Smoking the gun – rock & roll music, bouchée sofas, heirloom rugs.. and the smell of fresh coffee.
Do you love your life?
With all the day-to-day responsibilities, not everyone is rushing to throw their hands up. Part of adulting means work, bills, responsibilities, taking out the trash, and washing dishes (a personal hate of mine). These things don’t go away. But let’s approach them with whatever last bit of energy we’ve got before we run on empty.
Want to change something? Of course-we always want to better ourselves. Maybe it’s running a race before the year ends.. and hey, it’s already July.
Lately, my focus has been on comforting my environment. Moving small elements around if they feel out of place. Changing the function of an item. One thing doesn’t need to serve just one purpose.
And while the little and big thoughts swirl in my mind, my go-to is this:
Breathe.
Take a breath & start.
1-2-3. Go!
Let’s diagnose the little details. Start with the smallest items – simple enhancements. And by making small progress every day, we might suddenly see that we’ve been staring into a big pile of clutter when all we needed was to clear a little corner. Maybe it’s your old record player. Maybe it’s that retro occasional chair you kept for “one day.” (Although, who doesn’t love a beautiful new daybed in the lounge?)
Take 5 Minutes:
Make a list titled:
“I’m introducing THIS to my LIFE”
Here are five to kickstart your mindset:
1. Having a smoke in the morning? You do you. Or maybe a croissant.
2. Playing a sick playlist at the crack of dawn with zero consideration for your sleeping spouse or kids? That’s a vibe.
3. Go through all those sentimental boxes – you might find an ancestral report that proves you could have been Italian. Chuck most of it, but check first.
4. Pour yourself a glass of wine (or juice – responsibly, folks) because that decluttering session probably worked up a sweat. Now: write down what you actually want.
5. Breathe. Acknowledge all your feelings – good or bad. Then move forward.
Clean Your Space, Shift Your Focus
Envision the aura you want to create. Seek inspiration. It can come from anywhere: old magazines, a vinyl cover, Pinterest – even a plant.
Love free-hand?
Create your own setup. Style it the way you want to live.
Want a cocoon-like interior with soft, ambient light? Switch from light to dark. Paint it. Texture it. Try stucco paint – it might make you feel like you’re teleporting from New York to Provence.
Make a complete mindset shift, and translate those thoughts into your home. Tap into that youthful, soulful energy you crave – then become it.
When Do You Feel Like You in Your Space?
Probably when it’s clean. When it holds a few curated, personal objects arranged beautifully with your furniture. When there’s an amazing scent in the air. Your favourite genre of music playing in the background.
Easy Changes for a Lighter Living Room Vibe:
Lighting
Upgrade a floor lamp or bedside lamp. Even something as simple as a bulb change can shift the atmosphere.
Cozy & Conscious
It’s winter. You’re freezing. Get a lush, high-pile carpet. A cozy throw. Cushions can be cozy too (this is applicable to everyone – remind your partners!).
Art
Go wild. Don’t be afraid. Art is anything. Influenced by fashion? Nature? This is your outlet. Express yourself.
Want to Say Something? Say It Visually.
Buy a blank canvas. Every day for a year, add a line, draw a shape, write a word, glue a photo. Rotate it. Move it. Let it become what it wants to be.
Art communicates. Whether it’s a message to yourself, to others – or to no one.
So rotate your canvas if it excites you.
Rotate your life a little too.
Do it with intention.
