In our ever increasing, fast paced world we are inundated with constant stressors. Including your 24/7 ability to be in constant contact through technology and media. Gone are the 9 to 5 work days, replaced by stressful jobs, parenthood & volunteering with ever increased responsibilities. It is time to incorporate some form of stress management, relaxation and grounding technique that will allow you to take that much needed deep breath.

How To: Refresh Your Space for Spring

Inspired Greetings!

At long last, the arctic winds have started to subside and the sun has begun to linger in the sky. Soon the tulips will begin to peak through what was just frozen ground. As Spring approaches, I am thrilled to share tips and trends for refreshing your space. In this week’s blog, we will look at how using bright colors in your home can have a significant impact on your mood and emotions. Get ready to embrace one of my favorite seasons with new room inspirations and exciting products that my team and I have curated just for you!

Blessings, Christa O’Leary

How To: Refresh Your Space for Spring

One of the tools in my “Home in Harmony Toolbox” is the ability to assess a home or office through the lens of psychology. As your natural environment changes from winter to spring, your mind and body begin to feel this shift. It is beneficial to attune your space to be aligned with the natural world.

Using bright colors in your home can have a significant impact on your mood and emotions. Bright colors can create a sense of energy and excitement in a room, making it feel more lively and vibrant. Colors can also evoke feelings of happiness and positivity, which can improve mood and well-being. Blue sky, green grass and pink tulips can create a cascade of happy hormones in your body that impact your level of contentment. Using those colors in your home can have a similar effect.

You might be wondering what the color trends are for spring 2023. Sarah Dimarco of Veranda Magazine explains that “The era of vibrancy is upon us.” Some of the popular colors this year include the many shades of green as well as the bright and bold hues of oranges and magenta.

When selecting bright colors, consider the psychological association of each hue. For example, red can be energizing and passionate, while yellow can be cheerful and optimistic. Decide what you want to feel in your space and how it will best serve you and your circumstances. Do you need more intensity or do you need more joy in your life? Assessing where you are and where you want to be will help you determine what colors are best to incorporate in your space.

Remember, ultimately the colors you choose for your home should reflect your personal style and you feel comfortable and happy in your space.

Simple Solution: If your walls are gray, add a pop of your favorite color to liven up the space with accent side tables or bold lamps in your favorite hue.

The Color of Calm

Inspired greetings,

It has been a while since I’ve been in touch. I’m so happy to be reconnecting with you! I hope the last three years have been filled with peace in your home, despite the turbulent world. I wanted to take the time to update you on my journey and provide you with some great content to help you create your home in harmony. Thank you for being a part of my community and I look forward to creating solutions for you to design inspired living!

For 23 years I have been helping people create home and office environments that are both aesthetically beautiful and psychologically nurturing. I have taken courses in anything related to our homes from Feng Shui & clutter clearing to green design & color psychology. I often refer to these certifications as “tools-in-my-tool-box” that help me assess an interior environment and create a design that nurtures the mind, body and spirit of those that live or work within the walls. In todays blog, I am going to focus on design and color psychology.

Design psychology is the study of how people interact with design elements in their environment. It focuses on understanding how visual elements, colors, shapes, and materials affect people’s behavior and emotions. Design psychology helps me look at how people interpret visual stimuli, room & furniture layouts and how they respond to different colors. It also examines the influence of culture, context, and personal preferences on design. Design psychology helps me create spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and emotionally satisfying. By understanding the psychological effects of design, I can purposefully create experiences that support the people that live or work in the environment and make them feel connected to their space.

During this time of year we see an abundance of pink. Let’s look at the color pink through a design & color psychology lens. Pink is a color that is often associated with femininity, love, and romance. It is also associated with being innocent, sweet, and caring. In color psychology, pink is said to have a calming and soothing effect. It can be used to help relax and unwind, and it can help to create a sense of peace and harmony. Pink can also help to reduce aggression and negative emotions, making it a great choice for those trying to create a calming or peaceful atmosphere. Pink can also be used to help promote creativity and foster a sense of unity and togetherness. For pink room inspirations check out @HomeinHarmonyDesigns! We are dedicating the month to pink inspo!

Simple Solution: If you like the idea of creating calm in the midst of a chaotic world, use pink in your home to foster a soothing psychological response. An easy way to do this is by incorporating accent pieces like pillows, rugs, and artwork. Play around with different shades, textures, and patterns to create an inviting and unique space.

Design psychology is a tool-in-my-toolbox that allows me to see and assess spaces. This lens enables me to create home environment that nurture and support the individuals or families that live there.

Please join me on Instagram @HomeinHarmonyDesigns to see our latest projects, products and events! This is a great way to connect, be part of the conversation and enjoy the community! I really hope to see you there.

Do You have Forgotten Areas?

Vast parts of the US are under a deluge of arctic weather. Freezing temperatures, blustery winds and beautiful snow will keep many inside. I am one of those who tend to get excited when Mother Nature forces our family to hunker down. It is nice to have a respite in the midst of our otherwise over scheduled lives. When the kids were younger I would stock up on essentials like water and non-essential ingredients to make the kids nachos, cookies and hot chocolate.

I also looked forward to sitting in front of the fire watching movies and playing board games that would keep us entertained throughout the day. In addition, I would give each person a “project” to do when they began to get restless. These “projects” would include overlooked household items that needed attention but were not a high enough priority to make it on the weekly to-do list. They would fall into the category of “I will get to that some-day”. Even in this home we have the disorganized drawer under the phone that originally held batteries, phone-books and notepads but now has a myriad of other items. Clearing and cleaning these overlooked spots will feel so good!

In every home I have been in (1000’s at this point) there are always areas that are neglected or overlooked. Even the most fastidious homeowners have areas that need attention. Initially you look at these areas and think to yourself, “I will get to that” but over time it moves to the back burner of your life. When this happens you might not even notice the disorder anymore but unfortunately your unconscious does! And it drains your energy and brings you down! Putting a plan together to attend to these “forgotten areas” will help you create home harmony.

Do you have places and spaces within your home that are “Forgotten Areas”?

That is… you would like to forget about them!

However… you can’t! And, the agitation makes you roll your eyes whenever they come to mind.

When you do think about those areas, you can’t remember what is there! Unfortunately, this is depleting your energy. It is a total energy zap!

You are not alone! So many people have this experience!!

Today’s article will help you with those forgotten areas that have become dark places that drain your energy.

Let’s look at some Simple Solutions to help you make your place look and feel great! When your space feels good, it lifts you up!

1. Fresh Eyes

One part of my business is helping showcase properties that homeowners and realtors want to sell. It is always so interesting to walk through these homes with the owners explaining what needs to be changed, organized, repaired or cleared. They begin to “see” the areas that they have left unattended for years, sometimes decades. Because of their desire to showcase the home in the best light, to ensure a quick and profitable sale, they begin to tackle the to-dos on a seemingly long list. Often times when the items have been tackled and completed they realize that they could have and probably should have done this years before because the space feels so much better and in turn, they feel better! I invite you to walk through your home as if you were going to put it on the market tomorrow. This will help you begin to see your space from a fresh perspective and might help to illuminate the areas that need attention.

2. Sidestep Overwhelm

As I walk through a home with a homeowner and realtor, I make a list of all of the items that need to be addressed. My goal is to include all necessary areas that will help their home look fabulous. That being said, I also want to ensure the client doesn’t move into a state of overwhelm. Unfortunately, as humans, when you and I become overwhelmed we can get stuck in a state of analysis paralysis. This brings any forward momentum or action to a screeching halt. When working with clients to showcase their properties or coach them in creating their ideal life it is important to create a structure that is manageable and straightforward. It is necessary to put an actionable plan in place that is realistic and creates the desired end result.

3. Get Help

It is important to realize that sometimes it is necessary to ask for help. There are two types of help that are important to evaluate, inside and outside. What I mean for inside is, you might have a family member or two, or a friend that can help you begin to navigate your way through the list you created. Today, on this snow day, I will give my kids a “project” that they can help with. A few weeks ago one of my kid’s was grounded so I kept that child busy all day with little projects. They had to tighten the bolts on the garage door, clean and organize the wrapping paper closet (which was actually a tall task after the holiday season) and clean their room. Sometimes it is hard to know where to begin and is necessary to bring in a professional from the outside with a trained eye. They can help you put a plan in place that is structured in a way to avoid overwhelm and ensures you keep the forward momentum heading to your ultimate goal for your home and life.

These three simple solutions can help you create your Home in Harmony. You deserve to live in a home that supports and nurtures your mind, body and spirit. Your home is the foundation of your life. Create and maintain a structure that fortifies your well-being.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Don’t Wait!

How is the start to your 2019? Have you begun to make those New Year dreams that truly inspired you into a reality in your home? How about your health, your happiness? Or, are you beginning to feel defeated and uninspired? Have you gone back to the habits of your daily routine?

The first step to making change is to assess where you are. From there you can determine where you want to be, what needs to be accomplished to achieve your goals and then to take action that is in alignment with your aspirations. This is true for every area of your life be it your home, health and happiness. One of the biggest obstacles to creating the life and home you love is the tendency to procrastinate. The, “Oh, I will do it later” syndrome. In today’s article we will look at a few simple solutions to help you begin accelerating towards the ideal vision of your life and obliterate the tendency to procrastinate. Sound good?

Procrastination can turn the landscape of life into a quagmire that leaves you feeling trapped and unable to move forward. Free yourself from the bondage of procrastination by utilizing these simple solutions. They will generate momentum allowing you to begin designing the home, health and happiness you deserve!

First, understand that your life is made up of thoughts and actions that are more than 86% habitual. These habits are ingrained and become the motor behind your motivation. When procrastination surfaces it is because your proverbial ‘engine’ has been hijacked by your habitual, auto-pilot behavior. The first step to removing this autopilot mode is gaining the awareness that it is just that. This will enable you to put your hands back on the steering wheel of your life. It is time for you to be in the cockpit controlling where you are going and your final destination.

Next, begin to put systems in place to reinforce the habits you want to form. Determine what your big vision is for you home, health and happiness and decide what habits would help you move towards this goal with ease and grace. Create a system that will help to fortify this habit in your life. For example, if you decide you want to be more organized, take small steps to clear clutter and organize specific areas. Decide on a specific time each day (one that is convenient for you) to begin to implement your new activity. Do this task at the same time each day. This will help you form a positive, life-affirming habit that will help you put your ideal vision on the fast track of success.

Lastly, rinse and repeat. When you feel you have created a helpful habit that is going to stick for the long haul, it is time to look at the next habit you can create to help move you closer to your ideal vision for your dream life.

Creating habits one step at a time will help you move through the blocks that procrastination forms and put you on a trajectory that will have you designing your inspired, healthy and vibrant home, body, mind and spirit.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Image Credit: BBC dot com

Do this for a Stress-Less Holiday Season

Did you know that the decorations you choose during the holidays can have an impact on your level of stress? Hopefully you are in festive spirits!… But, if you are feeling anxiety, stress and agitation there is a way to decrease those feelings by making small adjustments to your space!

I was asked to do a TV segment on Mass Appeal on how to create a Stress-Less Holiday and I gave a few simple solutions that you can do in your home environment to help decrease your level of stress and anxiety.

Watch the video below!

Wishing you an abundance of peaceful blessings during the holiday season!

Happy Soaring,