Hey There! I’m Dina Dockins
Author | Home & Garden Writer | Creative Homemaker | Age 35
Junior Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30328-based home and garden enthusiast who believes our spaces should support our energy, creativity, and wellbeing.
My Story
For a long time, I thought “home” was just a place to crash after busy days. I lived in apartments that were functional but soulless bare walls, mismatched furniture, and zero connection to nature. In my late 20s, juggling work, side projects, and nonstop city life in Atlanta, I started feeling constantly overstimulated and under-rested. I didn’t realize how much my environment was contributing to that feeling.
Everything began to change when I moved into a small place on Junior Avenue and finally had a little outdoor space of my own. I planted a few herbs in cheap pots from a local garden center basil, mint, and rosemary. Watching them grow gave me a strange sense of calm and control I hadn’t felt in years.
Around the same time, I started experimenting with decor that felt softer, more natural, and more “me.” Linen curtains, thrifted wood pieces, simple plants in every room. Writing about these changes helped me process them. That’s how my work as an author in home decor and gardening truly began.
The Turning Point
The real turning point came during a summer when everything felt too loud work stress, city noise, endless screens. One afternoon, after a particularly overwhelming week, I came home and just sat on my floor. No music. No phone. Just silence and heat and a messy living room.
I noticed how tense I felt just being in my own space. That’s when I decided to change it, not for looks, but for peace. I spent the weekend clearing clutter, opening windows, and moving my plants closer to the light. I added one chair by the window and made it my “quiet spot.”
The first morning I sat there with coffee and sunlight on my face, something clicked. My home could either drain me or restore me. From that moment on, I committed to creating spaces and gardens that felt grounding, not overwhelming.
What I Learned the Hard Way
At first, I chased trends instead of comfort. I bought decor I didn’t love just because it looked good online. My home felt staged, not lived in. I also planted things that had no chance of surviving Georgia heat because they were “pretty.”
I learned the hard way that copying someone else’s style rarely works long-term. It left me frustrated, broke, and surrounded by things that didn’t feel like me.
I also struggled with impatience. I wanted instant results fast makeovers, perfect gardens. But nature and real homes don’t work on deadlines. The biggest lesson? Slow progress beats rushed perfection every time.
My Approach Now
Now, I start with how a space feels, not how it photographs. I ask: Does this room calm me? Does this garden invite me outside? Does this support my daily life?
In the garden, I focus on plants that thrive naturally in Atlanta’s climate low-maintenance, heat-tolerant, and forgiving. I work with the seasons instead of fighting them.
Through my writing, I share realistic ideas that fit real lives. No pressure. No perfection. Just thoughtful changes that make your home and garden feel more peaceful and personal.
What I Believe
- Your home should feel like a refuge, not a showroom.
- Gardening is about patience, not control.
- Natural light and greenery change everything.
- Simple spaces create clearer minds.
- Sustainable habits grow from small, repeatable choices.
How I Can Help You
If you feel overwhelmed by your home or unsure where to start with gardening, you’re not alone. I write for people who want calm, grounded spaces not Pinterest-perfect ones.
At SimplyGreenHome.com, I share step-by-step guides, seasonal decorating ideas, and honest advice about what actually works in real homes and real gardens. From balcony gardens to cozy living rooms, I break things down into doable, affordable changes.
My goal is to help you create a space that supports your life your routines, your rest, and your creativity.
A Little More About Me
When I’m not writing or tending to my plants, you’ll probably find me walking Atlanta neighborhoods, browsing thrift shops, or journaling in local cafés. I love quiet mornings, herbal tea, and books about simple living and design.
I’m always learning about plants, people, and myself. That curiosity keeps me grounded and inspired.
Let’s Connect
If any part of my story feels familiar, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re just starting your first garden or trying to make your home feel more peaceful, you don’t have to do it alone.
I believe the best spaces grow from shared ideas, honest questions, and small brave changes.
Get In Touch
You can find more inspiration and practical resources at simplygreenhome.com.
For questions, collaborations, or a friendly hello, email me at contact@simplygreenhome.com.