If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that they aren't very domestic, I think I'd be rich. All it takes a few hangs with me and next thing you know, they're on shopping sprees at Target getting "stuff for the house". Being a domestic goddess or god is pretty simple actually. You don't have to be Suzy Homemaker to showcase fierce domestic abilities, there is a little bit of trickery that can have you feeling like Martha Stewart in a snap!
My purpose on this earth is to help people love where they live. I believe it is essential for life happiness + success. So, I wanted to create a little plan for all of you, a 30-day plan that will help you unleash the domestic goddess within and leave you feeling that covetable but attainable feeling of domestic bliss. You know that feeling when you come home and look around and your environment just makes you feel so good about yourself? If not, don't worry you will.
First, I want you to print out this PRETTY PRINTABLE CHIC SHEET. Then once you have completed your task for each day, and checked it off your chic sheet, show me your progress! { instagram your photos with #domesticbliss30 } I'd love to see what you are up to.
DAY ONE: Assess your living situation and make some goals. Determine which areas of your home need a little bit of TLC. Is your closet in need of organizing? Are you scared to open your fridge because of what might or might not be inside? Do you have a guest bedroom that has become just an extra room for "stuff"? Have you looked closely under your kitchen cabinets lately? It's cool. We've all been there, we have all at one point or another neglected our home. Now its time to take back control. Make a list of the TOP 5 areas of your home that need immediate attention. *A note to all my housewives and moms of the world, you have the gift of being the homemaker, whether you like it or not. It's an honor to be the one who runs a household and its your contribution to the lives of your family. Today, I want you to give yourself a big hug for this incredible role. You run the world!
DAY TWO: Have a paper parade. Become a relentless paper shredder. Go through all mail, catalogs, magazines, files, old bills, etc. Clear your home of all unnecessary paper that may be floating around. Create a tray, folder or bin for all must keep papers. Get rid of the rest!
DAY THREE: AROMATHERAPY. We associate almost everything by smell. Smell is probably my #1 priority in my home. When I get up in the morning, I light a candle while I get ready. Today, I am suggesting you do the same. Pick your favorite place in the home and light up your favorite candle or fragrance in the home. If you hate candles, get febreeze. Whatever area of your home is special for you, give it some TLC with a pretty fragrance. When you get home from your day, repeat the process. Indulge in the goodness. Pics of your candles please. Tag me @thedecorista + #domesticblisssquad
DAY FOUR: Declutter your bathroom(s). We will tackle several declutter projects and I always like to start with the bathroom. I think because its the one place that is essential for good hygiene. Start with the bathtub. Are there any products that are so old or almost empty? Please toss them. Do you need to watch your loofah or perhaps its time to get a new one? Do it now. If it needs a cleaning you may want to do that now too. Toss your towels and bath mats in the wash. Throw away old lotions, toothpaste, empty mouthwash bottles, etc. Anything that is not new, full and fresh THROW IT AWAY! Your bathroom speaks to your personal hygiene, so what does your bathroom say about you? Let's handle this today. Notice how you feel with a clean bathroom? Feels pretty good doesn't it? Keep it up.
DAY FIVE: Windex your life away. This is pretty self explanatory but I loooooove windex. Probably a little bit because of the dad from "My big fat greek wedding" but in any case I do think Windex is a cure all. Today I want you to go around with your windex and clean any windex-able surface. Mirrors, windows, picture frames, art, etc. Just do it.
DAY SIX: Organize your books. If you are a reader or avid book collector like you, you probably have books floating around everywhere. Let's clean them up and find a place for them. Every. Single. One. I like to stack them according to color of the spine. Some people like to stack them under chairs or use a stack as a side table. However you do it, find a use for every book in the home.
A few fun books for updating your space:
DAY SEVEN: Style up your sofa. Everyone has a sofa right? But not everyone styles them. Trust me, I've seen some pretty dodgy sofa looks. It doesn't have to be anything too crazy, but fluff up your pillows and maybe add an extra one to the mix. Fold a pretty throw over one of the arms. Vacuum the creases (get rid of that popcorn) + under the cushions. Spray it with Febreeze. Whatever you have to do to give your seating area a zhush, just go ahead and do it. Now enjoy your newly styled up and very clean sofa.
DAY EIGHT: Pick one of your TOP 5 areas from DAY ONE + attend to it. If that means, unpacking boxes, taking in that bag of donations you've been meaning to, cleaning your kids room, getting a bed frame for the guest room. Whatever you need to do, today is your day to do ONE thing for that area and do it!
DAY NINE: Declutter your refrigerator. It's probably about time you tackle this beast. Same drill as the bathroom. Get rid of anything old, with mold or that has an way too long ago expiration date. Check the freezer too. If its almost empty, toss it. I don't care if its only beer and champagne in that fridge, I want to see it looking pretty. I also like to arrange my drinks in order and get all stylish with it. It makes cooking and opening that door so much more fun. It also impresses your guests. While you are at it, you may want to scrub it down too. Clean those drawers and around the insides with those Lysol wipes, they work wonders.
DAY TEN: Bring in the green. I think it may be a feng shui trick or something, but adding a plant or flowers in your home brings in such life. This is essential to making your house feel more like a home. Even if you don't have a green thumb you can get some bamboo or succulents, they live forever. I am partial or orchids and palm leaves. Whatever it would be that would make you happy, bring in a little life to your space and flow with that energy. If it dies, don't beat yourself up about it, try something else. The key here is that giving your home a gift is something special and will make you appreciate your home a little bit more. Now, show me your greens.
DAY ELEVEN: Dress up your bed. I've been attempting this "make your bed every morning" method for a while now and let me tell you. It works. It's hard to keep up on the commitment, but the feeling I have now if I don't make my bed is so much worse that the laborious time it is making it up. I've invested in some new pillows and added a quilt. Now I make my bed up like its a hotel complete with a throw. When I get into bed at night, its so exciting I even do a little squeal. It's such a fun experience now. Plus, it helps me from taking little naps in the afternoon because it just looks so dang comfy. So, try it out today, make your bed look as best as you can like a hotel, get those sheets flat and wrinkle free, plump up those pillows and fold over that comforter and show me your pics!
DAY TWELVE: Attack your junk drawers. Any and all drawers used for random things, go through them and throw away what isn't needed. See how empty you can get them, challenge yourself.
DAY THIRTEEN: Clean the ceiling fans. Or your heaters, or your AC units. Get that dust moving along and replace any ducts that need replacing. Make sure the air that you are breathing is clean and fresh. Your lungs and sleep will thank you for it.
DAY FOURTEEN: Style up your shoes. Some people like to keep a bunch of shoes by the door to keep carpets clean, others like them lined in the closet. Where ever it is that you like to keep your shoes, come up with a stylish way to display them. Treat them like books, organize according to size or color or stack them away in pretty boxes. I don't want one pair of shoes out of place, even if it is for easy access, keep those soles cared for and put properly in their stylish place. And don't forget, Show me those pics!
DAY FIFTEEN: Take a shelfie. I'm sure most of you are pretty aware of the instagram condition and insta your heart out. We all can get overwhelmed by all of the gorgeous pics out there that show such stylish homes and covet the look of fabulousness. Well, you can have that too. You've just got to put a little work into it. Go to pinterest and get inspired by some style pics. Then recreate that look on a shelf surface in your home. Get flowers, candles, trinkets, whatever you need to get your shelf super stylish. It doesn't have to be perfect, so don't beat yourself up about it. What matters here is the effort, its TLC for your home. Then, take a shelfie and tag @thedecorista + #domesticbliss30 & Watch your instagram envy melt away.
DAY SIXTEEN: Make a meal. For some of you, this will be easy and for others, not so much. I want you to challenge yourself by making a meal at home, pour a glass of wine, turn off all TV, light candles, play soft music and enjoy eating it. You could make frozen pizza for all I care, but do it with delight. Treat yourself as if you were at a restaurant, the hostess, the chef, the waiter and the diner. Relish in every part of it. I try to do this for myself or my family and friends at least once a week. It's sort of therapeutic for me and can take place of my meditation practice. I just get into my zone and enjoy the flow.
DAY SEVENTEEN: Pick one of your TOP 5 areas from DAY ONE + attend to it. Repeat process from DAY EIGHT.
DAY EIGHTEEN: Express yourself. Do you remember this post I wrote about adding encouraging words in your home? Now its your turn to do it. You can head to a craft store and make something yourself, order a poster online or even write a message to yourself in the bathroom mirror with beautiful red lipstick! Whatever you do, put your heart and soul into it. As always, show me your words!
DAY NINETEEN: Declutter your home office or workspace. Where do you pay your bills, write letters, check your email? It's time to get REALLY organized in this area as its the key to your financial health. We already did a paper detox but if more has come up, toss it. Be sure to make sure all bills are paid and the work space is clear and easy to find things. None of this messy organization business, I've seen those before. It doesn't really work when it comes to domestic bliss. You've got to get your S*!# together sister. File folders, trays, do what you need to do. I promise, you will feel so much better once you do.
A few of my most favorite items to update your work space:
DAY TWENTY: Style up your coffee table. Having killer coffee table style is just one of those things that is essential in a stylish home that you will love. It's a perfect place to display some of your favorite things to look at while lounging on the sofa or chatting it up with your guests. You want conversation pieces, chic candles, fun books to browse, etc. Click here for some serious inspiration and today, make your coffee table the hot spot of your home.
DAY TWENTY-ONE: Just add fabrics. If by this time you still aren't really feeling that super cozy feeling in your home, chances are its pretty bare. One of the first things I like to tell my clients to do is add some fabrics to your space to give it some warmth. Get yourself some curtains and dress up those windows. Even if you don't really feel like you need curtains, add pretty panels to the sides of your windows. Just think of it like adding a picture frame to your view. I don't know why, it just changes the entire space. After that, add some pillows you like or a throw blanket or perhaps its about time you get a rug. HomeGoods + TJ Maxx have some reallllly good deals on rugs lately. Check them out.
A few of my favorites:
DAY TWENTY-TWO: Curate a bar cart. Even if you aren't a drinker, adding a bar cart area to your home is so much fun. You can make it a coffee cart, too. On mine you will see bottles of Perrier and grapefruit Pelligrino right next to my champagne. Display your favorite glassware or vintage dishes, add a candle. If you already have a bar cart going, how can you spruce it up? Add your favorite candies or get some fun new cocktail napkins. I like to keep a collection of matchboxes from all of my favorite restaurants in NYC. Put some love into how your bar cart is displayed, it's a love letter to your guests. Don't forget, send me pics.
DAY TWENTY-THREE: Pick one of your TOP 5 areas from DAY ONE + attend to it. Repeat process from DAY EIGHT.
DAY TWENTY-FOUR: Frame AND hang your art. I don't think I have ever been to a home where there isn't an unhung piece of art just laying around. Every time I enter a friends home, I'm asked the question "where should I hang this"? Just hang it. Pick one place and put it up. It doesn't have to be perfect because its your home and where your gut tells you to hang it, is where it's meant to go. If you can't possibly make the decision to hang it without a second opinion, message me on instagram and I'll be happy to help you. @thedecorista
DAY TWENTY-FIVE: Have a guest over. Play hostess for the day and set up a little soiree and have a guest or two over and tell them about your 30 days to domestic bliss journey. Show off the new things you have styled up, wow them with your commitment to a clutter-free life or show them your hotel like bedding situation. Spread the domestic bliss energy.
DAY TWENTY-SIX: Get some fresh air. Open up all the windows, if weather permits, and light your candles. Fresh air brings a new energy into a home and lets the stagnant energy out. I usually do this routine on Sunday mornings and play my favorite music. It's kind of like restarting your phone or computer. You've just got to clear all the air out.
DAY TWENTY-SEVEN: Create a personal space. Now, you don't have to do all of this but I am a HUGE believer in morning meditation and journaling. It was my 2015 resolution and it has literally changed my life. I put my most comfortable chair in the corner or my bedroom and next to it I set up a side table with a lamp and a candle. I sit here in the mornings or in the evening when I have my tea and just want to take a moment of solitude to reflect on the day. I am so in love with my little space now I even bought 2 pretty pillows to sit with. This is also self care + self love, two extremely crucial keys to happiness and domestic bliss!
DAY TWENTY-EIGHT: Declutter your garage. Or shed. Or any other space you have that is overflowing with "extras". I understand this may take longer than a day but put one foot in front of the other and take a stab at it. Throw things away. Don't be afraid to let go of things and their energy, new things always come in. It's the circle of home life.
DAY TWENTY-NINE: Go out and buy your home a gift. You have done so much work. Why not pick your favorite room in your entire house and get it something extra special. It deserves some upgrades + extra lovin'. Here are some things I suggest...
DAY THIRTY: Be grateful and plan your next challenge. It's so important to be very present to what we are blessed with. I can remember even being in the smallest studio in NYC and more grateful than ever. Gratitude = happiness. Now that you have conquered this challenge, you can see that goal setting can be super easy when broken down into actionable steps. Check out my FREE guide to Planning with Purpose and see if you can take on your next challenge with ease. [enter your email and info below and I will send you your free e-book]
So happy you guys could join me on this 30-day challenge. I want to encourage you and be a part of this with you every step of the way. Each day and assignment, social media me photos of your work and tag @thedecorista + #domesticblisssquad . I would LOVE to see what you are up to!
Have you joined the challenge? Leave me a comment below and tell me your ways you find domestic bliss!
Good luck! xo ashlina
