Today we’d like to introduce you to Maleah Maziarz.
Hi Maleah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always had a thing for homes. Some kids played outside I was the one going to every open house and model home in town with my mom. We moved a lot growing up, and I loved watching how my mom transformed each house into our home. I was totally invested choosing my room color, bedding, furniture (and let’s be honest, lobbying hard for a lava lamp or two). That’s really where my love for creativity and design was born.
One of my earliest “design gigs” was when my grandma let me redecorate her bathroom. I was probably 10 and thought I had just landed my first big client. In high school, when new furniture wasn’t in the cards, I painted my old stuff, sewed new pillowcases, and DIY-ed my wardrobe like it was my job. I was always creating something drawing, making clothes, rearranging my room for the hundredth time.
Then came photography. Every Christmas I asked for a new camera, and by the time MySpace was a thing, I was fully in love with taking and editing photos. I took fashion and photo editing classes in school, mentored with a couple of amazing photographers, and taught myself Lightroom. By 2015, I was officially a paid professional photographer. I still shoot on occasion, but these days I’m slowly phasing out of that chapter.
In 2023, we moved to St. George, Utah and I swear, there’s something in the water here. It’s full of inspiring, driven, boss-mom creatives, and they seriously lit a fire in me. I’d always used social media for my personal life and my photography business, but one thing I never really shared was my passion for decorating on a budget. I’ve been married to my wonderfully frugal husband since 2010 (shoutout to all the budget-conscious spouses out there), and as a mom of three, I’ve had to get very creative to make our home feel beautiful without breaking the bank.
Friends and family were always asking for advice where I got something, how I styled a room, or how I made something look high-end on a tight budget. A few of them said, “You have to start an Instagram,” and honestly… they were right. It finally clicked that while photography was a big part of my story, it wasn’t my main passion anymore. What truly lit me up was creating a home that felt personal, cozy, and uniquely mine.
So I took the leap. I started sharing my home projects online things I was already doing anyway and it became this beautiful creative outlet. I believe in sharing is caring, and I’m definitely not a gatekeeper. If I discover a hack or a cute decor find, I’m telling everyone about it.
That’s how @maleahandcohome was born. It’s my little corner of the internet where I share home inspiration, DIYs, budget-friendly styling, and real-life homemaking. And now I’ve also launched an Etsy shop Maleah & Co. Design where I sell digital wall prints and frame TV art to help others bring personality and warmth into their homes too without spending thousands.
At the end of the day, I’m just doing something I love and that’s the magic of it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh, definitely not smooth
Balancing creativity with motherhood has probably been one of the biggest challenges. I had three kids while building a photography business and trying to keep the house from looking like a toy tornado touched down. All while trying to feed and keep everyone alive and happy. I spent a lot of late nights and nap times editing. And now, It’s not easy to be creative when someone’s asking for a snack every five minutes or when your DIY project gets “redecorated” with crayon murals. You will see that my 3 year old is in a-lot of my videos, she is my constant helper and sidekick!
Another challenge was confidence. For years, I second-guessed whether anyone would care about my home decor ideas or if sharing them online would just feel…weird. I didn’t want to come off like I was trying to be something I’m not. I’m not a professional interior designer I’m just a mom who knows how to make a space feel beautiful and personal without spending a fortune. It took time (and a pep talk or ten) to finally hit “post” and start showing up authentically.
And of course, there’s the social media rollercoaster. Algorithms, engagement, growth it can feel like trying to decorate a house while the floor keeps moving. But I’ve learned not to let the numbers define my worth or the value of what I share. If what I post helps or inspires even one person, that’s enough.
So no, it hasn’t been a totally smooth road but every challenge has pushed me to grow in ways I never expected. I’ve learned to give myself grace, trust my instincts, and sometimes I just have to be a mom and cant post, and keep showing up (even if I’m doing it in sweats with yesterday’s dry shampoo holding on for dear life which you can see in most of my videos).
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At the heart of it, I want to help people turn houses into homes on a budget and without losing their minds in the process. I create content that inspires others to see potential in their spaces, showing them even a little change can make a huge difference, whether it’s reimagining a thrifted find, styling a bookshelf, or making their builder-grade home feel custom and cozy, by adding simple upgrades, or showing them they dont have to hire someone they can save money and do it themselves.
Through @maleahandcohome, I share DIY projects, affordable home decor, tips, styling ideas, and real mom hacks. Im not always put together so I try and show the pretty and the messy. My goal is to show that you don’t need a massive budget or a degree in interior design to create the home you want and see on Pinterest, but also practical and lived in. I specialize in creating high-end looks on a “Target run and coupon code” kind of budget. 😂
I love helping others find decor that doesn’t break the bank but still brings joy. There’s something really satisfying about finding the perfect item on Amazon or in the dollar section at Target and making it look like it came out of a designer showroom.
One of the things I’m most proud of is stepping out of my comfort zone, finally having the confidence to do something I have waned to do for a long time. When people message me saying, “You made me feel like I can do this,” or “This is genius, Im loving your page.” That’s what keeps me going. I want people to know that there are ways to make your home feel like a “Pinterest-perfect” home on an affordable budget!
What sets me apart? I’d say it’s the mix of resourcefulness, relatability, and that “I’ll figure it out” energy. I’m not here to gatekeep or pretend like I have it all together. I’m just a creative mom who loves making things feel warm, cozy, intentional, and lived-in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://maleahandcodesign.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maleahandcohome/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@maleahandcohome?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
