Love the Home You Have: Simple Ways to…Embrace Your Style *Get Organized *Delight in Where You Are

I'm not sure what I expected this book to be; perhaps I hoped for a book on how to decorate my home to look like I spent thousands when I only spent $50, but whatever I had hoped it would be, it was not--it was much, much better. It encouraged me to make my home my own home and not a copy of a pretty room in a book or magazine which seems to be what I usually do. No wonder I am never satisfied as the room is not a reflection of myself or my family. This is a book that encourages you to live "authentically" in your home, not the way others would have you live. This is a book that encourages decorating for your lifestyle and your needs, not your neighbors. This is a book that allows you to believe your home can be beautiful even if there is a mess on the desk or the dining room table or the dog has left nose prints on the window. There are no photographs, which disappointed me at first, but now that I have finished the book, I found it refreshing because it freed me of the feeling that I had to "do things right." There is some decorating advice, but not the kind that you will find in other books, but that is one of the points, I believe of the book: This is where I have lived, this is what I had always thought would make me happy, this is what I ended up discovering about my home and how to love it, here are some basics on decorating and with these principles you, too, can make your home the home you love. I understand good design in a room, but now I also understand that if the design rules don't work for me, I am free to break them. Now instead of looking for books on decorating written by professional designers full of pictures of beautiful rooms, I look for other books like this one written by someone like me who just wants to make her house a place where her family is comfortable and happy and where her guests are comfortable and happy. Thank you, Mrs. Michaels!

If you are stressing out about how your home looks and feels and want to make it the best it can be, then Love the Home You Have is the book for you. It doesn't matter if you live in a tiny basement apartment or a grand 5,000 foot home. The ideas and tips that Melissa shares can be done by anyone, in any decorating style, and even on the tiniest of budgets. This book is more about ways of finding your decorating style and putting it into your home. With Melissa as your guide you will be inspired to make decorative and livable changes in your home that are right for you and your family that in turn will make your home shine, even with its shortcomings. As you read, you will be finding yourself dog earring nearly every page. I loved the chatty tone of the book. I felt like I was Melissa's best bud as I read. Which also made me think of all my friends who would enjoy reading it, too. A perfect gift for all style and home loving moms this Mother's Day.

I was surprised that this book is printed cheaply - almost newsprint type paper, and not photos, just 2 color drawings. So I would not really call it a decorating book. But I do like her approach that your home can be pretty without being perfect. In a day when so many are telling us that the decor we love is dated or that our house should look like it is staged to sell, the author reminds that having a house that is too sterile actually makes visitors uncomfortable. While there are tips for decorating, for organizing and reducing clutter, we are encouraged to remember that our homes are for living in and living is sometimes messy. We are encouraged to open our homes anyway to friends and family. They are not coming over to judge us nor our homes. It is my goal to have that kind of house, warm and cosy, and welcoming.

I have just finished my first read through of Melissa's book! Already my book is full of marks, folded down pages, notes and stars....my way of loving a book I will be referring to again and again. As a retired military wife who is living in the 2nd home we have actually owned in our 42 years of married life, Melissa has beautifully articulated what I have found to be true. Happiness, contentment, creating a safe restorative haven is all within your reach no matter what your circumstances might be! As an introvert, a preachers kid, passionate about God and all the gifts He has given me, it is salve to my soul to see how Melissa has used her gifts to encourage so many women in our fast pace world. I highly recommend this book for its graceful, simple encouragement for each of us to start where we are and move forward one "cleaning frenzie" or "lit lamp" at a time. And if you are overwhelmed at the thought...she breaks the project down into daily challenges...and isn't life one day at a time?

Very preachy from a woman who can't seem to make up her mind about what kind of a house to create for herself and her family. She could have taken out a lot and said what she needed to say. Some good ideas but repetitious about the church-growing and her wild swings of where to live and what to do to the newest home.

I haven't finished this yet, but I just ordered last week, and I am already so motivated! It gets on the level of the person who is frustrated with their home- whether it is too cluttered, needs improving, you are lost on what your style is to make your home that "special" home, or don't even know where to start but just know you are unhappy and need a fresh start in your home. It doesn't persuade you to go after a particular style, it encourages you to find your own and self discover what makes the warm and fuzzies when you enter that home that feels like your "dream home". I love that it comes with a 31 day challenge that you can take to start working on your own home and it is filled with beautiful quotes and imagery. So happy with my purchase and excited for the future to making my home "mine"!

A delightful, refreshing book. I LOVE decorating books. They give me lots of ideas and inspiration. But THIS BOOK changed my perspective. The idea (behind the great ideas!) is that I'm not decorating my house, I am loving my house, and spreading joy. Taking simple pleasure in the beautiful, and savoring the moments. This book is a little like Alexandra Stoddard meets Lucille Ball. Melissa has a great and humorous way of writing, and pointing out the beautiful moments. It is refreshing, but a lot like she knocked on your door with lattes' in hand and said, “Hey girl, what do you want to do with this room?” Well written, inspiring, the perfect tonic for those feeling "stuck" and unsure of what to do next with their home.

This book captures what I suspect many of us feel, but perhaps do not share, which is a true love of the art of homemaking. It expressed many of my feelings and thoughts on the subject, and emphasized finding contentment right here, right now. This book embraces living mindfully, which I also strive for on a daily basis. In addition to the deeper issues mentioned above, it also has just plain fun home ideas that I love. I am currently doing the 31 day home challenge, and I love a little "homework" anyway, to take the book's message to a deeper place in my life. I have already bought this as a gift, have two more on the way, and have recommended it to a group of friends for their summer reading. I love this book.

I've read lots of home books and found this one of the best. It's lighthearted enough that it's easy and enjoyable to read, whilst raising soul reviving points to correct, with practical ideas on how to do so. Melissa makes clear she's a church starter but without ramming the Christian edicts and preaching. Nice balance which makes non Christians just as welcome (and I find is rare in this genre). Being in the UK I did notice a US centric perspective, but it was just one slightly alienating comment.

Vale totalmente la pena leerlo. Es entretenido y da un punto de vista totalmente distinto a otros autores para decorar el hogar.

Love this book everybody should read this!!!!! Like that she bringes her own personal story to this book and her believe in god!

I loved her encouragement to make your home your artful worship to God, a place to build into your family to go out and influence the world and that loving what you have is possible by changing your attitude towards it. As well as creative ,low budget or free tweaks to make it more and more welcoming.

Love this book. Easy to read.