Fall…a time for a refresh. Home. Family. The start of the holiday season. And for us here, it’s always our time to say Thank You!
But this year, I also want to recognize that not everyone enjoys the holidays. Mental health professionals are busiest this time of the year, so I urge each of you to really think about what this time means for you.
Are there small changes you can make that bring the spirit of the season into focus, instead of adding emotional messiness that takes away the joy?
My answer? YES. Here are the first ideas that come to mind…
- Create one “quiet zone” in your home that is totally off-limits to holiday noise and clutter.
- Choose one ritual, like lighting a candle, playing a particular song, or stepping outside for a moment, that helps reset your nervous system.
- Set a personal boundary about gatherings, hosting, or gift expectations. Then honor it!!
- Let your home support you by simplifying something…automate your lighting, or get help with your décor so it’s off your plate, or improve the flow of a space to make your routines flow naturally.
The thanks we’re celebrating this year are trifold: we’re marking another year in business, recognizing our loved ones, and choosing to live our best lives every day.
Whatever you’re most thankful for, embrace it, and don’t let it go. Make it your focus…how wonderful to end this year and begin another with clarity!!
Our Year at Signature Home Services
As we celebrate milestones as a company, each one translates directly into better outcomes for you. Our continued NARI accreditation and recognitions ensure that you receive project leadership that sets industry standards. Our norms aren’t just great, they’re the industry’s best.
This year, we celebrated our 30th year in business!! Thank you for that. We couldn’t have gotten here without your belief in us, or without our incredible team’s dedication to excellence.
Our longevity and award-winning track record mean you benefit from a level of expertise, stability, and industry insight that only decades of experience can provide.
Over the years, life changes for all of us, and this year we had an especially meaningful change for me and Rob: my mother moved in with us!! We are soo thankful that we can do this, and she instantly became part of Team Signature Home Services.
This new season of our life together—with multigenerational living—deepens our ability to guide clients who are adapting their homes for lifestyle changes, too. Our lived experience becomes part of the design insight you receive.
We’re here for a short time on this earth. Be joyful and give thanks often. Smile. Say hello. We give thanks each day for you, and we hope that sense of gratitude permeates into your life, too!
Holiday Home Clarity Guide
If you’re ready for some easily-to-act-on ideas to prepare for the holidays, you’re in the right place!!
What do you think about…
1. These five tiny home tweaks to make the season flow smoother?
A tiny strategic adjustment can shift your entire seasonal experience. Try:
- Clearing one horizontal surface completely and keeping it that way all season.
- Replacing one over-the-top décor item with something softer or grounding.
- Adjusting lighting to warmer temperatures to reduce visual overstimulation.
- Choosing a single scent (not three competing ones) for a calmer atmosphere.
- Adding a small greenery element—real or faux—to bring life to a winter-heavy home.
Keep reading for more (still small) ideas to update your home’s “look” before the holidays!!
2. Or these easy rituals for a calm, joy-centered home?
Directly from my own seasonal habits, you could:
- Begin the season by refreshing a bedroom nightstand with objects that bring you a sense of peace and grounding. You’ll see them when you wake up, and when you lay down to rest!
- Carve out one daily routine that’s important to you, and set a dedicated space that remains untouched by holiday busyness so you can get this done every day!!
- Use the first and last 10 minutes of each day to intentionally reset lighting…opening blinds in the morning, lowering lights in the evening. This sends the RIGHT signals to the nervous system at the right time.
I hope this message gives you something you can truly use…whether that’s a moment of clarity or the reassurance that your home can support you through every season—of the year, AND of life!!
Want a small shift to make a big difference? Send us a photo of one space you’d like to feel calmer or more functional this season, and we’ll reply with a personalized suggestion!
About the author:
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS, is an award-winning professional kitchen, bath, and interior designer. Robin and her husband, Robert Mathews, have owned Signature Home Services, Inc. for over three decades, establishing a superior in-house team with a widespread reputation for delivering meticulous design to their many repeat clients.
In 2022, the national publication, Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, named Robin to their Top Innovator list in recognition of her achievements in the field of kitchen and bath design. In 2024, she was named one of the Fall 2024 Market Pros and “tastemakers” by ANDMORE at High Point Market. Also in 2024, Fixr identified her as one of the Top Professional Interior Designers for their nationwide audience. At the start of 2025, she then acted as one of Dallas Market’s “Style Eyes” at Lightovation and Total Home & Gift Market.
Over her extensive career, Robin has been quoted in Architectural Digest and Forbes multiple times; her design work has been featured in top national trade publications; and she has been interviewed for Designers Today magazine’s “Profiles in Design” video series, among others. Widely respected for the depth of her knowledge, Robin is a sought after speaker and judge for many design industry events.
In 2023, Robin designed a bench for Charleston Forge, making her foray into product design. Robin currently serves as a volunteer on the board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Interior Design Society.
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