There are two books on my desk – What Happy Companies Know and What Happy Women Know.

They are both great reads and a solid reminder that no matter what life is throwing at you it is your choice whether or not to be happy. The happy women book specifically outlines how our brain chemistry and ability to feel on multiple levels is vastly different from men which is why women tend to be the primary purchasers of interior finishes for their homes.

We see it all and want most of it!

Despite decades of feminist advancements, most women still take on the role of primary house keeper and want a beautiful interior as a result. It is in our nature to nurture and I don’t believe we will ever not be striving to have a beautiful home and a place we can be proud to call our own. It puts an added layer of stress on women when they are trying to decorate their homes as so many expectations and emotions come into play while we try to create our perfect nurturing environment.

The fear I witness in my clients can be likened to someone who has a fear of performing. For years I convinced myself that I couldn’t sing in public despite years of voice training and affirmations that I had a wonderful singing voice.

I was afraid of people’s judgement and their rejection of my offering.

The year I turned 29 I had an epiphany when I finally realized that I had a gift and that it was my responsibility to share that gift with whoever would listen as it seemed to make people happy.

Your home is like a gift to those around you yet fear keeps you from using it to the fullest possible potential.

Fear stops many people from making brave colour or design decisions because we are afraid of the rejection or condemnation of friends or family.

You may not have a gift for decorating (which is why you hire a designer) but you may have a wonderful gift for hospitality which reaches out to so many people.

It is your choice, totally in your control to CHOOSE happiness and to be confident in your ability to bless others with your home.

If women would take some of this extreme pressure off ourselves when it comes to designing our homes and choose to be relaxed and happy, I believe the process of interior design would be so much more enjoyable.

Put down the impossible goal of perfection and let yourself enjoy the redesign and the fruits of your labour. Ignore the voice in your head that screams ‘this isn’t good enough for…’ and choose to be content in the interior you have chosen and created.

The stress you place on yourself wanting to be perfect and wanting to please will directly affect your satisfaction in the final result of your hard efforts.

If you are willing to see your home as your place to nurture and love and not just as a competition between which house in the cul de sac has nicer granite then you can finally unwind and enjoy your home for its intended purpose.

You will also be able to share your home without fear of judgement because your focus will be on blessing others and not yourself.

Relax, enjoy and take it easy on yourself.

Kim Wyse is an interior designer with Carpet Colour Centre in Red Deer.