How to Love Your Home, Even With Kids, Here’s What Kama’s Done [Pictures]

No matter how big or small your home is, it should bring you some joy, at least in some corner, or on some wall. As a mom with 3 small kids, 2 dogs and a cat, it's hard for the my house to feel like a place I like, a place I created. Oftentimes it just feels like a mess. However, I work hard to keep the room that I love, clutter-free, mostly toy-free and happy. The rest of the house, is just a house. But this is my space.

It's not about money and high-end decorating. I used paint colors that I new made me happy. I open windows and play music. I have plants I love, art that makes me feel good and other great yard sale finds and such, that bring me joy. There are tips out there to help you create a home you love and many involve plants, art and limiting clutter. Learn more here.

Here is my kitchen and dining room. But what I love, is the huge sturdy wood table that I got for a steal, my beautifully framed Pam Furumo horse print, the large succulent my husband brought from NYC 14 years ago as a baby plant and the openness. These all bring me joy.

Here is the other part of the same room and the fun space above our stairs. I've always wanted a steer skull, but they're expensive. My husband picked one up at a yard sale for cheap. The gun was his grandfather's. The large corn plant was my step grandmother's for several decades. The wicker chair, another yard sale find that I love. The stain-glass cactus was the first piece of art my husband and I purchased together, at the Taste of Fort Collins years ago. The cactus lamp was a spray paint makeover ofa 90's art deco lamp, I found at a thrift store. It's not about the money, these things speak to me, they are things I really love to look at.

And of course, a picture of our wedding day. It's the only photo in the room, but reminds me of the reason behind everything. Because I love him and he loves me, and this is the partnership and life we chose. There is a home organization expert named Marie Kondo and she believes all the objects you keep should "spark joy". It's hard, but good to keep in mind.