These past few weeks of being in self-isolation have made me look around my house more closely at ways I can improve the look and feel of my home. I do a lot of work from my house but I can’t remember the last time I’ve been home this long without leaving for certain appointments and the everyday coming and goings of life. You may be having the same experience. If you’re like me and looking around your home you feel inspired to change a few things. However, we have to remember the goal isn’t to have just a “pretty” home but to have a home you enjoy being in.

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Our homes should be more than a collection of beautiful objects, our homes should reflect who we are. You’ve probably learned more about yourself quarantined in your home than ever before. Have you already made a list of what you would like to change in this room and update in that room? I have! These unpredictable times have also brought emotional stress, worry, anxiety, and fear. How we feel in our homes can help us mentally and emotionally. Here are some small changes you can make in your decor that will add a sense of happiness (they always bring joy to me, personally).

…the goal isn’t to have just a “pretty” home but to have a home you enjoy being in.

Bring In Meaningful Artwork. As an interior designer, I believe that artwork is personal. What may look perfect in one home may not add any aesthetical value to another home. The best artwork is the one that creates a conversation and that brings life to a room. I wrote a blog post for Mother’s Day two years ago about the vintage Mother and Child sketch by Picasso in 1904 that once belonged to my late mother. She never had it framed growing up but always had it placed in her bedroom. It wasn’t until she passed that I noticed it was a Picasso print. The image of a mother holding her child made me think of my mother which made me immediately have it custom framed. I couldn’t choose a room to display it in so I decided to hang it in the hallway at the top of the steps, where I look at it every day. It’s by far my favorite and most meaningful artwork in my house because of the story. For you maybe it’s a painting you purchased years ago in your travels that is buried somewhere or a family photo you took that you never hung-now is the time to hang it up. Switch up your artwork and choose artwork that puts a smile on your face when you look at it! A piece of art that speaks to you.

Add House Plants. We recently purchased a new palm floor tree and it brought me so much joy! House plants not only have qualities like eliminating toxins and chemicals such as carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde, and ammonia (to name a few) but they also bring an organic feel to a space. It’s the feeling of bringing nature indoors. Before you purchase any house plants decide on a location that will meet it’s care needs. A good rule of thumb to remember is ferns, for example, don’t need direct sunlight but love humidity-making kitchens and bathrooms great options. Succulents, however, love the sun but don’t need a lot of water.

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Paint Your Walls. Changing your wall color can dramatically transform the look and feel of your room. I know I say this over and over but it’s true. Colors have the ability to affect our mood, productivity, and behavior so be sure to pick your colors wisely. When I select a paint color for a client before I ask about the furniture or accessories they want to incorporate into the space-I ask about how they want to feel when they’re in the room. This is important! How they want to feel in the room determines whether I use a palette with warm colors, cool colors, complimentary colors, contrasting colors, or monochromatic. If you are having a hard time selecting a color get a paint deck and as you’re flipping through the paint strips set aside the colors that grab your attention. The colors that make your eye stop after browsing through color after color. Start there and narrow down your options based on which colors will coordinate best with your furnishings.

Even though we are confined to our homes, I hope that your surroundings bring you joy as well as a sense of happiness. Leave a comment below on some house projects you would like to start tackling during this time.

À la prochaine,