Create Spaces That Bring You Joy

We recently purchased a home. The previous owners had created a courtyard area between the house and the extra garage. It was neglected and overgrown. I honestly thought it was such a weird and useless space. I mean, who wants to hang out in the front of her house between two buildings, but, at the same time, I really didn’t know what else to do with the space.

One night my husband and I were working in the yard, and when we took a break, we grabbed some water and sat in the chairs we had placed in the courtyard. (We put the chairs out there only because we didn’t have anywhere else to put them after the move.) As we talked, we started imagining what the space could be.

A few weeks later we cleaned out all the overgrown junk, planted this really cool creeping plant between the pavers, and hung up bistro lights. Just making these few simple changes has turned this once seemingly useless space into one of our favorite hangout spots.

Having moved seven times in the last twenty years, I know the challenges of making a new space, or an old one, feel like your own, but I also know how essential it is to feel comfortable in your own space. So, I challenge you to take the time to tackle that room or space in your own home that you find yourself avoiding because it’s just not you or because it’s just so cluttered. What changes can you make to it? What simple things can you do to create a space that will bring you joy?