I’ve asked everyone enrolled in the Virtual Closet Makeover Program to share their “before” photos in our private community.
Posting pictures of your home, especially ones that you’re less than proud of, for a group of perfect strangers to view, takes real courage. I’ve been blown away by the dozens of women who accepted my invitation and posted, even though they may have felt some degree of anxiety or shame.
It got me thinking about what I could share with these brave women, and with all of you.
I wanted to take a leap and share something that made me feel a little nervous. And here’s what I realized. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be “perfect.” My home is objectively quite organized and tidy, but with young kids, and busy schedules, their room is not always quite as picture perfect as the images I share here.
This is how you typically see their room. This photo was styled by yours truly, and taken by the talented Vivian Johnson.
Since our girls are tasked with making their beds each morning and putting their own laundry away, their room seldom looks like this photo. Sometimes, it looks more like this one:
Sharing this image may not seem like a big deal to you. I’m sure many of you are thinking that this looks like a typical kids’ room and I have nothing to be ashamed of. But, let me be honest – sharing this photo feels quite vulnerable to me.
I never judge my clients or their spaces, but I can judge myself pretty harshly. As someone with high standards and perfectionistic tendencies, I find myself focusing on the little things – the beds that aren’t perfectly made, the stuffed animals and polyester cupcake pillow that certainly don’t align with my style standards, and the clutter on the surfaces… But here’s what I do like about this image – It’s REAL. My daughters love their room, and I love that they feel comfortable, safe, and happy in their space.
My intention is that by sharing more than just the perfectly polished images that you usually see here, you will feel the same relief that I feel when I see other bloggers open up and share their less-than-perfect selves, lives, and homes.
I’m working on being kinder to myself and choosing authenticity and connection over rigid perfectionism. Who’s with me?
