Maharaj Marissa - Make yourself at home: design your space to discover your true self

Copyright 2017 by Moorea Seal

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form, or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published by Sasquatch Books

Editor: Hannah Elnan

Production editor: Emma Reh

Illustrations and lettering: Julia Manchik

Photographs: Marissa Maharaj

Design: Anna Goldstein

Copyeditor: Kristin Vorce Duran

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN9781632170354

Ebook ISBN9781632170361

Sasquatch Books

1904 Third Avenue, Suite 710 | Seattle, WA 98101

(206) 467-4300 |

www.sasquatchbooks.com

v4.1

a

I HAVE MOVED ALMOST EVERY SINGLE year for the last ten years of my life, and one year I even moved twice! As a result, Ive come to understand that when I dont feel settled in my space, I dont feel settled in myself. Can you relate? Our houses become homes once we spend time investing in them, adding our unique touches to our environment and creating memories within our four walls. The same goes for how we invest in ourselves. When we dont take time to get to know ourselves and invest in our own inner worlds, we can often lose track of who we are, what brings us joy, and what makes us feel unique and valuable. For me, taking time to cultivate a comfortable and beautiful space in my home directly reflects how I feel about myself. When I am tired and stressed, my home gets messy and cluttered. When I am feeling centered and at peace, it shows in the clean and tidy state of my home. And when Ive just moved into a new house or have been living there for a while, not sure how to decorate or where to begin, I feel deeply uncomfortableboth within myself and in the place I hope to call home. Its not a great feeling, but it can be remedied by simply following your intuition!

Decorating your home isnt just about making a room look pretty; its about creating an environment that is true to you and that inspires you to invest in yourself in the way that you have invested in your space. Within these pages, Ill share with you not only my advice for transforming each room of your house into a dwelling that reflects who you are, what you need, and what you love, but also tips on how to develop a deeper love of self and understanding of your personal story as you transform the spaces around you. Ive been through a lot in my thirty-one years. And I hope that by sharing my personal stories about my life and my home, and those of the other amazing women in this book, I will encourage you to trust more deeply in your instincts and follow your journey toward self-discovery.

No matter where you are in your life, no matter how much money you have or how big or small the space is that you call home, you can create something that truly reflects who you are in a beautiful way. It takes time; it takes thoughtfulness and contemplation of what brings you joy, comfort, celebration, peace, and inspiration. But as we move through each room together, youll have a chance to discover what stories you want to tell with your dcor. Theyre waiting inside of you, ready to be unlocked and shared within your favorite spaces. So come on in, and make yourself at home.

YOU RE NOT ALONE IN YOUR JOURNEY of investing in your home while investing in yourself. There is a whole community of people who are thoughtfully cultivating a comfortable, creative home and an inspired life!

Use the hashtag #MakeYourselfAtHomeBook on social media to find other people who are also working their way through this book alongside you! Discover continued inspiration from our community and connect with fellow readers by sharing snaps of your book, your completed DIYs, and your one-of-a-kind homes on social media.

You can find me just about everywhere at @mooreaseal and MooreaSeal.com. Im so excited to see how Make Yourself at Home inspires your life and encourages you to thrive within your home and within yourself.