another place that you pass frequently can hold the mail, and nothing else, to corral that mess.

You can subscribe to digital magazines to read on your tablet to eliminate stacks of magazines that you haven’t gotten around to reading.

Those easy ideas alone can greatly add to the chance that you will start to smile when you walk through the door!

A well designed home that’s easy to live in can be transformative. That’s the power of home. Never underestimate it’s ability to make or break you. And your partner. And your kids. I’m not sure the dog cares. But she’s happy when you’re happy.

Another common problem is having too much stuff. While I’m not a huge fan of stuff, I understand that some of it has great meaning. At it’s best, It brings back memories of places and people we love.

Those memories are wonderful and those things should never languish in boxes or closets. They should be on proud display as they tell the story of your life. Too much stuff, however, can overwhelm the story. Memories need space to shine and they’re not going to shine if there’s a ton of them and they’re everywhere.

A well designed home makes space for more memories to come. It gives you the freedom and time to go about your day.

Take a look around your home when you’ve got some time to think. Whether you like it or not, it’s reflecting you and the state of your life. Do you like what you see?

If you don’t, please don’t throw your hands up in despair. If you’re in the Greater Raleigh area, go to my Services page and get in touch. A 2 hour consultation will be money well spent because we’re going to meet and pull together a plan that you can follow. Before you know it, you’re going to have rooms that reflect the person you want to be. I’ll make it easy for you to get it done.

Update - as of 2021, I no longer offer interior design services - I’m only writing about design now. But please look for a talented designer in your area to help you!

You have the ability to make changes and create the environment you want. So tell me, does your bedroom allow you to start and end each day peacefully? Does your kitchen make meal prep and clean up easy? Can your family room host a comfortable get-together? Does you bathroom look like the pretty ones in hotels? What about the kids bathroom? All set up for success?

Do you want a sitting room to escape to with a book and a glass of wine? How about storage that gives the toys a place to chill so all family members can hang out comfortably during Movie Night?

You don’t need a ton of time and money to get things done. What you need is a plan. A plan saves time and money.

I can already tell that you’re motivated, and that’s half the battle right there!

Your home has tremendous power in your life. By making it a priority, you’re making yourself a priority. Oh yeah, that’s really the bottom line and it’s what I want for YOU.

With sparkle and texture,

Anne