10 Ways To Create A Simple, Beautiful, Meaningful Home
Your home doesn't have to be perfect, just meaningful. I believe a home should be your personal sanctuary and enable meaningful living.
By this I mean simplifying life to be able to enjoy the experiences and people that make it wonderful, and become so fulfilled that you overflow and give that joy to others around you as well.
That way of living is hard to do if you come home to a house that’s full of clutter and chaos or that’s uninspired or stressful!
10 TIPS TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE A BEAUTIFULLY SIMPLE AND MEANINGFUL HOME.
1. Choose calm colours.
Colours that are soothing will help your whole home feel calm, and therefore give YOU an immediate sense of calm when you walk into your space. Light, calm colours on the walls also act as a backdrop to display the beautiful and meaningful things you display in your home. You want your eye to go to that jar of sea glass from your vacation or the books you absolutely love - not the dramatic colour on the wall! I highly recommend painting your whole home in a light and soothing soft white or off-white shade. (I have a simple guide to help you choose the right white here)
2. Purge, purge and purge some more.
Donate anything that you do not use regularly or that is not absolutely beautiful and/or meaningful in your eyes. Then put simple systems in place to keep the things you keep organized and functional so that your life at home is never frustrating. Everything should have its place! If you have a lot of clutter, my free declutter dash can help you get started.
3. Bring in natural elements.
Every home should have something natural in it like living plants, flowers, natural wood or stone, or even branches or driftwood. When these things delight our senses on a daily basis it helps to ground us and renew our energy. Even if you’ve got a black thumb, here are indoor plants you can keep alive.
4. Bring special items out in the open.
Don't make your space a slave to design rules - a room should contain personal items that make you happy and are meaningful to you!
Hang your favourite piece of art, whether it's the kids' drawings, a family heirloom or a crazy abstract piece sculpture that makes you smile.
Have photos out of those you love.
Use items bought on trips or special occasions as functional items - ex. a bowl in the entryway for keys.
Stack up your favourite books at the couch, or display some on the coffee table.
Bring your pretty antique chest or bench out from the storage room. If it elicits warm memories of Grandpa you should have it out to remind you of him often!
5. Let the light shine in.
Open up your windows, and give them a good cleaning as well. Make sure that any drapes or curtains are hung outside of the window frames so that they can be opened up fully during the day. Open them up and receive the uplifting energy that comes from the sun. And again, consider painting your walls white so that your spaces feel lighter and the sun bounces around more. And make sure to layer in enough ambient and task lighting for dark days and evenings.
6. Carve out a special spot just for you.
Whether it's an art studio or a chair for reading, each person in your household should have a spot in the home that's their own feel-good place to unwind. It should be comfortable and restorative. That means if everyone is fighting over the one comfy chair in the family room, sell the uncomfortable couch and bring in more comfy chairs!
7. Make it welcoming.
The entryway that you use daily should be a welcoming area that is clean, clutter-free and organized. Check out how with these 5 essentials for any entryway.
8. Make it warm and cozy.
Layer textiles and textures to warm up rooms and make them feel lived in. Rugs that are soft underfoot, pillows to sink into, throws to wrap around you, bed linens that are soft and luxurious - these are details that are worth investing in for a happy and lived-in, beautiful home.
9. Group collections together.
Grouping things together makes a more memorable impact and also keeps them from cluttering many spots all over the house.
Dedicate a shelf for your antique bottle collection.
Display your vacation shells or sea glass in vintage jars.
Put your antique postcards or spoons into frames and hang them as a gallery.
Take the door off of an upper kitchen cabinet and display all of your pretty plates and bowls.
Lean all of your beautiful cutting boards together against the backsplash. Your collections say a lot about you. Show them off proudly.
10. Treat your home well.
How well you treat your living space determines how it will treat you. Keep it clean with non-toxic, natural cleaners (see my favourite formulas here). Make a habit of tidying up clutter before it gets out of control. Fix small things like scuffed trim or peeling wallpaper. Make your bed every day. Don't leave walls in a spare room bare and sad. Give your home some love, and it will love you back.
