Clutter definitely stresses out our brains. It’s one more thing to think about, and it reflects a messy self-image back to us. If we keep junk around, we’ll feel like junk!

I’m excited to share my friend Melissa with you because I really believe our environments can empower our mindset and emotions. Walking into a space that feels like your personalized sanctuary is so AFFIRMING. And, you’ll feel the most empowered when you’re rested!

BIG thank you to Melissa for allowing us to share this content with our tribe! #goodgirlcollective #feelGOOD

I interviewed Melissa a little over a year ago and had some many amazing aha-moments! One of the big ones was her talking about how cleaning and organizing our homes makes a huge difference in other areas of our lives. Think about that. Think about how great you feel when your home is clean and organized (or how bad you feel when it’s not).  When my house is clean I feel like I can do anything but, it’s not always easy. That’s why I love Melissa and the brand that she’s created, because she provides practical information to get our homes all-the-way-together (and as we know also, our lives)!

Her website is AMAZING! Go check it out! (You can thank me later 🙂 ). And if you’re not following her on Instagram you’re missing out. (she has the cutest family-I’m in love-Lol)!

Thank you again, Melissa for sharing your content with our tribe!

• • • • • • •

If you’re like me, you’re on the go from sun up to sun down! If you’re going to feel your best day after day and week after week, you’ll need a ‘Me Time’ sanctuary.

Redecorating takes time, but there are 5 simple steps you can take to transform your space into a recharge zone. Here are the top tips from Melissa Maker, the amazing cleaning specialist I interviewed for Mia Fleming Media. I’ve spent hours watching her YouTube channel and primping my space to feel GOOD when I wake up and calming when I wind down.

1. Let There Be Light!

When you think about brightening up your space, often times your mind goes immediately to getting more lamps or light bulbs involved. This is not necessarily the case. You can quickly brighten up your space by just using lighter colors and, more importantly, reflective surfaces. So, bringing in elements like mirrors or metallic items is a great way to go. Another thought is to choose light fabrics when making decor choices. If you already have a dark sofa, consider bringing in light accent pillows and blankets to help brighten it up.

2. Look GOOD from the Ground Up

An area that we will sometimes overlook is the floor. It’s such a vast area in our home that it’s important to make sure that we give it the attention it deserves. Simply adding a rug is often enough to give an old room a completely new feel. We’re also big fans of removable carpet tiles—you can peel and stick these colorful mats and create some really fun patterns which work great in the kitchen, front foyer, and mud room.

3. Spice Your Space with an Accent Wall

Whenever I open a home magazine I always see these beautiful rooms with gorgeous wall colors. I have to admit, while they look amazing, it would be a bit overwhelming to have a flamingo pink room in the average home. However, something I can handle, is an accent wall. In our house we have a nice neutral color throughout, but we’ve accented certain walls with a deep aubergine purple. We’ve also recently added a dark blue accent wall in our family room which has turned out quite nice.

The idea with an accent wall is that it allows you to bring in some color without it being overwhelming—it doesn’t overtake the space or make it look small. And remember, if paint isn’t your thing, you can always wallpaper an accent wall!

4. Create a Green Haven

A wonderful way to breathe life into your space is to bring plants and flowers into your home. Not only do they look gorgeous, but many plants are actually great for cleaning and purifying the air in your home. You can hang them from the ceiling, you can have them on plant stands, or you can use beautiful and colorful pots and planters.

In short, plants can really spruce up a room, and as an added bonus, they’re known to reduce stress and bring calm and serenity to a space. If you’re interested in learning more about how to take care of indoor houseplants, we made a video with House Plant Journal addressing a number of the most frequently asked care questions.

5. Only Keep What You LOVE

If you’ve ever watched a show where they show a before and after shot of a room, one of the biggest changes that you’ll see is that the room has been decluttered. Having less clutter—or no clutter—in a space makes it feel bigger, more airy, and more curated.

Having only items that you really need, or really love, is a really smart way to go. Cleanmyspace.com has a whole series on decluttering called “10 Things to Toss Today“, which can really help you get started on this journey.

So, what I recommend is to go through each room and pick out the items that you don’t really need or love, and either donate, sell, or if you have to, just plain toss them. The less clutter there is in a room, the more beautiful it looks and the more time you’ll want to spend in it.