The last few days we have had a taste of Summer weather finally here in Melbourne, although as I type this, the heater is back on, so it didn't last for long. But Spring has certainly been a busy time whipping through every aspect of my life and giving it a good clean out- if it no longer serves you well, is useful, makes you happy- then it's time to go. A philosophy that can be adopted to more than just things and clothes but people too. It is a very cathartic, cleansing and empowering thing to do for yourself, and you actually find that life goes on, you don't miss these things but you have created space to think, see clearly and allow room for the new into your life. As Carrie said in Sex and the City movie, she had been cheating on fashion with interiors, well, I feel the same lately. The weather getting warmer just makes you want to jazz up the home and create little nooks and cosy spots in the garden you can imagine enjoying a good book and an iced tea in. My inspiration always comes from the past. Retro homes and style always evoke a playful creative energy of possibility and livability to me that can be lacking in some of today's modern cookie cutter homes. The colours are a form of therapy in itself and you can't feel sad surrounded by cheery yellows and pale blues. Life's too short to spend it in drab interiors, you spend money on clothes, but you are not in them as long as you spend in your home. You don't like one outfit, you can go to the closet and change it, but you don't like your home-well, you are stuck with it until you roll up your creative sleeves and get to work. I'm all for thrifty, nifty ways of creating subtle shifts without shifting your bank balance too dramatically. So, the easiest way to start that actually does not cost you any money is to start by removing ALL clutter! Hard one for me, but I'm learning that you don't actually need everything you use out on display, it can be put in a drawer where it is still easily accessible. Only have out the things you love to see each day you wake up, and not a bad idea to have a monthly rotation where if you feel sad you don't have enough space to display everything at once, treat your home like a gallery and curate your own space, changing over objects which keeps your possessions fresh and your other items don't feel left out that they have been packed away. Then you can play with some textiles and if you are handy with a sewing machine, whip up some new cushion covers or curtains to instantly add some pop to a room. Outdoors, the amazing invention of solar lights have revolutionised my backyard with coloured lights hanging and fairy lights wrapped around the trunks of trees, I always look forward to nighttime to see the magic that a night garden can deliver, for after all, a garden is magical at any time of the day, but most people don't show them off at night where nature is at its most magical. So think about what little things you can do to shift your space and you will be amazed where the other shifts in your life can also start to manifest, and best of all, you can sit back and think about it enjoying that nice iced tea, in the garden at night lit up by fairy lights! Here's to summer!
