What Moms Really Want (It’s not Another Thing)

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My Mom & Sisters in a fun photoshoot we did (Elizabeth, Hellen (Mom), Maria, Lea and Anita

Every year around Mother’s Day, there’s a rush to buy more things.

Like candles. Have you ever noticed how popular candles are?

It’s because most people don’t have enough lamps.
They’re trying to create atmosphere in a room that isn’t finished yet.

And flowers—everyone talks about the power of fresh flowers.

But the reason they feel so transformative is because they become the one bright, living thing in an otherwise neutral, unfinished space.

They work for a moment. But they don’t fix the room.

What Mom really wants

Here’s the thing, candles, a mug, flowers, they don’t solve the thing most women are thinking about every single day when they walk through their home.

Why doesn’t this room feel finished? Why does it still feel a little off, even after all the money we’ve spent? Why do I keep second-guessing every decision?

In my most recent Decorate or Renovate? one-day makeover, the homeowners told me they hadn’t touched their decor in 14 years.

And you know why?

Because when you don’t know what to buy, you end up spending money on things that don’t quite work once you get them home.

And nothing feels worse than looking around a room and realizing you’ve invested in pieces that still don’t make the space feel right.

So no, your mom doesn’t need more stuff.

The beautiful room she wants

HINT: The gift is a home that feels pulled together.

She wants to stop making expensive mistakes. And she wants to feel confident that what she’s choosing is actually going to work.

She wants to walk into her living room, turn on a lamp, and feel, “I love it here!”.Hint: the feeling she wants doesn’t come from renovating everything.

In fact, one thing I’ve learned very clearly from all these makeovers is that renovating is wildly overrated—and decorating is highly underrated.

It comes from choosing the right colours and neutrals, creating a palette that flows, and knowing how to add colour so it feels effortless instead of chaotic.

In other words, it comes from having a plan.

Because decorating a home that feels calm, finished, and beautiful is not about talent. It’s about knowing what you’re doing before you start.

So if you want to give her something she won’t hide in the closet as soon as you leave (and actually use six months from now), my Dream Home Club could be a great fit.

Your Mom (or you) will finally have a place to share your ideas and get your questions answered before you spend the money. Because decorating isn’t about adding more seasonal decor, it’s about creating a look and a feel.

And you get that from a room that feels finished.

A dining room before & after

Here’s a sneak peek at an upcoming Decorate or Renovate? project I recently did. The dining room just needed the details tweaked, and of course, a lamp, to come together.

Here’s what would make this dining room even better. Collected, fresh and now a place we love to eat dinner at every night!

That’s what I’ve spent the last two decades teaching.

So if you’ve ever stood in the middle of your room thinking, something is off but I don’t know what, this is your sign.

And if this is you, I have something for you.

June 3rd at 1 PM PST, I’m hosting a live “Paint & Colour Decisions” Ask Maria session.
Bring your paint dilemmas, undertone confusion, white trim questions, exterior colours, etc.

We do this every month inside my Dream Home Club so if you’ve been stuck, second-guessing your choices or avoiding finishing a room, this is where you start.

When you join my Dream Home Club, you’ll get access to that session, along with everything inside. Sign up now to catch the Q&A 💛

Here is a gorgeous bedroom before and after from Kathleen, a Dream Home Club member:

And the gorgeous afters:

Kathleen said she’s so happy with how this room turned out. And her favourite tip was learning to put together a gallery wall by choosing a main piece and pulling the theme out of it for the rest. She did a fabulous job!

Happy Mother’s Day!

This Mother’s Day, instead of another thing that ends up in a drawer, give the gift of learning, community and confidence.

Or just get it for yourself 💛

Because no one benefits more from a finished home than the person living in it every day.

A mom doesn’t need more things. She wants to look around and think, “this feels like me now”.

(That’s a gift that gets remembered)

Quick Note: My next Create Your Dream Home cohort starts May 25th, and registration for this round closes Monday.

This is for you (or your mom!) if you’re tired of second-guessing every paint colour, finish, rug, lamp, tile and decorating decision—and you want a clear plan for a home you actually love living in:

Learn More Here

Happy Mother’s Day, and thank you for being here. I appreciate you more than you know.

Photography by Macy Yap

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