Happy Place = Happy Face

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Does It Matter if Your Place Feels Yucky?

Do you look around your room and think…

”I ain’t got time to deal with all this sh*t. It’s just a place to put my head. It doesn’t matter what it looks like”?

Guess what. It does matter.

A lot.

Did you know your space can affect your self esteem, your sleep, your sex life, your moods, your physical health, and more?

I know, you don’t feel like making the effort to make it comfortable and clean, but it can make a big impact on your level of happiness. Believe me.

By the way, if you need help with your procrastination, read my anti-procrastination post. (1)

It’s not procrastination, Michelle, it’s money. I don’t have the money to make my place look amazing.

You don’t need to spend tons of money. It doesn’t have to be a show house to shift your mood from perpetually grouchy to grounded.

Happy Homes Start with This

Clutter and cleanliness make the biggest impact. This photo reminds me of my tax paperwork. Yikes! Don’t try this at home!

Lets move on.

Where were we? Oh, yeah…If clutter fills your home, it can make life feel overwhelming.

And bonus! The less you own, the easier it will be to move. Wish I had de-cluttered before my last move. It was exhausting! (2)

Not only can clutter be a fire hazard , it can harbor dust and mold. It can also be a mental drain.

Researchers say it’s harder to concentrate in a cluttered space.(3)

I bet they probably wrote their research papers while sitting on the sofa in their nice clean living room, not in the middle of pizza boxes and unfolded laundry piles.

Your Space Affects You in Other Ways Too

And what about lighting? You may also be less productive in under-lit rooms.

Living in a cave is not inviting, and could provide tripping hazards and eye strain.

“Oops! Sorry Mr. Cuddles. Didn’t mean to step on your tail. Can’t see a darn thang.”

You are more likely to eat fast food and processed meals because you don’t feel like cooking in a messy kitchen. There goes your food budget.

I don’t know about you, but I can easily spend a fortune on frozen indian food and take-out tacos.

I prefer my breakfast bowls, but it takes clearing the counter to give myself the room to eat a better meal so I can feel superior to others. (4)

Your social life can suffer too if you’re embarrassed to have people in your place. You don’t want to have to send in a search party for Aunt Margaret’s trip to the bathroom.

Did You Know Your Place Says This About You?

I bet you didn’t know your place whispers to you. Dirty windows to dirty floors, unsightly spaces can give you the subconscious signal that you’re not worth it. And that’s bad.

But hey! You ARE worth it. (‘Cause I say so!)

The message: It’s time to put some energy into your home!

As an interior designer (yep, that’s what I do), I witness people’s lives change when they change their space.

How Clean is “Happy” Clean?

Things don’t need to be pin-perfect.

In fact, if things are too sterile and clean, it can be difficult to relax.

A little untidiness here and there encourages some creativity.

Don’t get excited, Sloppy Joe, I said “a little.”

Having “a place for everything” can make your space feel more comfortable and you’ll feel happier. (5)

Here’s an encouraging thought: Energetic cleaning is good for your physical health too!

Thirty minutes of vigorous household cleaning can get your heart pumping and help you lose weight.

So figure out your top few “bad” spots and set your timer. See how fast you can do a cleaning sprint and come up smiling.

If you don’t want to have many things to clean, and you want an easier way to keep things tidy, have less stuff.

Simple, clean design can still be pretty and inviting.

Is ‘Less Stuff’ Better for You?

Here is something to think about. When you own less, you:

Spend less money replacing it.
Spend less money taking care of it.
Spend less money insuring it.
Spend less time cleaning it.
Spend less time searching for it.
Spend less time explaining to your wife why it should stay in the living room.

Keep only what brings you joy or gets the job done.

I wholeheartedly support the idea of having a smaller home and having fewer items in your home. If only I can convince my husband.

Okay, let’s talk a little about how you can make it look nicer so your psyche and your mother-in-law can thank you.

A sunny yellow wall paint with coordinating drapes and pillows make a place feel cheerful.

Interior Design Tips for Added Enjoyment

Add color that feels good to you. It can really wow-up a room!

An inexpensive coat of paint makes a big difference. Try some artful pillows, colorful lamp shades, area rugs, or a big bowl of oranges.

Have yummy things to touch, like soft linens, nubby carpets, chunky knit blankets, weighty metal hardware for your drawers.

Things you touch often should bring you into the present moment and give you a smile. (Oh, BEHAVE!)

Have plenty of good lighting.

You want to be able to see where Johnny shoved a handful of gum wrappers down the side of the cushion.

Create a mix of bright lighting for cleaning, task lighting for chopping food or reading, and mood-enhancing ambient lighting, like candles or a string of twinkle lights.

Be smart about those candles please. (Warning: bullying language ahead) Don’t burn down the building, dumb*ss.

Details Make a Difference

Put up meaningful art.

It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should bring you pleasure.

Find some fun stuff at the local thrift or antique store.

Invest in a few local artists. Or become a “local artist” by framing your doodles, or photos. Put up a decorative blanket, or some thrift store mirrors.

Whatever, get creative. Just please don’t have blank walls staring at you for years.

Plants can be a juicy addition too, if you feel motivated to take care of them.

I suck at it. I’m a plant killer. I have one itsy bitsy air plant that I have to remember to water every couple of weeks. THAT I can manage.

I smile every time I see it. I should give it a name. Hmmm…how about H-air-ry ?

If you too have a brown thumb and have dying plants or empty pots laying around, give them a new home or toss them.

Get aromatherapy while using cleaning products

Did You Think About Adding This in Your Space?

Aromas are important too.

Many cleaning agents use fresh scents like pine, which can feel energizing, especially after an invigorating bathroom scrub.

Awe, c’mon….you can do it.

Did you know that movement can also make you feel happier? Read about it in this post. (6)

Get some fresh aromatic herbs to grow in the kitchen, or place scented flowers in your office.

It’s got to be better than your smelly socks sitting by your pillow.

You know the ones that hold their own shape in a crusty kind of way?

Yeah, let those suckers walk themselves to the washing machine.

Get a better nights sleep with a change of sheets. Oh, it feels so clean and crisp!

Your sex life will say thank you too.

Anything else, Michelle? Yes, tons, but we’ll wrap it up soon by saying:

Let go of unfinished projects.

You’ll feel less fatigued.

Let Go and Let Good

I’m talkin’ about tossing the broken flower pot you’re going to turn into a fountain. Getting rid of the chair with the bad leg. Handing off that dress that’s missing a button. Saying goodbye to that boyfriend who’s missing a brain.

Just let them go. You don’t need to hold on to broken stuff anymore.

While you’re at it, let go of the million “just-in-case” items you’re trying to find a spot for. You’ll only rebuy the smallest fraction of them.

Do you really want to find a place for 15 sheets of unused sandpaper, 23 different packets of screws, 8 hotel notepads, and that giant net you once bought to catch a kitten hiding under your back porch?

See how your cupboards, closets, and storage rooms can become open and airy?

Making your home feel homey, can bring you to a life with a clear head, more energy, a better social life and a feeling of belonging and calm.