Make “Confidence Begins At Home” Your New Mantra

As the first month of a fresh year inches toward its final week, I’ve been reflecting on how best to move forward through a year full of possibility. I always start with my mantra: Confidence begins at home. While we strive to be our best and most confident selves every day, sometimes we wake up needing a boost. Happiness is a choice, and choosing to have a positive attitude is something we have to work towards every day! Having a home that brings you confidence will help you choose a positive attitude and help you stay happy.

My mantra encompasses the big and little things throughout your home that make it special, unique, and uplifting for you. Maybe it’s the meaningful decor on your nightstand, or the beautiful, bright color you selected for your kitchen. Each one of your small details paints a bigger picture… the picture of how you walk into the world every day. Like I always say, Feel good about your home and you’ll feel good about your life!

The First Thing You See in the Morning

Having a space you love is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It’s where we begin every day. Our environment affects us in a myriad of ways -  from our mood, to being able to find our keys in the morning. We gain inspiration from any room in our home … from the bedroom or living room, to the kitchen or office!

We all have the power to create our happiness with everything we do - that starts with our home. My primary goal is to help people create a space where their confidence is nourished and sustained; through thoughtful design. By surrounding yourself with pieces that empower you, inspire you, and make you feel good, you will be ready to tackle anything.

There are many ways to create a home that jumpstarts your day and also becomes a safe haven at night. Colors, textures, furniture, and decor are all aspects to be considered. If you’re starting from scratch, the world is your oyster. If you’re working with what you have, a few well-chosen accessories can make all the difference.

Design with Confidence

Anything and everything in your home can inspire confidence. It’s all about finding what speaks to you on a personal level. Color can be a powerful tool and have a profound impact on your mood and outlook. It can lift your spirit, soothe your soul, or energize your day.

When choosing colors, think about what resonates for you, and also think about what you’re trying to achieve in that space. Blues are calming, greens are healing, browns are grounding, and yellows spur creativity. These are just a few examples... every color has a different psychological and physiological impact on us, so bear their properties in mind when choosing your colors, and remain connected to how they make you feel.

If you want more inspiration for using color or want to learn more about what they mean, check out the Color Ways section on my website. There you will find color palettes that I’ve personally designed in a variety of combinations to help you achieve any vibe. I even include suggestions for how to work the palettes into your space, with curated products that complement and contrast with the palettes. Go discover and play with color!

Curate Your Own Collection

Artwork in itself can have a significant impact on you each day. We always say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it’s never as true as it is with art. Art is one of the most personal things you can have in your home, and I can help you understand its importance in your room. Whether you’re doing inexpensive wall art or investing in fine art, take your time finding the pieces that speak to you, that move you, and even touch you. Of course, they should work with your decor and the design of your home, but they don’t have to be coordinated. Sometimes an unexpected mix can be just the right thing. Adding color through your art in an otherwise neutral room can be exciting and energize your space. Adding modern art to a more transitional, or even traditional, decor can supply the perfect juxtaposition to make your home uniquely yours. Each piece should stand on its own, but it’s when you combine the different elements together that you make it your own. Art is meant to strike a chord within you, so when it’s for your home, make it one that inspires you and brings you joy!

Be One with Nature

The last few years have seen a rise in a trend that incorporates elements of nature into our lives. We as humans have a tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature. This phenomenon, coined by Harvard naturalist, Dr. Edward O. Wilson, is called biophilia (bio- meaning “life”, and -philia meaning “lover of” or “friendly feeling toward”). With so many of us cooped up in our homes these last few months, it is no surprise that the biophilia trend is acutely on the rise. We feel drawn towards nature and cravemore of it in our lives. This can easily be accomplished by bringing plants and plant-related items into a room, or having furnishings that are nature-inspired. 

Living walls have become very popular; while they take a bit of care, or a simple irrigation system, they add a lot to a home. You also have the option to have plants, of all sizes, in key locations. There are fabulous and interesting pots and planters to transfer them into, giving you many options to create the dramatic effect you want for your space - all while coordinating them with the rest of your decor.

Surrounding ourselves with elements that express our affinities for nature can help similarly ground us in our daily lives. Some people have a “green thumb” and love taking care of living plants and gardens. For me, that’s not my strong suit, so I’m very drawn to having some home decor with a biophilic look: pieces that have organic shapes or elements to it, or incorporating patterns that imitate forestry (like a wallpapered accent wall, or patterned pillows). These elements help to soothe us, and help us feel calm and provide a general sense of well being. It’s what biophilia is all about!

Amplify with Accessories

The easiest way to claim your space and inspire your daily confidence is to look at your accessories... those special decorative objects that can truly inspire you and complete your home. 

When thinking about accessorizing your home, there are two things to consider. The first one is finding pieces you love, in whatever price range you’re looking in. This is how we begin our accessory journey. Equally important is to make sure you can arrange them, together, in an impactful way. It’s important to love more than the individual piece itself, you also have to love how it looks in tandem with the surrounding pieces of the vignette you are creating. Mixing colors, heights, shapes, sizes, textures, and types of objects together is key. They will tell a story, making the tableau of objects next to one another as important as the pieces themselves. Either way, these finishing touches truly make a house a home...your home!

It’s vital to live in a home that feeds you, fortifies you and helps you have the confidence to go out in the world with a positive attitude. Remind yourself daily, Confidence Begins at Home!