The Cabinista

The Cabinista

Share this post

The Cabinista
The Cabinista
Effortless Is Expensive
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Effortless Is Expensive

The exhausting truth behind "effortless" living

Peyton Davies's avatar
Peyton Davies
Apr 14, 2025
∙ Paid
3

Share this post

The Cabinista
The Cabinista
Effortless Is Expensive
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share
Cozy living room with soft lighting and layered textiles for a slow living aesthetic
nterior design tips, cozy home ideas, color psychology, slow living design, home styling newsletter
Spring Design Sessions Waitlist

INSIDE TODAY:

  • The secret psychology behind “slow living” aesthetics

  • 5 last-minute Easter hacks that actually work

  • The $0 ChatGPT prompt that saved me $117

  • For members: The $23 bathroom lighting trick everyone's talking about

cozy home ideas  real life interior design  home organization tips  slow living home
home styling ideas  best interior design Substack  easy home organization  emotional design tips
hello, easter 🌷

Remember when we were told “hustle culture” was toxic?

Apparently, the antidote was to make the hustle look effortless.

“Slow living” isn't about actually slowing down. It's about making six figures without anyone seeing you sweat.

I learned this the hard way this week...

This week, I had an impromptu jam session with my six-year-old. Do I play piano? No. Can I sing? Also no. But did it significantly improve my mood?

Yes it did.

I won't lie and tell you I jumped out of my seat for this; in fact, my running list of to-dos almost strapped me down to the chair. But the looming light I could see from my door (the one he set up as the spotlight), the oversized leather jacket, and his bright green glasses... how could I ever say no?

Then, as soon as we started, the world paused for a moment. The stress lifted, and I was reminded of the reason we are here. It wasn't bought. It wasn't curated. But it felt like oxygen.

I often dream of a time where we can slow down, set down the race, the dream for more, more, more... but it seems nearly impossible without a mountain of investor cash.

And that's what we never talk about. Why? Because we don't have the time. The illusion of chasing a slow life in a world that never slows down.

I don't have the answers, but I do promise to spend every day trying to find them and sharing it all with you. So if my design advice is mid, stay for the future reveal of how I finally conquered that slow life that also provides financial stability.

interior design newsletters  home organization for busy moms  cozy home inspiration  real life home decor  how to make your home cozy
best Substack newsletters for design  small space design tips  low effort home upgrades  functional home styling  declutter your home tips
design sessions open

If your space feels a little “off,” let’s fix it.

No overhauls, no overcomplicating, just small, intentional tweaks that change everything.

I’m opening up a few design sessions, and if you’ve been thinking about it, this is your sign. We’ll get on a call, go through your space, and I’ll give you clear, actionable changes that actually make sense for how you live.

It’s easy. It’s fun. And it’ll make your home feel right.

Spots are limited, so if you want in, now’s the time.

Design Sessions Open


💛 The Good Stuff

Best Substack for home organization tips, cozy living, and design for busy women.  Real-life home organization strategies for overwhelmed people who don’t have time for Pinterest-perfect systems.
Handmade Pressed Flower Tile | Pink Toile Wallpaper | Hourglass Ring | Glasses
  • A surprise jam session in the loft that reminded me why we even do all this

  • The smell of lemon zest and sunscreen lingering in the air like a pre-summer teaser

  • That one ray of afternoon light that hit the kitchen floor just right and made everything feel cinematic for 7 seconds

We're collecting moments, not things. Unless the thing is a vintage match striker. Then it's both.

Easy home organization hacks and cozy home upgrades that make everyday routines feel better.
Los Poblanos dipping herbs | Honey Comb Jar | Clutch | Barn House Tour | Terracotta Herb Pots

The Overlooked

5 Things to Prep the Week Before Easter

Simple home upgrades for creating cozy routines, better sleep, and less overwhelm.  Home decor Substack with real-life styling advice, emotional design insights, and cozy clutter solutions.
The Rebellion of Imperfection

Last-minute floral arrangements

Here’s the trick: Don’t fight the grocery store. Just lean into it with confidence and a bundle of carrots.

The Vegetable Vase Hack:

  • Pick up a bunch of whole carrots with the greens still attached (bonus if they’re multicolored).

  • Drop them into a wide-mouth glass vase with a little water and a single floral stem or two.

  • Let the carrots be the statement. It’s rustic. It’s fresh. It’s real.

I once did this 20 minutes before guests arrived, using $5 produce and one leftover flower, and got more compliments than on any $45 bouquet I’ve ever bought.

Saves: $50+ per event. Feels like a dinner party flex.

Bathroom quick-fixes for guests

People always notice bathrooms.

Swap out hand towels for spring colors, add a small potted plant, and place a basket of individually wrapped hand soaps as both decor and party favors.

interior design newsletter  cozy home inspiration  home organization tips  small space decorating  make your home feel cozy  best Substack for design  home styling ideas
Vacation Classic Spray | Cabana Beach Towel | Statement Ring | Palma Umbrella |

The 10-minute tablescape

Layer a neutral runner with scattered egg-shaped candles and glass jars filled with jelly beans. Add name cards tied to twigs with raffia for a Pinterest-worthy table with minimal effort.

Emergency basket fillers

Keep a stash of wooden eggs, watercolor paints, and twine. When you need a last-minute gift, paint a quick pattern, attach twine, and call it “artisanal Easter décor.”

The clean-only-what-matters strategy

Focus energy on the entryway, bathroom, and wherever food is served. Everything else can be “artfully lived-in” (it's a design term, I promise).

✨ Current Obsessions

Why Your Bathroom Should Be a Little Unhinged

home decor for busy moms  decluttering tips that work  low effort home upgrades  how to organize your home  functional home design
Bathroom Favorites

Your bathroom is the one place you can go completely wild with design without regrets.

Here's the truth: We spend an average of 416 days of our lives in the bathroom, yet it's the last room most people invest in. The ROI on bathroom happiness is astronomical.

Here's why you should let your wild side out in the bathroom:

  • Statement wallpaper that would be too much anywhere else

  • Dark florals, geometric patterns, or even vintage maps. The bathroom can handle what your living room can't.

  • Unexpected lighting fixtures

    • A crystal chandelier over a clawfoot tub or vintage sconces next to your mirror can transform a basic bathroom into a conversation piece.

  • Floor-to-ceiling drama

  • Try patterned cement tiles, painted floors with stencil designs, or even a penny tile floor (literally made of pennies, cheaper than you'd think).

My Beautiful, Functional Breakdown

Peyton Davies
·
Apr 7
My Beautiful, Functional Breakdown

As I write this, a cold front is rolling through Texas (yes, in April), and something about the cold wind feels like a reset.

Read full story
Effortless Interior Design for Real Life: Cozy Living, Color Psychology, and Easter Hacks

Listen, I don't like budgeting. I like strategy. And this one feels like cheating in the best way:

💡 Copy + paste this into ChatGPT:

I want to plan five dinners this week using only what's in my fridge: [insert your random leftovers here!]. Include one vegetarian meal, one cozy soup, and one dish that feels like a restaurant order.

No grocery run. No food waste. No takeout spiral at 6:42 pm.

Savings so far? $117 this week alone.

Newsletter? Paid for. Emotionally and financially.

budget home upgrades, best Substack for interior design, cozy living newsletter, calming home color palette, emotional interior design, last-minute Easter decor ideas

First, thank you for trusting me with your inbox AND your money. I don't take either lightly, which is why I'm delivering my most valuable bathroom hack right out of the gate.

home decor Substack, small space design ideas, nervous system-friendly interiors, slow living design blog, real-life styling tips, ChatGPT for home life,
Bathroom Favs

The $23 DIY Bathroom Upgrade That’ll Save You $357

The Problem:

Most bathrooms have horrible lighting.

Builders install those cheap overhead fixtures that cast shadows down your face (making you look tired/older), or they put those dreaded Hollywood-style globe lights above your mirror that create harsh shadows and make everyone look... well, terrible.

When I was consulting on a bathroom renovation for a client last year, their designer quoted $450 to install “architectural cove lighting” around their vanity mirror. The result was stunning: a soft, indirect glow that made everyone look airbrushed in real life. But the price? Criminal.

What we can do instead is below ↓

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 The Cabinista
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More