Morgan had been thinking about hiring an interior designer for months.
Yet there was one problem…Money.
“I’ve been having a hard time justifying the cost. It’s hard for me to spend money on beautifying my home. It seems like a vain expense when my family has other needs like groceries, soccer tournament fees, school books and eventually college tuition. Plus I am getting divorced. I should probably be saving every penny I have,” Morgan said.
Morgan also told me that her home didn’t feel like a home anymore.
She and her soon to be ex-husband had been in the same house for 10 years. They started their marriage in this house and raised their two young boys in this house, so there was a lot of love in the home. Yet, over the years, due to their busy lifestyles, they had given up on making it a special place. Don’t get me wrong, they had maintained the house and kept it in good working order, but they had never updated the kitchen, changed the beige paint on the walls or purchased new furniture. (In fact, they still had the couch they bought right after college.)
But, Morgan’s issue with her home wasn’t just her lack of connection to it or the outdated design.
The house was always a mess. As Morgan’s boys got bigger, so did their toys. Morgan had thoroughly investigated Pinterest to try to find cute ways to organize their soccer gear, trucks and school supplies, but always ended up feeling frustrated with half-finished projects.
Morgan had also recently started a bookkeeping business she ran out of her home. As she moved through the house during the day, she could not avoid the clutter. It was driving her so crazy, that she found herself organizing when she should be working on client work.
When her husband moved out and the divorce was officially final, Morgan knew she needed a fresh start, which is why she finally called me.
I meet so many women like Morgan, who feel like their need for joy is selfish or excessive. They feel like massages, an organized beautiful home, or even a haircut is an expense they can have…
When they get that raise…
When they get that job…
When they finalize their divorce…
When their kids are older…
They put off their joy or their needs to sacrifice for the greater good of the family, without knowing they are doing more harm than good.
The truth is, having a home you love that is organized and functional can not only improve your relationships with your husband and kids, but it can save you money and your precious limited life-minutes.
After our call that day, Morgan hired me for a 2-hour in-person consult.
For the 2-hour consult I went over to Morgan’s home. She walked me through every single room. We talked about what was working in each room and what was driving her absolutely nuts. We talked about what items of furniture her ex-husband would be taking in the next few weeks, her kids’ homework habits and about her dream home.
But we didn’t just talk about dreams we took action. In just two hours, we picked a new color for her bedroom and living room that she absolutely adored. We also started moving around her furniture. She was amazed that something as simple as moving the couch to another corner of the room, could give it a new life.
By the end of the day, Morgan decided to work with me for one more session.
During our second session, I came over for three-hours and organized her kids’ play room. I didn’t have to buy any extra storage. I used everything that was already in the house. I picked out two new pieces of furniture for the living room and designed a photo gallery wall using existing art and family photos. I identified the perfect spot in the kitchen and showed her what to order to create a command center. Morgan now has a specific place where mail, kid’s school papers and family schedule lives rather than it piling up on the kitchen counters.
In total: Morgan invested less than $1,000 to work with me.
At the end of our work together Morgan said her home felt brand new.
But that wasn’t the best part.
Morgan told me that with the clutter out of the way, she was better able to manage her time. She was no longer spending 10-minutes here and 10-minutes there trying to wrangle the chaos. Instead of working until the late hours every night, she was able to finish work around 5:30 when the kids got home from school and soccer practice. She said this uninterrupted productivity also helped her able to acquire another 2 new clients that month and increased her income significantly. (This does not include the money she saved on unfinished Pinterest projects.)
I often share this story with potential clients or people considering working with an interior designer, so they can fully understand the power of intentional design. It’s not just about making pretty rooms or having the perfect throw pillow…
It’s about having a space that gives you peace and ease, so you can focus on what matters most.
Now I would love to hear from you.
What is one thing you would love to do to your home, that you haven’t because you think it is a frivolous expense? Share your thoughts and answers in the comments below.
Best
Sara
P.S. Take a look at some of my projects here. Are you curious about how an interior designer could help you and your family’s specific needs? Want to learn more about working with me? Connect with me here today for a short 15-minute call.