How to Design Your Home for a Happy Mess
In our digital world, nothing seems to go unseen. It’s become the norm to share our daily activities, our food, our children, and invite the entire world into our homes with a few taps on our phones. While that can be a beautiful thing, sparking connection and inspiration, it’s far too easy to get caught up in images of spotless, tidy homes... and forget about the reality behind the photo.
Do people not buy toys for their kids? Don’t their kids wish for their artwork to be displayed? And surely the children aren’t spending their days reading Kelly Wearstler’s latest coffee table book... where are those bright-colored, cardboard books?
Seeing perfectly curated homes and then bringing our gaze back to our own homes can obstruct our concept of reality and leave us feeling less-than. For no reason other than comparing ourselves to curated content. Because the truth is, every home has a mess. Yep, even me. And yep, even if it’s not shown on Insta. ;)
What if I told you there was a way that you (and your kiddos) can have the freedom to actually live in your home without constantly worrying about keeping it spotless? What if mess could be beautiful and spaces could be usable?
They can. It’s called... a happy mess, It sets the tone for a comfortable, inviting, and usable space for everyone involved, and that includes you, Momma!
What is a “Happy Mess”?
I know, you might think I’m crazy for placing the words “happy” and “mess” in the same sentence, but hear me out! I’m going to tell you something, and I want you to receive it with open arms, ‘kay?
Everything does not need to be perfectly tidy and Instagram-worthy all the time. *Gasp!* Do you feel a bit of relief? I hope so.
To me, a happy mess is a beautiful, curated home that evokes feelings of bliss and still allows for everyday living, which includes... yep, you guessed it, messes. Let’s face it, having kids in the home means it will only reach a level of Pinterest-perfection for a total of .2 seconds anyway, So why not end the stress and embrace the mess?
Comfort is the ultimate luxury, and part of that comfort is feeling relaxed when you come home. Giving your family the freedom to get messy with easy cleanup relieves the stress and pressure of a perfect home...for everyone.
Maybe you’re thinking, “my house feels messy, but not necessarily happy.” Fair enough. If you’re wondering how to put the “happy” part into your mess, you’re in the right place. Today I’m sharing 3 quick tips to design your home for a happy mess. Keep reading for ways to lighten the burden and make your life easier.
Tip 1: Select Family-Friendly Materials
You can trust that I will never let messy kids, pets, and even husbands get in the way of beautiful design. How? When curating a home, I always opt for high-performance upholstery and durable materials. Selecting materials that will hold up to life’s daily adventures gives you the freedom to actually live in your home while helping to make the space practical, functional, and totally stylish. Win, win!
Tip 2: Infuse Personality into Your Home
Clutter gets a bad rep, it’s easy to see why. But when done thoughtfully, having items in the home with meaning translates to comfort, not chaos. If your home is full of meaningless items, that is when clutter happens. For example, try including items you’ve collected during memorable family vacations, your honeymoon, or even artwork your children have created.
I love my family’s cozy breakfast nook, above, where we display the girls’ drawings on this custom bulletin board. Not only does this give our home a unique personality making it stand out from any other home on the block, but it makes the girls feel important, included, and special. Truly making it a happy place for everyone.
Tip 3: Creating Organized Chaos
Do you know where toys without a place end up? You guessed it, somewhere in a dark room, under your feet. With you Quietly screaming choice words while hobbling into your bedroom, never a great way to transition into a restful sleep. Instead, make your life easier and save your feet from finding Barbie’s missing high heel by creating an organized and well laid-out out storage plan for toys.
My favorite solution for kid-friendly storage? Baskets! Since we already know that kids were designed to make messes, why not give them space to do so and provide a thoughtful storage system? Using big baskets on shelves in playrooms offers kids the freedom to let their imaginations run wild with easy cleanup when playtime is over... because they definitely clean up every single time, right? Ha.
Not only can baskets conceal those unsightly plastic toys, but they are also easy for little hands to maneuver, making them a perfect for kid-friendly storage solution. Try storing them down low on cube shelves for easy access.
Ah… isn’t it amazing how liberating it is to let go of the thought of perfection and embrace the reality of living in a happy, imperfectly perfect home? In my opinion, when your home is thoughtfully curated with a plan, a few toys left out in the living room will feel less like a mess and more like the evidence of a happy life. Don’t you think?
If you’re dreaming of a happy, stress-free, mess-happy home that the entire family can enjoy, reach out to me here. I can’t wait to help you create a functional, family-friendly space that’s begging for a good mess. ;)
Xoxo,
Susie