If you’ve ever struggled to create the atmosphere you want at home, you’re not alone.
I’m going to share the simple truth no one told me at the start of my homekeeping journey.
Years ago I began with vivid dreams of a welcoming home — a place that felt comfortable for our family day to day and inviting for guests. Maybe you have similar hopes for your space.
Even with the best intentions and a lot of effort, I repeatedly felt like I was missing the mark. Decorating alone wasn’t enough.
There were always new messes, meals to prepare, laundry to fold, needs to attend to, updates to plan, and clutter to manage. Juggling all of it left me frazzled and often frustrated.
I loved decorating, but keeping a home functional and peaceful with a busy family felt overwhelming. I frequently felt like I was failing at homekeeping.
One mess or another always seemed to sabotage the atmosphere I wanted. When my home felt chaotic, anxiety would creep in and make me doubt myself in every area of life.
I didn’t want our home to be a source of stress. I wanted to savor time with family and enjoy each season of life — not be preoccupied with trying to keep up with the aftermath.
I read books on decluttering, organizing, cleaning, and decorating, but none offered a simple, holistic, sustainable approach. Everything felt like one more thing to do. I wanted calm and comfort in everyday life, not a staged, perfect showroom.
The truth was I didn’t need a perfect home. A real family life brings understandable mess and imperfection. What I needed was a way to live in and care for my home without constant stress.
How do you find balance so your home becomes what you long for without wearing you down?
After three homes, three children, one dog and many trials and errors, I had an epiphany that changed everything.
I realized the peaceful, welcoming environment I wanted wasn’t just about the house — it started with me. I needed to feel peaceful in my home for my own wellbeing so I could share that peace with my family.
I couldn’t simply “bless the mess” and ignore the stress it caused me. Yet the methods I had tried created different kinds of pressure and weren’t sustainable.
Most people give up because no one explains the real secret: what we want is a sanctuary, not a showplace.
What I had been striving for all along was a home that felt nurturing and calm. Once I stopped doing everything the hard way and began asking, “How would a sanctuary actually feel?” everything shifted.
It made sense why I was stressed and why my efforts weren’t working. I had been following expectations instead of focusing on feelings and rhythms that support a peaceful home.
Little by little I learned what creating a sanctuary truly meant. My perspective and daily habits changed, and my family noticed the difference.
Learning what to do (and what not to do), when to do it, and why it mattered transformed homekeeping from a stressful chore into something manageable and even fulfilling.
My anxiety eased, my wellbeing improved, and caring for our home became a more joyful part of life — even with a busy household. My home finally felt like a sanctuary.
When I reframed daily home efforts as an investment in our health and happiness, everything changed for the better.
And the best part: it didn’t require a big budget, a housekeeper, or perfect circumstances. I didn’t need a flawless house or to be a slave to housework. Instead, I gained freedom and creative energy to do things I loved, and I felt better in my surroundings than ever before.
- It didn’t take a lot of money or a housekeeper.
- I didn’t need a perfect house or a perfect plan.
- I didn’t need ideal circumstances.
- I didn’t need to be a slave to housework.
- I gained more freedom and creative energy.
- I felt more at ease at home than ever before.
If the idea of creating a sanctuary resonates with you, I’d love for you to join HomeBody Gathering Place.
Over the past 17 years I’ve shared my homekeeping and decorating struggles and successes on my blog, The Inspired Room, and in 11 books. Now I’m excited to offer more direct guidance and support through HomeBody Gathering Place.
In this private member community I’ve gathered decorating and homekeeping concepts into a new seasonal format that’s easy to follow. Our theme this year is A Year of Sanctuary, where we explore four essential sanctuary principles and learn to savor the simple joys of home week by week and season by season.
A Year of Sanctuary is included with membership. We share weekly lessons in real time (via the optional Facebook community or your private dashboard and weekly emails), but you can go at your own pace using archived lessons and resources.
Each week offers inspiration and optional simple action steps so you can see immediate results. Establishing rhythms takes time, but the process is gentle, sustainable, and designed to bring more joy and peace to your life and home.
Members also receive HomeBody Notebook pages, printables, occasional prizes, and ongoing encouragement. The lessons can be personalized for your home and practiced throughout the seasons.
Do I have to be new to homemaking to benefit?
Absolutely not. Whether you’re seasoned, just starting, or anywhere in between, HomeBody Gathering Place supports all stages. We’re a community of women in different seasons, encouraging one another as we create sanctuaries in our own ways.
One step at a time, season by season, I’ll help you make your home not only look great but feel great too.
Join HomeBody Gathering Place for a Year of Sanctuary. We begin January 5th with our Winter Session on Simplicity.
Doors for this session close after we begin, and the next opening isn’t until spring. I recommend joining in January as a yearly member to get the best value and yearly perks and resources. We hope you’ll join us for a full year of transformative lessons and activities.
