The New Year is a time to start fresh.  The urge to organize and de-clutter our surroundings takes hold as we work to simplify our lives and start the year off on the right foot.  For Certified Professional Organizer® Stephani Lipford, owner of A Peaceful Home in Tallahassee, Florida, this is achieved through a blend of organization and interior styling, as she helps clients to simultaneously renew their homes and unburden their lives.  We asked Stephani to share with us her philosophy, as well as tips we can put into action in our own homes.

Q: What is your philosophy re: design, organizing and how the two come together to achieve a “Peaceful Home.”

A: Our philosophy is simple, we believe having an orderly space to start and end each day plays a large part in our overall wellness, productivity, and stress levels. With an eye for design and simplicity, we look at the whole home and how it all works together. We want clients to be empowered in their homes and experience the benefits of clearing both mental and physical spaces.

I have had a passion for design, styling, teaching and organization for as long as I can remember. Knowing the powerful effect a space can make on our energy levels, mental processes, relationships, and motivation drives me to help other achieve calm, ordered, and aesthetically pleasing spaces.

To quote Einstein, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." We believe in getting the right balance for all the things vying for our attention, creating focus on our priorities, and eliminating what doesn't matter.

Q: We love this bathroom makeover you recently completed. The before and after transformation is stunning. What was the impetus for the makeover and the goal?

A: Our homeowner wanted to transform and simplify several spaces in her home including this guest bathroom. We wanted it to be in keeping with the same color palette as the rest of the house, so we chose Benjamin Moore’s Vapor Trails for the walls and a bold muted teal called Mozart Blue for the base cabinet. We replaced the countertop and faucet, but retained the original vanity and builder grade mirror. We upgraded these by adding trim to both. I previously told my client about MirrorMate for updating her master bathroom mirror, so we used it again here. Together we chose a simple white mirror frame in Chelsea Classic White to complement the space.

Q: Do you have any simple organizing or easy makeover tips that will help readers start their New Year off on the right foot?

These might not be typical responses to organizing tips, but it is what is on my mind for this year.

1. Not always simple, but learn to let go - old mindsets, old projects, clothes that don't fit, unhealthy habits, yesterday’s clutter, etc. Start now, start today to DO what you want without the past or clutter holding you back. Learn what matters to you and live for the here and now instead of trying to catch up on yesterday's clutter.
2. Notice how much time/energy is spent on cleaning, moving, organizing, and maintaining stuff. Don't get caught up in purchasing more stuff this time of year. Be more deliberate and ask yourself if you need to purchase something and how it will affect the life you want to create.
3. You hear it all the time, don't organize what you can toss, donate, or otherwise eliminate.

For more inspiration and ideas, hop on over to Stephani’s website at www.a-peaceful-home.com or check her work out on Instagram or FacebooK. To achieve the clean, fresh look in your own bath with framed bathroom mirrors, shop the Pemaquid Porcelain White frame she used above here, or view all our styles here.