These past couple of years have been a challenge for all of us. Somewhere I read, we are all in this storm together but in different lifeboats. I think this is a very apt statement as even though we are all living through the pandemic and now climate change is upon us in no uncertain terms, how these events affect us in our day to day lives is different. I just wanted to acknowledge that before going further. Even though I have truly felt these latest events I also know I among the lucky living here in Victoria, BC, Canada.

One thing that has become more apparent than ever is how important our home has become. We are in our home now more than ever and we are learning the value of surrounding ourselves with comfort. How that comfort is represented is different for each of us. One of us may like a cheery space that fills our heart each day as we pad down the stairs to a brightly coloured kitchen for that first cup of tea or coffee. Another may like subdued hues that make them feel calm and serene. One person may like original art pieces that illicit an internal response where someone else may like to be surrounded by personal photographs. It really is interesting how different each of our homes are and how they represent us. This is what I feel “home” should be. A place to kick back and be completely ourselves.

The new year is a good time to reassess. Are there parts of your home that are truly “you”? What is it about that part of your house that makes it you? Is it the colour? Is it the items in the space? Is it a favourite pillow or a favourite piece of art? Even if you can’t quite put your finger on it, can you come up with the words to describe the feeling you have in that space? Sometimes it is an energy that you can just feel. By doing a little bit of analysis, you can help determine what that feeling is and then it will be easier to pull that feeling into the other spaces in your home.

START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

There are so many ways we can update our space these days. My wish for you as we head into the new year is that your home reflects you and how you want to live each day. As they say, home is where the heart is, so let’s make our hearts full!

Happy New Year!