...with the Foundations of H.O.M.E.
“Home is the nicest word there is.” - Laura Ingalls Wilder
I truly believe in the power of home to make life better, easier, and more tranquil, and over the years have found that creating a home that works well for you goes beyond beautiful walls and custom furniture. Home is obviously very personal and means something different to everyone. While helping my clients create spaces that better serve them and their families, I’ve found that following these four basic principles can provide a foundation for establishing a home that we can thrive in, no matter how large or small, or who we share it with:
H. Healthy
O. Organized
M. Managed
E. Enjoyed
Healthy ~ How healthy is your home environment? How is the air quality? What needs to be repaired? Is it free of chemicals, pests, and anything harmful? Repairs - even minor ones - are a great place to start. Most homes have issues, especially if they’re older. We just repaired our garage roof and it felt so good to check it off the list. Walk through your home and make a note of everything that needs to be fixed to ensure your home is safe and healthy, from repairs to air quality to electrical hazards. We all have ‘em, so don’t feel bad. Just get the bids and get it done!
Organized ~ Organization is key to creating peace and harmony in your home. (I talked about getting organized in this post). This includes editing (getting rid of things that don’t serve you), cleaning, creating a working budget, and planning ahead. Your home certainly doesn’t have to be spotless, but clutter contributes to stress and mental overload, so even organizing that junk drawer in your kitchen can make space not only in your home but in your head as well. Every time I clean something out I feel like I lost ten pounds or got a great haircut (neither of which is true in real life) and it feels amazing.
Managed ~ Once you’ve taken the time to make necessary (or glaring) repairs and get organized, you just have to keep it going. Honestly it’s a pleasure and a privilege to take care of the home you have, and it will keep you feeling sane no matter what is going on outside your walls. Creating a well-managed home feels good and is a great way to teach your kids what it means to care for their surroundings. This is always a work in progress for me but when I keep up with the basics, I feel a sense of peace.
Enjoyed ~ We all need to take the time to enjoy the home we have. Whether that means having friends over for impromptu cocktails, spending time in the garden, or making plans to open an amazing bottle of wine and cozy up on the couch by the fire, enjoying your home is essential. It’s a cliche but so true that it’s cherishing the little moments that make life extraordinary.
Creating a home that works well for us and the people we share it with is vital to our overall health and well-being. My home certainly isn’t perfect (is anyone’s?) and that’s not the goal - to me, the idea is to create an environment that will serve as a true sanctuary. I have stumbled many times along the way, but always found that creating a thoughtful home for myself and my family has fed my passion for helping others do the same. Of course, I realize how lucky we are to have a place to call home.
I hope you found this useful and if so, please share with someone you think might also enjoy Coberly Home. Remember - making even one change that helps you live better in your home is a win! Thank you for reading and I’ll see you here next time…
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