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For women creating calmer homes and softer lives in a busy world.
If you are new here, welcome.
I’m Harper Lively, and this is Modern Homemaking.
This space exists somewhere between the practical and the philosophical. It is about homes, yes — but also about the people living inside them. The invisible systems that hold families together. The emotional architecture of everyday life. The quiet ways we create steadiness for ourselves and the people we love.
I write about motherhood, mental load, domestic life, routines, food, work, overwhelm, beauty, identity and the small rituals that make modern life feel softer and more manageable.
Not because I believe women should aspire to perfection.
But because I think our homes shape us far more than we admit.
What You’ll Find Here
Thoughtful essays on modern life
Reflections on motherhood, work, identity, emotional labour and the realities of trying to build a calm life inside a busy world.
Some of the most-read pieces here are about:
being the default parent
mental load
why clutter feels emotionally heavy
the invisible systems behind a functioning home
longing for a slower, softer life
Practical homemaking
Alongside the essays, I also share practical systems and ideas that genuinely help everyday life run more smoothly.
Things like:
meal planning
family-friendly recipes
pantry organisation
routines and resets
small systems that reduce overwhelm
creating a calmer home environment
I’m deeply interested in homemaking not as performance — but as infrastructure.
A well-run home can support your nervous system.
It can make life feel lighter.
It can create more room for joy.
What Modern Homemaking Means to Me
To me, modern homemaking is not about perfection, aesthetics or rigid roles.
It is about creating a life that feels supportive rather than chaotic.
It is about recognising that many women are carrying enormous mental loads while also working, parenting, organising, remembering, anticipating and emotionally holding entire households together.
And it is about asking:
What would happen if our homes actually supported us back?
Not through pressure or unrealistic standards.
But through thoughtful systems, rhythms, comfort and care.
A Few Good Places to Start
If you’re new, these pieces will give you a feel for the heart of this publication:
Looking for more practical inspiration?
Alongside this publication, I also share recipes, meal planning ideas and practical homemaking articles over at Modern Homemaking.
You’ll find:
family-friendly recipes
seasonal cooking inspiration
home organisation ideas
practical systems for everyday life
thoughtful articles on creating a calmer home
If you enjoy the writing here, you’ll likely enjoy that too.
Who This Is For
This publication is for women building beautiful lives inside busy ones.
Women who want homes that feel calm but lived-in.
Women who are tired of optimisation culture.
Women who want nourishment, steadiness and softness without giving up ambition or intelligence.
You do not need to be a “perfect homemaker” to belong here.
Most days, neither am I.
Thank you for being here.
I hope these words help you feel a little more grounded, a little more capable, and a little less alone in the invisible work of holding a life together.