The Home Space and Reason Podcast

What happens inside your Home MATTERS: Space planning for families is more about holistic functionality

By Kristina Browning | Home Functionality Coach & Host of the Home Space and Reason Podcast

If the average American spends 87% of their life indoors (thanks, EPA), that means you, my friend, are spending the vast majority of your life surrounded by furniture, walls, lighting, and let’s be honest — possibly a mountain of Amazon boxes you swore you were going to recycle last week.

So, if we’re spending this much time inside, we have to ask: Does your home support the life you actually want to live? Not Pinterest-perfect. Not what your mother-in-law thinks is functional. But you. Your kids. Your real life. That daily swirl of snacks, school shoes, work Zooms, and the occasional moment of Zen (usually in the laundry room because it’s the only door that locks).

Let me pose a better question: Does your home help you thrive... or just survive?

🧠 Here's the truth: When clients ask me, “How do I make my home more functional?” or “Can you help me create a dream home layout?”, what they’re really asking is:

Can you help me breathe easier in my space? Can my home feel less chaotic and more like a haven?

You can’t “Live Intentionally” if you’re constantly tripping over stuff

We’ve all heard the phrase “live intentionally.” And maybe you’ve Marie Kondo’d your sock drawer into oblivion. But beyond folding your T-shirts into tiny origami birds, there’s a bigger conversation we need to have.

➡️ Space planning for families isn’t about having more rooms. It’s about how your space functions with you and for you. That random formal dining room you never use? That could be the creative studio, game room, or yoga corner that changes your entire week (so long as you still have a space for your family to sit and eat together!)

Let me say this louder for the people in the back: You don’t need a bigger house. You need better functionality. (Unless you’ve got 15 kids. Then yes, by all means, buy more square footage. Otherwise... we need to talk.)

Why I Created the Podcast: Home Space and Reason

I’m Kristina, a Realtor and your friendly neighborhood Home Functionality Coach. Yes, I made up that title — because it didn’t exist, but needed to. I host the Home Space and Reason Podcast, where I geek out on home aesthetics, automation, organization, and how to make your house feel better… without necessarily changing your zip code.

This isn’t a podcast about backsplash tile. This is about setting up a space that supports your passions, your downtime, your people, and your peace of mind. It’s kid-friendly, all-positive, and just a little bit nerdy in the best way possible. We’re talking home psychology, sensory details, and why your lighting might be low-key sabotaging your mood.

Spoiler alert: You don’t have to move to feel better in your home. Sometimes the magic is already within your walls—you just need help unlocking it.

OK, But What’s Actionable?

Let’s say one of your favorite family memories is doing puzzles together. Is there a dedicated space for that? Or does it require clearing the kitchen table, shoving the mail pile into a drawer, and apologizing to everyone for making them get up halfway through dinner?

If your home isn’t set up for the life you want to live, those beautiful spontaneous moments won’t happen often. Sometimes all you need is some questions to answer about how you do (or don't) use your space.

That’s where I come in. Whether you’re asking “How do I make my house feel bigger?” or “How can I make my home more livable?”, we’ll break it down—one bite at a time. In each podcast episode, I pose questions to ask yourself about your space and your reasons. Someone once asked me (while I was elbow-deep in a room rearrangement), “How do you eat an elephant?” Answer: One bite at a time. Same goes for your home. With good questions to marinate in your brain, combined with small steps, sustainable progress happens.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Start by asking yourself:

• What space in my home gives me the most angst?

• Do I have a space for the activities I love?

• Does my home support connection and rest... or is it draining me?

If you’re craving less stress, more joy, and a space that finally works — subscribe to the podcast and start with Episode 1 (or skip around if you’re feeling rebellious). With over 100 episodes and 100,000 downloads across 100+ countries, you’re in good company.

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Let’s create a home that lifts you up, sets you at ease, and makes room for the life you actually want. For quick reference, I included an Episode list below. There are so many good topics to choose from! Inspiration at the ready.

🎧 Listen now to Home Space and Reason 💌 Or if you’re ready to go from listener to client, click here to work with me.

Let's Go

An Episode List of The Home Space and Reason Podcast

Ep. 1: Does every Space have a Reason?

Ep. 2: Our free time is new ~ History of Homes

Ep. 3: The Process of Cooking Daily

Ep. 4: Fall & Halloween in your home 🍁

Ep. 5: The Space that doesn’t get Used

Ep. 6: Lighting and Windows 🪟

Ep. 7: Don’t hate cleaning and chores

Ep. 8: Managing Sentimental Items

Ep. 9: Styling Shelving

Ep. 10: Who is your Home Encouraging you to Be?

Ep. 11: 10 Impactful Steps I can take in my home to help global warming

Ep. 12: Winter in your Home ❄️

Ep. 13: Creating Spaces for Gathering & Connection

Ep. 14: Entryways

Ep. 15: Goals

Ep. 16: Bedrooms

Ep. 17: Plants 🌿

Ep. 18: Creating spaces for Kids

Ep. 19: Emotions as they pertain to our home

Ep. 20: Matchy-Matchy isn’t a thing

Ep. 21: What Makes People Passionate about their Homes and what makes a person really love a space?

Ep. 22: Bathrooms 🚽

Ep. 23: At Home During a Crisis

Ep. 24: Knobs, Pulls & Handles

Ep. 25: Great Curb Appeal 🏡

Ep. 26: Creating great Outdoor Spaces 🦩

Ep: 27: Attracting Hummingbirds, Butterflies & Birds 🦋

Ep. 28: Fencing, Hedges & Privacy Screens

Ep. 29: Home Office

Ep. 30: Creating spaces for Introverts and Extroverts

Ep. 31: Things to know before you BUILD a HOME

Ep. 32: Adding Style or Updating with Temporary Wallpaper

Ep. 33: Revising and finishing home projects

Ep. 34: Creating Dual-Purpose Rooms and Flex Space

Ep. 35: 4 ways to become re-inspired with your space

Ep. 36: Laundry and the Laundry room 🧺

Ep. 37: Drawer liners: Kitchen and bathrooms

Ep. 38: Fire Pits with guest Mike Bertelsen, Founder of Cowboy Cauldron 🔥

Ep. 39: Front Door Mats

Ep. 40: Creating spaces for movement & habits for health with guest Nicole Darabi

Ep. 41: Doorbells, Front Door Locks & Handles

Ep. 42: Backyard Insect Hotels 🐝

Ep. 43: Scale, Proportion and Art for your walls

Ep. 44: The color of your Plates and Bowls

Ep. 45: Organizing: the KonMari method with special guests Karin and Kristyn of the Spark Joy podcast.

Ep. 46: The Haunting of a House 🦇

Ep. 47: Luminaries and Candles

Ep. 48: A guided Relaxation Exercise 🧘🏻

Ep. 49: Phillips Hue Lights for a Home Theater experience 💡

Ep. 50: Thinking of buying a home? Nuts and bolts + things to ponder 🏠

Ep. 51: Creating Wonderful Traditions

Ep. 52: Choosing and Decorating your Christmas Tree 🌲

Ep. 53: A home that encourages Healing 🤕

Ep. 54: Bootcamp for your house

Ep. 55: Creativity in your Home

Ep. 56: Hardwoods, Laminate, Carpet or Vinyl?

Ep. 57: Your Morning Experience ☕️

Ep. 58: Spring, cleaning and your junk drawer

Ep. 59: Rethink your garage with special guest Mark Greene 🚘

Ep. 60: Stacking a negative to make a positive

Ep. 61: A story about breast cancer, home and healing // with guest Rachel Weber, Digital deputy editor of Better Homes and Gardens

Ep. 62: Swedish Death Cleaning ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (most popular episode)

Ep. 63: Remodeling Inspiration: Video Home Tour

Ep. 64: Wildfire threatening our Homes

Ep. 65: Feng Shui

Ep. 66: An infusion of positivity when days feel heavy 🧘🏻‍♀️

Ep. 67: 7 ways to boost happiness in your home

Ep. 68: The pile up of Dishes, Pots & Pans

Ep. 69: Fireplaces

Ep. 70: You in your home

Ep. 71: Forgotten and neglected spaces

Ep. 72: Low Key Gathering Ideas

Ep. 73: Automation to Relieve Mental Load

Ep. 74: Radon Poison in the air of your home

Ep 75: A story about owning a Historical Home

Ep. 76: Year-End Home Reflection & Intention

Ep. 77: List of Priorities When Buying 🪧

Ep. 78: An Anxiety-Inducing Kitchen transforms

Ep. 79: The Impact of Home Renovation shows on our choices

Ep. 80: What is Beautiful? Interior Designer Arlene Lord weighs in.

Ep. 81: Arguments about Clutter 💥

Ep. 82: Using & Decorating with Crystals

Ep. 83: A tool for Sorting thru Things

Ep. 84: A story about Reupholstery & personal growth with The Salvaged Woodshop

Ep. 85: Making chores equitable: They are not all yours

Ep. 86: What to do with a rectangular room?

Ep. 87: A Unique Birthday Party Idea: The Reflection Party 🥳

Ep. 88: Trophies, plaques & awards 🏆

Ep. 89: Slow Decorating

Ep. 90: An interview with Grammy award-winning rapper Sir Mix A Lot: on Dwellings

Ep. 91: Hammocks

Ep. 92: Porches

Ep. 93: Shoes off at the door? 🥾

Ep. 94: 3 things: Bathroom Functionality

Ep. 95: The Grind of Feeding Yourself (and others) every day

Ep. 96: Coffee Tables

Ep. 97:  For the love of Mugs, Tumblers & the Stanley Cup

Ep. 98:  Projects to increase your home value

Ep. 99: Bubbles & Suds: the glorious bathtub 🛁

Ep. 100: A countdown of your Top 10 favorite episodes

Ep. 101: Using color in your home

Ep. 102: Decorating with Blue

Ep. 103: Preparing outdoor plants for a Heatwave 🥵

Ep. 104: Decorating with Green

Ep. 105: 3 things: Bedroom Functionality 🛌

Ep. 106: Decorating with Red: video edition

Ep. 107: New Method of Cleaning: Cousins, Coworkers or Family? with Christen Fackler

Ep. 108: Being OK with Imperfect

Ep. 109: Buying, Donating, Organizing Stuffed Animals

Ep. 110: A Short Reflection: your life within your Home

Ep. 111: Decorating with Yellow 🌼

Ep. 112: 8 Minutes of Joy & a Dopamine Menu 😃

Ep. 113: Habituation & How you Spend Time in your Home

Ep. 114: Home Functionality Segments

Ep. 115: 11 ideas for Side Yards 💡

Ep. 116: How does my home Smell?

Ep. 117: A Tool for Choosing what Gift to Give

Ep. 118: 3-Things / Dining Room Functionality

Ep. 119: a 4-minute Winter Decompression

Ep. 120: When a Home Imprints

Ep. 121: Pros and Cons of House Cleaners; Yay or Nay? 🧹

Ep. 122: Planning outdoor spaces during the off-season

Ep. 123: When your parent dies: Dealing with the contents of their home

Ep. 124: Hacking consecutive Holidays

Ep. 125: Picking a Word of the Year

Home Space and Reason Podcast