HOME STYLING & STAGING
We're a socially-conscious interior design company in Minneapolis, MN.
I BELIEVE
Our environment impacts our well-being and it can bring joy to your life and allow you to spend your time and energy on the things that are important — like, life.
Hi, I'm Mel.
I created Happy Place Interiors, an Interior Design Learning Hub because I fell in love with watching my clients faces light up with surprise and excitement when I teach them just how practical and easy interior design can be.
Sharing my interior design knowledge in an easy-to-learn style (some may even call it "layman's terms") to help people find more happiness is a mission I am committed to.
Your environment impacts your well-being and it can bring joy to your life and allow you to spend your time and energy on the things that are important to you — like, life.
Happy Place Interiors puts a fresh spin on what you’d expect from
an interior design company.
Rooted in the belief that everyone deserves a happy home, our Online Home Decorating Bootcamp, Game-Changing Rules of Home Decorating Book and our Personal 1:1 Virtual Design Sessions keeps high-quality interior design accessible.
IAfter helping hundreds and hundreds of frustrated homeowners create a space they love and teaching them in a very different (and practical) way, I developed a formula that works for the everyday person who doesn’t easily understand interior design.
If you are ready to be intentional with your space and see all the possibilities your home has to offer, reach out — I would love to help make your home your favorite place to be.
Melanie
Melanie Zaelich
Owner, Home Stylist & Interior Designer
Associate ASID
Certified True Color Expert™
Joy Collaborative Board Member
Melanie Zaelich is an accomplished, award winning interior designer, known for her down-to-earth approach and creativity. As the only interior designer with "HAPPY Method", Melanie is transforming the way people experience interior design.
Melanie's talent has garnered regional and national design awards.
She has consistently achieved the title of Houzz Best in Service since 2017. In 2019, she was honored as one of the Top 100 Influential People in Real Estate. Notably, Melanie's design work has been recognized by RESA National and has won the "Top 10 Redesigner of the Year Award — USA" three years in a row: 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Recently, Happy Place Interiors was awarded Silver for "Minnesota's Best" Interior Design Firm 2023.
Media Coverage and Influence
Melanie and her design work have been featured in regional publications like MidwestHome and Axios Twin Cities, as well as prominent national platforms such as Apartment Therapy. Her insights have reached audiences across the US and beyond through her appearances on podcasts.
Empowering Clients through Design
Since 2016, Melanie has enriched the lives of over 1500 homeowners by infusing their space with joy and functionality. Her unique skill set includes making the complex creative process fun and accessible. She breaks it down into manageable, bite-sized pieces, making home design less stressful and more enjoyable. She's fantastic at helping clients discover their unique style, and when it comes to couples, she's the peacemaker, blending their preferences into a harmonious living space. Her ability to visualize spaces and share this visual concept to her clients is her superpower.
With a commitment to making interior design more approachable, Melanie has carved out a unique niche in the industry. Her consult-based and
à la carte approach fosters collaboration between designer and client, ensuring that each project is a true reflection of the homeowner's vision and personality. Her energy and passion are infectious, and she's on a mission to prove that great design is for everyone. Melanie serves a diverse clientele, including first-time homeowners, empty nesters, parents in pursuit of a refined living environment, individuals seeking expert guidance for their own design ideas, and seniors navigating transitions to new living spaces.
Professional Affiliations and Community Engagement
Melanie is an Associate Member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), an active member of Women in Construction, and holds a notable certification as a True Color Expert™. In 2019, she served as President for RESA Minneapolis. Her commitment to community involvement is evident through Happy Place Interiors' membership in the Minnesota Keystone Program, which recognizes companies that contribute a portion of their profits to the community. Happy Place Interiors has been donating a percentage of profits to Minnesota charities since 2017. Charities include: Bridging, Hearts & Hammers, My Very Own Bed and Joy Collaborative.
Spreading Happiness
When she's not busy transforming spaces, Melanie dedicates her time to something even more remarkable. She's a passionate Board Member of Joy Collaborative, a Minnesota non-profit that creates life-enriching spaces for kids with life-limiting conditions. Her heart is as big as her design concepts, and she's all about spreading happiness through the power of design.
In 2024, Melanie created designLOVE, the Happy Place Interiors Giving Program. Through this program, she donates her time and talent to people in need, so they may have a space that fosters hope, health and happiness.
Her passion for design and her belief in its power to bring happiness to people's lives are contagious. Through her philanthropic endeavors and her steadfast commitment to delivering accessible design solutions, she has made a significant impact. Her ability to transform spaces, uplift lives, and give back to the community demonstrates her commitment to her craft and the well-being of those she serves.
