To feel like a queen requires neither a palace nor servants nor a big bank account. It simply means to be fully supported by the space you call your home.
Within her home, the queen has all she needs to be the best version of herself. She is the sovereign commander over her empire, from ground to ceiling.
The queen strives for the best yet is fully relaxed about the outcome. She knows who she is. She is not needy for external recognition. As a queen, she stands in her own bright light.
Does your home make you feel like a queen? Are you the commander of your realm? If not fully (yet), try these 3 inspirations and many tips on a budget.
In terms of light sources, the famous design principle “less is more” fails completely. With light, MORE is MORE.
Place light in every corner of every room. Yes, every corner. An abundance of light sources upgrades your home territory significantly. It creates the empowering stage set for the queen in you.
Mainly mobile light sources such as table or floor lamps. Yes, you may skip ceiling light fixtures or suspension lights.
Should your home have royal light optimizing potential (meaning you don’t have enough light sources yet), there are 2 ways to approach this enlightening project:
If the queenly budget allows for “the sky is the limit” shopping, congratulations and go for it. If the budget is a natural concern: YES, YOU CAN STILL DO IT.
Gloria attended my “Fix your Home, Fix your Life” workshop. A former model, with no new job offer in sight for quite a while. Gloria was sad, broke, lonely, disappointed and had put on considerable weight. She complained about not being seen by anyone anymore.
This is how she described her entrance area in a conversation we had:
“There is only one ceiling light. The light bulb has been broken for months. I have not replaced it.”
“Why not,” I asked.
“Because there is a mirror in the entry area, and I don’t want to see myself being overweight. Also, on the wall, there is a beautiful runway photograph from my model days in Paris. When I look at it, I cry. I feel that I have lost everything. So, it’s a good thing that the room is dark.”
“Isn’t it too dark, since there are no windows?”
“I don’t mind,” she replied. “I am used to it. Better than having to see the runway photo or my reflection in the mirror.”
In the course of the program, Gloria realized that darkening her present wouldn’t help her re-create the sparkling past that she was mourning over. Not to be able to see herself in full light reflected her situation in the outside world: She felt invisible.
Gloria was a smart queen. She replaced the broken light with a brighter one, put in two additional table lamps and replaced her superstar Paris photograph with a watercolour drawing by her little niece. Thus, Gloria exchanged the lost past for a resource of love in her current life. In the new light, she found out that she liked herself with her full curves.
Gloria went back to school. She started applying for side-jobs other than modelling. She proudly hung her graduation certificate in a gold frame next to her niece’s artwork. She now has a job in communications because she really likes speaking with people face-to-face.
With light sources in every corner of your home, you will be amazed at the uplifting, cosy and abundant atmosphere. More light makes your queenly rooms smile and look larger than they are.
The perfectly modulated light brings out the best in the queen on her own home stage. It boosts the healthy glow in the queen’s complexion and lets her power radiate out into the world.
The queen is not loved for being perfect. She is loved and appreciated for being true to herself. She dares to show her true colours, her soul’s beauty. The concept of imperfection does not disturb her inner peace.
Is your house so perfectly arranged that a guest would feel that wherever they put their coat, bag, or themselves, they would inevitably destroy your state-of-the-art interior design equilibrium?
It’s not flawlessness or perfection that attracts us to other people. It’s the authentic, relaxed state of being, presented with grace. Make your home look lived in and liveable:
Top model Cindy Crawford’s impeccable beauty became a unique trademark when she exposed the dark birthmark next to her mouth. Show your “flaws.” Make yourself and your guests feel welcome – and not an imposition to your perfect royal furniture arrangement.
For practical reasons, a little sidestep to the prince consorts.
A study with male participants showed that cologne can boost male self-confidence to an amazing extent. After putting on expensive cologne, these men were photographed. Then, their photographs were shown to women who rated the images in terms of (sex) appeal.
Photographs of men without cologne were in the picture mix as well. Turned out that men with cologne were rated higher by women – without the women being exposed to the actual scent. Their judgement was strictly based on images.
The conclusion of the study: The cologne-induced high male self-esteem spoke through the photographs alone.
Transfer the results of the above experiment to your queenly home:
Feel-good fragrances boost our self-esteem – and that of our home: We attach ambient scents to the space we experience it in. This is why there is a whole industry of branding scents. Especially luxury brands or hotels use custom made signature scents to create a recognizable fragrance experience that their customers instantly feel “familiar” with.
What do we learn from luxury brands? A scent helps to discern us from the outside world.
Remember that a feel-good scent creates the realm in which the queen feels unique and at her best, and is where she walks in grace.
Have you felt the queen inside of you lately? Is your home your best stage set for the queen in you? Share your story. Let´s talk about what boosts our self-confidence.
Tags Empowerment
Love this!
Great. Thanks, Gail.
I find “being the queen of my castle” is one of the many benefits to being single and living alone. I thank myself every day for having the vision to be independent early on in my years and create a beautiful environment that I call home and enjoy into retirement.
You are spot on, Joyce. Living alone helps a lot with being a Queen at home. It can be more challenging to be Queen when space and its content need to be negotiated, or if Queen does not feel free in her choices. It`s a different lifestyle. – So: Yes, you can be proud of yourself for making that wise decision to be independent. Congratulations!
Great article enjoyed reading need to go over it one more time. I do feel like the Queen of my home with the help of my granddaughter. She gifted me a rhinestone tiara for my birthday and I wear it each year. When not adorning my head I proudly display it in my living room. I giggle when I see it and remember as children how regal and special we felt when we wore a tiara and waved a wand!
Nina, I see you crowned with your rhinestone tiara! What a granddaughter you have. You just added another precious tip to the article: the power of HUMOR that contains the courage to be true to yourself – no matter what. Thanks a lot for your contribution. You are a Queen.
Love all the ideas – I will use the spice idea next time I prepare fish.
Thanks, Brenda!. Glad you feel inspired tp spice out the fish ;-)
I LOVED this article! Thanks!
Glad you like it, Amy! Thanks for posting.