We recently connected with Ashley Wilson and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I’ve been earning a full-time income from my creative work since August 2017, but it definitely didn’t happen overnight! When my son Don was born in February 2015, I knew I wanted to stay home with him, but financially, that wasn’t an option. I’d always dreamed of becoming a blogger, but I wasn’t brave enough to start—until he was six months old. I finally talked my husband into it. He thought it would be a fun hobby, but deep down, I knew I could turn it into an income-generating business.

At first, I focused on slowly building my audience, sharing my projects, and learning the ins and outs of blogging. About six months in, I landed my first paid campaign—for $20. It might not seem like much, but to me, it was proof that if I could make $20, I could eventually make a full-time income. From there, I kept setting monthly monetary goals and worked hard to secure brand sponsorships to meet them, all while continuing to grow my following.

Two years after starting my blog, I hit the milestone I had been working toward—I was able to quit my full-time job and focus solely on my business and my son. Since then, I’ve continued to diversify my income, expand my reach, and create content that inspires others to make their homes beautiful.

Looking back, I could have probably sped up the process a little by pitching brands more confidently from the start. But honestly, the slow and steady growth allowed me to really understand my audience and refine my style.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I’m Ashley, the creator behind At Home with Ashley! I’m a home decor and DIY blogger, content creator, and soon-to-be author. My passion is helping people create homes they love—whether through easy DIY projects, budget-friendly decorating ideas, or inspiring design tips.

How I Got Started
I’ve always been obsessed with decorating. Even as a kid, I’d re-decorate my bedroom, experimenting with different ways to make it feel just right. But my real journey into the home decor world started after I became a mom. When my son Don was born in 2015, I desperately wanted to stay home with him, but financially, that wasn’t possible. I had always dreamed of being a blogger, but fear held me back. Finally, when Don was six months old, I took the leap. I started my blog, treating it like a business from day one, and worked hard to build an audience and monetize my content.

What I Offer
Now, my business includes a mix of blog content, brand collaborations, and products, all focused on making beautiful home decor accessible to everyone. Some of the things I offer include:

DIY Tutorials & Home Decor Inspiration: I share step-by-step projects, Ikea hacks, and creative ways to personalize your space.
Wallpaper & Design Guides: I have an entire content pillar dedicated to wallpaper—choosing it, applying it, and making it work in different spaces. Plus I have my own wallpaper line on Spoonflower.
Brand Partnerships: I collaborate with brands that align with my audience’s needs, showcasing products in real-life applications.
My Upcoming Book! At Home with Decorating: Getting to Know Yourself Through Designing Your Home is all about intentional decorating and how your home can reflect your personal story.
What Sets Me Apart
I think what makes At Home with Ashley unique is my approach to decorating—it’s deeply personal, colorful, and always fun. I believe your home should tell your story, not just follow trends. I also love making things feel accessible. Whether it’s a renter-friendly wallpaper hack or a budget-conscious DIY, I try to show that beautiful design doesn’t have to be expensive or intimidating.

What I’m Most Proud Of
Hands down, my biggest accomplishment is building a business that lets me do what I love while also being home with my son. On top of that, writing my book has been a dream come true—I can’t wait to share it with the world! I’m also incredibly proud of the community I’ve built. Seeing my readers try out my projects, gain confidence in decorating, and create homes they love is the best feeling.

What I Want People to Know
At the heart of everything I do is the belief that your home should reflect you. Whether you’re experimenting with wallpaper, thrifting for vintage finds, or figuring out your style, I’m here to help you make your home feel like yours.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Absolutely! One of the biggest things I wish I had done earlier in my creative journey is investing in courses. For a long time, I hesitated to spend money on education, thinking I could figure things out on my own. But once I finally started taking classes, I realized how much faster I could grow by learning from people who were just a few steps ahead of me.

Now, I try to always be in the middle of a course, whether it’s learning how to create viral reels, streamline my photo organization, or improve my business strategy. Every time I invest in my education, I end up wishing I had done it sooner! The knowledge and strategies I’ve picked up from these courses have helped me grow my business so much faster than trial and error alone.

I also love attending in-person conferences. Not only do I learn so much from speakers and workshops, but I’ve also made dear friends who have been instrumental in my business. Having a network of people who truly understand this industry and can offer advice, support, and collaboration opportunities has been invaluable.

If I could give one piece of advice to creatives starting out, it would be this: don’t be afraid to invest in learning and community. It always pays off in the long run!

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2020, we bought a home in Florida, which meant we had two houses—one in Florida and one in Utah. The plan was to rent out whichever house we weren’t in, but when my son started kindergarten, we decided it would be best to send him to school in Utah. That decision led to a major pivot: we had to sell our home in Florida after only two years of renovating it and sharing the journey with my audience.

I had so much content around the house—sharing everything from the renovation process to how we were renting it out. Closing that chapter was really tough. I had invested so much of myself into that project and had a deep emotional attachment to it. But in the end, selling the house was the right choice for our family.

It was hard to let go of the content, the plans, and the idea of that space. But it taught me an important lesson: sometimes we need to make choices that may feel difficult in the moment, but they’re necessary for our growth, our families, and our long-term happiness. That pivot was bittersweet, but I don’t regret it. It ultimately helped me focus on what was most important for us at the time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://athomewithashely.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/athomewithashley
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/athomewithashley
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AtHomewithAshley

Image Credits

The images of my house are all taken by Ruth Cozier