New Year, New Space: Try These 3 Simple Tips to Freshen Up Your Home
Art Direction and Photograph by: Catie Menke. Model: Darby Ball.
Copy by: Britnee Tanner
Model: Darby Ball
Creative Direction by: Catie Menke
Art Direction and Photograph by: Catie Menke. Model: Darby Ball.
My favorite romcom is You’ve Got Mail.
And while the film came out more than two decades ago, Meg Ryan’s brownstone in New York City will never get old.
Her home was the quintessential cozy space with the plant boxes hanging from the windows, the fluffy bedspread and molding galore. And then there were the books - so many pretty books on pretty bookshelves.
The house basically made you feel like you were wrapped in a warm blanket.
While my own design aesthetic is not at all shabby-chic, I still aspire to the warmth and comfort of Meg’s space. During the past few years, while renovating my own home and helping organize the homes of others, I’ve come up with a few tried-and-true ways to make a house feel more like a home - one that feels fresh and leaves you feeling like you are really wrapped in a comforting blanket.
Make your own experience in your home a peaceful and serene one
How exactly? Focus on what you see when you walk through your front door. Is there any visual clutter? Are there things in the corner that you meant to take to the donation center or give to a friend but have somehow stayed there longer than you initially anticipated? Think about what others see when they come into your home, too. What would you like yours and their experience to be? Make that your goal.
Scents can transport a person
They can also make your home smell sweet like vanilla or fresh like eucalyptus. Find a scent that you love and look for a phthalate-free candle with essential oils or consider an essential oil diffuser. Scents can also help mark the passage of time. Consider swapping out candles based on the season.
Declutter the clutter
Spending time editing and getting rid of what you no longer notice, love or need is the fastest way to freshen up your space. (Seriously, the fastest.) Is there a space in your home that you can edit this month? Pick a zone and give it a go!
Art Direction and Photograph by: Catie Menke. Model: Darby Ball.
Remember, your home should be as unique as you are and it should only contain things that you love and enjoy.
Embrace 2021 with an eye for simplifying and I’m confident that you’ll love your space more than ever - give one of the tips above a go and you’ll see what I mean.
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