If you are planning to list your home, you may hear from your realtor or stager to refresh your paint. At minimum, interior walls and trim should be refreshed to eliminate nicks and scuffs.
Freshly painted walls appeal to buyers because the home is more “move in ready”. Additionally, the front door is part of your curb appeal that makes that first impression, or your kitchen and bathroom cabinets could use an update. Paint is a lower cost upgrade to modernize a space.
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Ten summers ago I was weaning my youngest baby in preparation for a 10th anniversary trip with my hubby. My oldest would start Kindergarten that fall and my middle child would begin preschool. It was a massive season of transition. We felt our family was complete and I began to ponder, in addition to motherhood, what will these next 10 years look like?
I had been creating home decor for myself and as gifts for family and friends, helping with little decluttering and organizing projects here and there, and playing around with different ideas in my own home, managing all the baby/kid gear and how a home evolves with as kids move through different stages. I revisited the idea I’d had nearly 10 years previously — to have my own design and organization business. I loved the idea of matchy matchy bins in drawers and pantries and closets and rooms full of colorful art and layered decor that told a story. I was a bit risk averse, but with the encouragement of loved ones, decided to sign up for a fall craft fair selling handmade home decor. I painted and sewed and created in my dining room with the kids underfoot and it just felt good to see “what if”? and do something that wasn’t about diapers. Even in these beginnings, I had hopes of working with clients in their homes, so these early days of of having conversations with buyers, creating custom decor, playing with color and and materials, shapes, textures and placement was a season full of growth.
I can hardly believe 10 years have passed. I now have teenagers and Joy in the Midst Creative has evolved from making decor to working with families and individuals at every stage and season, in every possible room and in every size home. What began as helping friends as they prepared their homes to sell evolved to regularly working with several area realtors to support their clients in the decluttering and staging process. What began as creating home decor, including some handmade organizing tools evolved into contracting with a local organizing team for a couple of years and then going out on my own to help clients who were ready to simplify their spaces, reimagine the function of a room, unpack intentionally, prepare for a new baby, work through a space after the loss of a loved one, downsize and more. It’s humbling, vulnerable work and I don’t think I fully appreciated that when I first began.
I’ve grown over this last decade into a wholly different organizer than when I began. The draw of pretty baskets and bins was strong in the beginning….and social media continues to make those spaces so appealing - right? But I have realized there is so much more at play. There is more behind how the piles get there in the first place. There is a story in each family, each home. There is a rhythm and mental health and the unexpected that affects the day to day - and therefore our spaces. All along the way I have tried to gently support and encourage those I’ve worked with by taking what can be a draining project and making it a little easier.
I have learned that decluttering truly is THE most impactful way to organize a space (and is often enough!).
I have learned that something that worked 5 years ago, may not work forever.
I have learned that adding more storage won’t necessarily solve a problem in a space and may actually make it more complicated.
I have also learned that some systems can work for the long haul - and if it ain’t broke, well….you know the rest.
And, I’ve realized that I love a project and I love design and piecing things together like a puzzle and the uniqueness of each client I work with that keeps the work fresh and challenging - WHAT A JOY!
Thanks for the opportunity to serve you, lighten your load, help you reset and simplify and give you ideas to consider trying. It’s a journey that stretches me and fills me with gratitude. Throughout this journey, I often receive texts or emails from clients and friends with a photo of some space they have just tackled, a pile they have just decluttered, a room their kiddo is enjoying again, or that they have passed my name along to someone they know that needs some help simplifying. That you think of me in these moments floors me every time, so thank you!
I look forward to continuing to grow and help you Make Room to See the Joy.
The back to school season can be exciting and overwhelming. There are new schedules to manage, supplies to purchase and sometimes new schools to navigate. As parents we want to set up our kids for success and that begins at home.
Figuring out what works for your family takes time plus some trial and error. Creating spaces and routines at the start will only help you build habits that serve your family and get school days started well. Incorporate these zones + tricks to help your day run a little more smoothly.
Backpacks + coats can live here at the end of the day.
Have your kids prep their bags the night before.
In a central location like the kitchen or mudroom, install a calendar plus bulletin board for fliers, reminders, extracurricular information, invites, and reference items. Creating a landing spot for these items minimizes the need to always check your phone or computer for info.
Incorporate a folder or wall file for each child or school to keep items separate.
Build their independence with a lunch packing zone on their level - either a cabinet or drawers with lunchbox, bento boxes/bags, thermos’, cutlery, napkins, water bottles.
Keep a basket or a few of snacks or grab and go items that can be included.
Designate a drawer or bin with backstock school supplies to pull from throughout the year with pencils, pens, highlighters, markers, extra notebooks, paper, etc.
Determine where homework will be completed and keep organized supplies on hand - either in a drawer nearby or in a divided lazy susan. Include pencils, sharpeners, erasers, highlighters, colored pencils, and glue sticks.
Have the kids create their own checklists to hang in their room, next to their backpack or by the door to remind them of prep needed in the evenings and mornings. Sometimes when we are tired, it’s helpful to have visual reminders. Use pictures with younger children.
Art is usually prolific in the younger years, or we just want to remember their interests at a particular age (lots of unicorns or Spiderman drawings!). Create a keepsake box for each child with folders for each school year. As art, report cards, school photos, or awards come home, add them to your child’s keepsake box. Learn how to make your own here.
When you have a home and routine that match your family’s current season, your day runs more smoothly. Your future self will thank you for setting these up now.