Hmmm, maybe I'll bake tonight! Image courtesy www.reluctantgourmet.com.
Did you see the Apartment Therapy post a couple of weeks ago about free ways to make your house a home? It was a welcome reminder for me. The post covered five different “completely free” ways to impact your home: Spend Time In It, Use Your Space, Speak Kindly, Music Matters, and Entertain Without Worry.
As a designer, of course I spend time thinking about — and worrying about – how my house looks.
Though I do my level best NOT to apologize for my housekeeping (or lack thereof) I am still conscious of it when I entertain. Am I being judged for the dust on those black bookcases? Did I get the last of the splatters off the kitchen backsplash? Oh, horrors, is that a dust bunny in the corner of the hallway!?!
The AT post reminded me that I just need to relax and enjoy the people visiting. A year from now, or even a week from now, will we remember the fun time we had or the housekeeping tasks that weren’t done?
And speaking of all those comments dashing around in my head, the one about speaking kindly of your home was great, too. It said “Homes are places where love and memories are made. Do your best to make them kind, wonderful thoughts.” Think about how your home provides you shelter and safety and honor it in your thoughts and actions.
Here’s a tale: I was asked to do a Feng Shui consult for a couple. I asked to see where they came into their home. Both said they came in through the garage into the basement. Next to the wall, exactly in front of them when they opened the door to their home, was a large box with a disassembled armoire in it. I asked about it. It turned out that the armoire had been there for months and was a point of contention between them: He liked it and wanted it in his home; she thought it was ugly and refused to have it in her home. So the first thing they both were greeted with was something they disagreed about! I strongly encouraged them to move it at least out of sight so they both felt more welcomed when they arrived home.
Do you have something in your entry that brings up unpleasant thoughts? It’s FREE to simply move it!
And I loved the reminder to spend time in your home and to use your space. Yes, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of home-dinner-TV-sleep. You move robot-like from fridge to TV chair to bed. So I’ll try something new tonight! Maybe I’ll throw some pillows on the floor and read, paint a picture for my wall, or turn on some tunes and dance! How will you enjoy your home tonight and every night?
