“Take care of Your Home & Take care of Yourself:
Caring for Your Home as a Tool for Self-Care”

I’m genuinely proud to introduce this guidebook, co-written with psychologist Dr. Maria Francesca Basile (without whom, I admit, I might never have found the courage to write it!).

This guide is a journey through the home, bridging psychology and interior design, to highlight how deeply connected these two fields are—and how they should always go hand in hand when designing a living space.

Your home tells the story of who you are, and you can truly express yourself through it.

In a world that moves fast and feels increasingly stressful, creating home environments that reflect who we are, sustain us, and evolve with us is essential. Only then can we truly rest and recharge—to face the outside world with renewed energy!

What will you find in the guide?

This guide is here to help you understand how deeply connected we are to our homes—and how we influence each other.

You’ll discover practical insights and tips to help you design a home with intention and awareness.

A space that truly reflects who you are supports you and helps you feel your best every day.

Click on the image to buy the guide-book

The guide is divided into two parts.

The first explores essential concepts like change and decluttering (but not only those!).

The second takes you on a detailed, room-by-room journey through the home, offering inspiration to help you express your essence and creativity in shaping your space, your very own oasis of peace.

Here’s the table of contents to give you a better idea:

FOREWORD: HOW OUR GUIDE CAME TO LIFE

INTRODUCTION

PART ONE: TIPS OF AWARENESS

Chapter 1. Embracing Change – How to welcome change without fear

Chapter 2. Decluttering – The art of letting go

Chapter 3. A Desire for Color – The impact of color in the spaces we live

Chapter 4. Feng Shui Tips

PART TWO: ONE ROOM AT A TIME

Chapter 1. The Entryway – The threshold between outside and inside, between outer life and inner self

Chapter 2. The Living Room – A relaxing space for being together and enjoying time alone

Chapter 3. The Home Office – How to work from home in a comfortable and functional way

Chapter 4. The Kitchen – Where we nourish both body and mind

Chapter 5. The Bedroom – A room where intimacy and rest meet

Chapter 6. The Bathroom – A space where your wellbeing is essential

Chapter 7. The Outdoor Area (balcony, terrace, garden) – A little slice of home under the sky

Chapter 8. A Few Final Tips – Useful ideas for every space in your home

CONCLUSION

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

The Story Behind This Guide

I want to share this story with you because I think it’s beautiful and quite unusual!

It’s a story about how shared values and energy can bring people together, even from afar.

You should know that Francesca and I have never met in person—we’ve only ever connected online!

She used to follow my YouTube channel and would occasionally comment on my videos.

Then, one day, in March 2022, I launched a little contest, asking followers to send photos of something they had created by following my content.

I planned to open a poll to showcase the entries, and the most-voted project would win a free 30-minute consultation.

Francesca was the only one who participated so, of course, she won!

During our video call, we clicked, and we kept in touch, slowly building a wonderful long-distance friendship.

Fast forward to January 2024: during a chat with a colleague who specializes in the psychology of color, I suddenly had a lightbulb moment—psychologists and architects/interior designers should collaborate to create spaces that genuinely promote well-being.

So, I called Francesca to share the idea.

She loved it too, though she pointed out that it might not be easy to put into practice—partly due to ethical regulations in her field.

But she suggested something brilliant instead: why not show people the connection between our two worlds through a series of Instagram Lives?

And precisely that’s what we did!

We hosted nine Lives through the end of July 2024, and they were truly well-received—something we’re still so grateful for.

But we didn’t want all that work to disappear into the digital ether.

So, inspired by the Latin saying verba volant, scripta manent (spoken words fly away, written words remain), we decided to turn those conversations into this guide!

How to Use This Guide

This guide was created as a practical and helpful tool.

That’s why, at the end of each chapter, you’ll find specific suggestions from both a psychological and interior design perspective, plus a dedicated space just for you, where you can jot down your thoughts, reflect on what resonates, and explore how you’d like to bring it into your home.

It’s a guide you can return to over time – whenever you feel you’ve changed and your home needs to evolve with you.

Some insights that didn’t speak to you at first might feel right the second time.

Please keep in mind that these are general suggestions, not fixed rules. Some things may resonate, others may not, and some might need to be adapted to your unique needs.

Take care of your home and take care of yourself in the way only you know how.

And if, at any point, things don’t feel quite right, don’t hesitate to reach out.

We’re here and ready to help.

Virginie & Francesca

SOME ARTICLES-REVIEWS WRITTEN ABOUT US AND OUR GUIDE-BOOK:

Pier Carlo Guglielmero talks bout the book (and tells about Virginie Simonet) on Alessandria24.com

Pier Carlo Lava reviews the book in Alessandria.Today

Pier Carlo Lava tells about Maria Francesca Basile in Alessandria.Today

Pier Carlo Lava tells about Virginie Simonet in Alessandria.Today

With great joy and deep gratitude, we’re thrilled to share that our guidebook has been selected and will be featured at the Turin International Book Fair (Salone del Libro) 2025—in the Self-Publishing section!