Small Change, Big Impact:
Create The Home You'll Love
Where You Live Today...

By Alison Marks

Do you really feel at home at home? Do you avoid even thinking about changes you can make for fear of adding to your already-overflowing to-do list?

What would your life be like if you were 100% satisfied and content just being in your home? What if there was nothing incomplete? No clutter? What if everything in your space came together in a way that you felt your deepest self was really reflected, and you felt deeply supported by this?

What if, with just a little attention, you could discover high-impact changes you can make that wouldn't take much time, effort or money?

The first step is to pay attention to your space exactly as it is. Most of us are in a rut, so accustomed to doing the same things over and over that we don't see our homes as they really are. No matter how busy you are or how cluttered your space is, taking even just a few moments to look around with fresh eyes — as though you were visiting someone you just met — may give you ideas of some small actions that can have big impact.

Naomi Hoffer did this and as a result she changed the first thing that caught her eye when she walked into her house. She says, "It used to be that we had our vacuum cleaner (of all things!) right in the field of vision when we walked up the stairs and into our home. I moved it into the closet and put a plant in its place instead. Now our apartment is much more welcoming and thoughts of house cleaning are no longer automatically triggered in me when I first come home."

When you have intention in addition to attention – that is, when you are clear about what it is you want to create, as well as aware of what is already so – it can be surprising how simple it is to make small changes that leverage everything else toward your goals. Cindy Cossen "downgraded" from the master bedroom to a smaller room to create a haven for herself when her daughter moved out, a shift she says "was the beginning of wonderful changes in my life." She says, "The larger space allowed me to do too many things in the room. My sewing was there, and my computer. It was crowded and did not feel nurturing... I decided that having a small bedroom that was only used as a bedroom would feel better to me. I painted and put a new bed and a few small pieces of furniture that I love in the room. I kept the walls bare except for an antique mirror. The simple feeling of this room has made it a loving, nurturing place. Even when the rest of the house is in some kind of chaos I have this place."

Once you identify small changes you can make, it's important to act quickly, but not impulsively. Perhaps you won't buy that new rug today, but you can call a friend to see where they would recommend shopping and go online to research what to look for.

1.) Center yourself, then leave your house and re-enter through the door you use most often. Simply PAY ATTENTION. What do you notice? Here are some questions to get you started:

What is the first thing you see?
What is your attention drawn to? Away from?
What are you immediately reminded of?
How do you feel here?
Where do you immediately want to move to?
What does your experience tell you about the person who lives here? Is that consistent with who you want to be and what you want to do in your life?

2.) From these observations, write down five things you could do to make your home feel better to you. This list could include things you want to remove, bring in, move, repair, paint or alter in some other way.

3.) Choose at least one of these items and take action on it NOW! Remember: you don't have to complete it now, but do get started and create a plan for following through.