As July wanes into August, there’s an inevitable change in the air. It may not be cool yet (in Memphis, it’s hotter than ever), but with school starting back up and routines forming, August always feels like a blank slate, a second January 1st for beginning something new. Even if it’s not Back-to-School for you, this “in-between” season is a great time to look around your home and decide how to bring it Back-to-You.

Regain Control

Where has the Summer landed you organizationally? For our family, closets and pantries can get overrun with the haphazard packing and unpacking of vacations and spur of the moment plans. My nicely thought out systems can die a fast death during these lax months and I usually find myself wanting to “nest” as Summer fades out...getting things back in order before the holidays hit us with more of everything. This is a great time to ask yourself how things have been working in your home as you clean out a drawer or two or rethink a closet. What are you not using regularly or have shoved into the back of a drawer? Culling is a great way to redecorate on a budget! Think about coats and boots that may be helpful to a ministry or shelter in the upcoming months and make donation. Jot out a list of items you need purchase for next Spring and Summer and try to catch some sales before the end of the season. Even now (in my mid-thirties), I like to snatch up some new pencils and pens in August because I love school supplies and my household stationary can always use an annual upgrade. Reset boundaries for your things and walk into the Fall and upcoming holidays feeling more in control and prepared. 

New Perspectives

When you think of the Fall as a new start, it really is the perfect time to re-customize your space. Your life has most likely changed a bit since January 1st. Has your personal library grown? Have you taken up a new exercise routine that requires gear or equipment? Use this time to create more efficient, lovelier spaces for your new hobbies. Clean out a bookshelf and update it with a fresh coat of paint and some wallpaper. Peel and stick wallpaper is an inexpensive, easy to hang (& remove) and adds some unexpected style to small areas. A battery powered library lamp gives home shelving a vintage, gallery-like flair. Find a way to make your treadmill corner more inspiring by hanging an attractive chart to record progress or by adding a small table for a charging station, water bottle, and daily planner. Be intentional about style and colors. Give your important possessions a space of their own so that your home values what you value. 

Looking Back to Look Forward

What was hard about last Fall and Winter? For some, it may be the darkness of shorter days and for others it may be the tendency to over-indulge. Maybe you experienced loss and are feeling anxiety about the anniversary of a death or illness. Think about how your home can comfort you in the coming months. Do you need a place to sit and read in quiet? An area to lay out a yoga mat when you’re feeling overwhelmed? Should you replace some thick curtains with some lighter sheers that will allow you to enjoy as much sunlight as possible? It may be as simple as buying a new mug for hot tea or finding an old book you’d like to reread. Think about how to curb your stress now before it begins. Explore the Danish philosophy of Hygge and imagine how to embrace the cold and gray of Autumn and Winter before it even arrives.

Refresh your home with comfort, warmth, and places for personal growth this Back-to-School season. Getting back on track and back-to-you will be an investment that keeps your homelife all the more enriching throughout the rest of the year.