Spring cleaning isn't just about tidying up, it's also the perfect time to reinvent your space. Whether you're tackling clutter or dreaming up a new DIY project, @happily.ever.nashville showcases DIY home projects, organization, decor hacks, and delivers fresh inspiration for every room in your home.
“My husband and I have been in the Nashville area since college and we’ve lived in quite a few homes around the city," says Alyssa Lee, the pundit behind @happily.ever.nashville. "We bought our current home back in 2019, and before it, I’d never felt the pull to make a home what we are making this one to be. It gave us a push knowing that we would be raising kids and staying here long term. Once the pandemic hit and we couldn’t find anybody to do home projects for us, we got the DIY 'bug.’ My husband is quite handy and I just love dreaming-up ideas for spaces while figuring out ways to utilize every inch of our home for our family, so we started doing our own home projects. I had friends asking me to share what we were doing, so I started posting it on Instagram which grew into the community of followers we have now.”
@happily.ever.nashville started as Lee's personal account with around 2,000 followers, but quickly grew to over 245,000 followers with the authenticity of her projects, sharing both the successes and challenges of DIY.
“Before last January, I had worked in the ER for 15 years," Lee says. "Dreaming up projects around the home was a creative outlet for me while working in the hospital during the height of the pandemic. Having a place to work creatively at home and connect with the community through Instagram as my following grew helped me through some hard times as a nurse. I’m also so much more connected to our home. When you take on a project yourself and work through each aspect, it’s so fulfilling, no matter how long it may have taken. It really makes the house feel like home. My husband and I are constantly evolving our rooms to fit our family’s needs and I’m always scheming about house projects. When I really think I should move on a space, I will put a design in it.”
As her home projects serve as a creative outlet, Lee also makes a point to connect with her followers in a genuine way, sharing both the triumphs and the challenges of her projects along the way.
“On the account, I just share authentically what I’ve been doing. Even from day-to-day, when I show what I’m doing in the home, it’s genuinely still for our family. I love sharing it on there and giving people inspiration, but I don’t put pressure on myself. Sometimes that looks like big house-projects but lately it’s been more organization because that’s what I’ve been working on recently. When you do DIY projects, you have to have a realistic perspective as far as the timeline goes. Especially with kids, our weekends have less time for home projects. Things take a lot longer, but we both really enjoy doing it together. Home projects are still at the core of it but I share vulnerable things too. If I’m having a tough day with the kids, I’ll share it. If I'm going on a vacation, I’ll share it. If we are out and doing things around Nashville, I’ll share it. I feel like I’m sharing with a ton of best friends on the account. It’s a mutual communication. I love to give tips and tricks and reach out to followers with recommendations and they give me great feedback.”
While Lee shares the highs and lows of her daily life, she also ensures that her followers get practical advice to inspire and guide their own plans for their homes.
“I tell everyone to start small, know your limits, and make it attainable," she says. "Just get the ball rolling with a manageable project and keep it fun. Do your research, have a plan, then get started while asking questions to anyone and everyone. I love working and collaborating with other local businesses to help bring my visions for our home to life. Holly, with Nashville Neat Method, and Built by Stevie, helped with my pantry and bar area, specifically. I really hope @happily.ever.nashville gives people encouragement and inspiration. I want people to know they can do it, whether it be a small project or a large one. I hope it’s seen in a realistic way, because I share all of it: the ups, the downs, and the hits and the misses. DIY has taught me that you’re going to mess up and it might not be perfect. But when you take a step back and have finished to the best of your ability, and have poured a lot of heart and soul into it, you won’t see those imperfections. You’ll feel the satisfaction of the work you’ve put in.” @Happily.Ever.Nashville
Lee's Top Spring Cleaning Tips:
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Take your time and don’t overwhelm yourself. If you have more time throughout a week, tackle cleaning out a larger area, like a closet or storage space. But if you only have a few hours in a day, take on a smaller space like a cabinet or drawer. That will help keep momentum.
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Organization doesn't need to be expensive. I love the aesthetic of a matching organized space, but just use what you have. You don’t have to spend a lot of money. Just keep what you need, get rid of what you don’t, and use things you already have to organize it.
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Use the space behind doors. Whether it’s behind a closet or cabinet doors, that vertical space is perfect for storage. I use this hidden storage spot for toys, shoes, sports gear, or anything else.
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Stick to the one-in, one-out rule. Before more things come in, some things have to leave. This prevents clutter and keeps things simple.