Hey homebodies. This may be a bit of a dry subject, but as I’ve started writing these columns and making changes to my home, I’ve developed a library of sorts containing resources that never cease to provide me with inspiration — hopefully they do the same for you.
1. Home Body, by Joanna Gaines
It was the inspiration for the title of this column, I had to make it No. 1 right? This book is the perfect introduction into home decor, the various styles and the trends that you’ll see incorporated into each farmhouse, modern, industrial and x,y,z-inspired home. It provides you with useful information that may help you find your style.
2. Simple Household Wisdom 425 Easy Ways to Clean and Organize your Home, by Good Housekeeping
This book provided me with some serious ah-ha moments. There were countless I-can’t-believe-I didn’t-think-of-that times. This book has a way of making you see quick tricks in a new light and has crafty suggestions on how you can make easy storage and so much more.
3. The Curated Closet, by Anuschka Rees
OK, this may seem like more of a lifestyle pick (I apologize in advance because I have another, likely lifestyle choice), but it’s provided me a new way of looking at my wardrobe. It tackles the art of making sure you have necessary clothing items in a space you’ve curated and loved.
4. The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well, by Meik Wiking
If there’s one feeling I always want my house to radiate it’s that of hygge. Canadians would liken it to the homey feel we get with candles and soft lights, maybe surrounded by loved ones. It’s cosy. I’ve tried really hard to pick decor items in my house that spark that little level of cosiness. Like the super woolly rug at the foot of my bed that not only makes the room look longer, but is so soft that sometimes I lay on that rather than my mattress.
5. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo
What is the proper way to declutter? How should you really fold your clothes? All the answers to questions you can’t even think of are in this book. Now, if you don’t want to read the book you can see the process live through Kondo’s Netflix show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, but be prepared to want to change every organizational system in your house.
Now, while I’ve supplied you with a shopping list to take with you to your nearest bookstore, there are other resources I’ve tapped into to find inspiration.
Take for instance, Modern Farmhouse Magazine, HGTV Magazine and even Chatelaine. All provide great insight into today’s home trends.
Taking it a step further, if you’d like to dive into the world of YouTube, I recommend channels like Alexandra Gater (the former home editor for Chatelaine), Mr. Kate, Buzzfeed’s Space Lift and some super fly videos by Anna Newton, Lilly Pebbles and Lucie Fink (Refinery 29 contributor and recent starter of a media company). These channels and content creators are great to watch, usually funny, and can give you some serious inspiration (like getting contact paper to completely change the way your countertops look — don’t worry, that DIY is coming).
Now my homebodies, go, watch, read, learn — but most importantly, have fun.
Millicent McKay is a modern girl with an old soul, a Summerside based journalist, a blogger, soap opera lover, tea connoisseur, and cat mom. For more check out www.theonewithpaigeandmillee.squarespace.com or visit her Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/modernmillee/.
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