I Want My House To Feel Like A Pinterest Board

It’s late while I’m writing this.

The house is finally clean, both kids are asleep, I just paid rent, and I’m sitting beside my husband with a ginger drink while the house is actually quiet for once.

You know those days where nothing is necessarily wrong, but you just feel like you need to reset?

That was today.

I think there’s something about cleaning your house after a long day that makes you feel like you’re getting a tiny piece of your life back. Especially with two little kids. There are toys everywhere, random cups that somehow end up in rooms they don’t belong in, packages arriving constantly, laundry that seems to reproduce overnight and about 400 tiny things that need to be done.

And then somehow, once everything is picked up, a candle is lit and the house smells good, I’m like…

Okay. I can breathe again.

And honestly, I love that it’s October.

My kids are still so young that everything feels a little magical. Fall feels extra special with them. The pumpkins, the little decorations, the cozy mornings, the leaves, the candles, getting dressed in little sweaters. It’s magical and completely chaotic at the exact same time.

So here are some of the little things I’ve been doing lately to keep our house feeling balanced.

Start With A Really Good Clean

The cleaner we use is actually a brand my grandma put us onto.

When I was about to give birth, she came to stay with us for an entire month. She had her own room, played with Sabo, helped with the baby and basically insisted on doing things her way around the house.

One of those things was cleaning.

She introduced us to a cleaner that doesn’t rely on harsh chemicals or bleach and uses more natural materials, and we’ve been using it ever since.

We get it shipped to us now, and I swear the smell makes such a difference.

There’s something about cleaning the counters, wiping everything down and then having that fresh smell throughout the house that makes the entire space feel different.

Sometimes I think we underestimate how much the smell of your home affects how it feels.

The Small Things REALLY Matter

You don't always need to completely redecorate your house.

Sometimes you just need to clear the counter.

Put away the random packages.

Move the pile of things that has been sitting in the same spot for three days.

And yes, in this Reel we literally just got another shipment from a drink brand.

Can you tell?

I promise those aren't empty cans sitting around my house for decoration. 😂

But once I clear everything away, I love adding one little intentional thing back.

Right now, that’s my tiny fall centerpiece.

I put together a little leaf styled bin, added a few pumpkins, some pinecones and a candle.

I’m picking up some real pumpkins soon because I want the house to feel even more like October, but for now this little setup is giving me exactly what I wanted.

It’s basically my Pinterest board coming to life.

Our Little Family Corner

We are very much a living room family.

And honestly, I love that.

It’s different from how I grew up, but I love that our kids want to be out with us. They don’t have to disappear into their rooms to play. They’re usually right beside us, playing, reading, making a mess or asking us for snacks every five minutes.

So I made a little corner in our living room specifically for them.

There’s their art, books, a comfy surface, a bin full of toys and little couches for them to sit on.

I also love having a little mood light in the corner.

Sabo especially loves laying beside it before or after his nap. It’s become one of those little spots where he can just relax and recharge.

And I think that's another thing I’m learning about having a home with kids.

It doesn't have to look perfect.

It just needs to feel like us.

I want our home to be somewhere my kids actually want to be.

Somewhere they can make a mess, read books, play with their toys, lay on the floor and still feel like everything around them is cozy.

My Secret To Making The House Smell Expensive

Okay, this is going to sound random, but I have been obsessed with diffusers for YEARS.

I think I’ve been using one since I was about 13.

And honestly, it has saved my ass more than once.

There was even a time when I hid weed in my closet as a teenager and thought my diffuser was going to save me. 😂

But for real, I just love having a home that smells good.

Right now, one of my favourite brands is a small Canadian business, and I’ve been using their Jasmine scent.

It’s soft and clean without being overwhelming, and I love having it going in the background while I’m cleaning or getting ready for the evening.

My little formula for making the house feel like it has its life together is honestly:

Clean surfaces + good lighting + a nice scent + one intentional little detail.

That’s it.

I don't need a brand new couch.

I don't need to completely redecorate every season.

I don't need everything to be perfectly styled.

Sometimes I just need the counters cleared, the toys put away, a candle lit and the diffuser going.

And suddenly the house feels expensive again.

October At Home

I think I’m going to really lean into making our house feel cozy this month.

More candles.

More pumpkins.

More little fall corners.

Fresh sheets.

Cozy blankets.

Music playing while I clean.

Maybe some real pumpkins sitting around the house.

And probably a lot of tiny fingerprints on everything five minutes after I clean it.

Because that’s our life right now.

Two kids.

A husband.

A house that is never actually clean for more than five minutes.

A million packages.

A lot of coffee.

And somehow, in the middle of all of it, these really sweet little moments that make me stop and think…

I really love my life.

Even on the days when I desperately need to reset.

Especially then.

🎃 My October home rule: make it cozy, make it smell good, put the pumpkins out and don't stress about the mess too much.

The mess means we're living here.

⁂