“I need to get my house fixed up, but I can’t decide what to do first.”  A common complaint, but not to be feared!  When considering what your home should be like, there are many choices, but you must first ask “What’s the most important thing right now in my life?”  There are a myriad of options, colors, styles, and textures, but whether you are married or not, the first place to start is in the bedroom.  That’s right, the master bedroom.  Think about it for a moment with me….”Ugh!  Do I have to?”  Ok, I actually heard that!  You might be cringing now, but I promise you this is where you want to start.

Begin by making a wish list of your favorite colors, hobbies, themes, styles, and even dislikes, so you know what to avoid.  Then….tuck them away in a drawer for now!  I’m addressing married couples for the most part, but either way you’ll need the list later for incorporating your favorite colors into the kitchen, depicting hobbies in the den or office, expressing themes in the living room, and flourishing styles in the dining area.  Everything you like and need will have a place in the home in due time. 

Whatever the day brings, whether deadlines at the office, kids with runny noses, bills to pay, or too many errands on the list - they should all fade away once you enter into the master bedroom.  Keep clothing picked up and stored in closets as much as possible, so the potential for clutter is minimal.  Plenty of candles and soft lamplight are always welcome.  Especially for married couples, think about recreating a home version of your honeymoon suite, or simulate a place you would like to visit, or maybe evoke a reproduction of something you saw in a magazine that had that “wow” factor.

Select restful soothing colors for the bedroom such as blues and greens.  Whatever ideas you had about romance when you were young should be expressed in your surroundings.  This serene environment is where the cornerstone of your family is laid. 

Oh, did I mention television is forbidden in the bedroom?  “Ouch!”  Oh, did I step on another toe?  That’s right, no television, and no distractions.  This room is your sanctuary, a special place for you to unwind and rest, get comfortable, revitalize and restore your energy.  More importantly, it’s a place where you can be alone and talk, find agreement, and feel secure in sharing and expressing yourself. 

I know this approach may seem a little selfish to some, especially if you already have a family, but it’s actually a recipe to strengthen the home from within.  Show your family how to protect its most important asset, the parents and their love for each other.  What a heritage to pass along to your children!

 
Ginger Russell
352-231-2382

 Articles Provided by Women of Influence. The views expressed are not necessarily the views of Entercom, or Women of Influence.