Don't Apologize, Change it Up!

How many times have you prepped, planned and primped for guests?  You've chosen a menu, shopped for groceries and table decor, cleaned the house to within an inch of it's life, and threatened your children with bodily harm if they touch anything, in preparation for a dinner party?  Then, the candles are lit, the wine is decanted, the appetizers are hot and the first thing you say to your company is, "please, don't look in my office, it's not finished" as you walk past the doorway.  Or, "don't mind the kids' toys, we don't have enough storage yet." What I'm saying is that the first thing you do, is point out what you consider to be the flaws of your home.  We all do it.

I would like you to stop doing it, though.

We all have sorry areas of our homes that we either haven't had time to address or we simply don't have the money to fix right now.  That's kind of the point, we all have them.  How many people do you know who live in a model home or have a kitchen out of a decor magazine photo spread?  If only....

Now that the calendar has ticked over to a new year, and we've already broken our resolutions, add a new resolution to your list. Resolve to improve, even in a small way, the parts of your home you apologize for.  If your kids toys are taking over what should be an adult space, buy some covered storage ottomans ($12.99 right now at HomeSense) and put a lid on the toys.  If your office hasn't been decorated yet, either close the door when guests come over or buy colourful boxes and hide your un-filed bills and statements until you have a chance to look at them.  Even better, buy a gallon of paint and for about $50 you can put a new, fresh colour on the walls and make that office space a feature instead of a flaw.

The orange boxes on top of these filing cabinets contain credit card statements and receipts from 2008, the last time I was organized, but I still think the office looks guest-worthy!

I know houses are expensive and decorating them even more so, but like everything else in life, take small bites and accept what you can't change right now.  And, try your best be proud of your home.  It's by far your biggest investment, so make the most of it and if you can't, call me!