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Wednesday, January 31st, 2018
Hooker Furniture Dining Room Studio 7H Stol Upholstered Arm Chair: As the saying goes, cleanliness is close to godliness so you might as well take the time to declutter in your own home.
There Internet is recently bombarded with a trend called organization porn. This has nothing to do with pornography or anything that is lascivious in nature. This is actually something appealing since it requires organization skills and well-curated art pieces that are used as everyday items. A gorgeously minimalist living room is an example of a well-organized space.
So what are the general reasons why you might not be able to clean up the mess in your home? Many homeowners stress over these things and, perhaps, there is a solution for these common woes –
There is simply too much clutter. As everyone goes through life, we tend to pick up objects that are not necessarily needful. For example, the Christmas balls that were used two years ago (because you wanted to have a different-colored tree last Christmas) are now dumped in the attic. They’re there together with your extra waffle iron and blow dryer.
To solve this dilemma, stop being attached to material stuff. If you are keeping them for sentimental reasons, then just take a photograph then file the photographs and do not hoard the stuff. Give away the stuff that other people could still use.
You don’t have ample time to clean up. You might think that this is a pretty valid reason to have a less than ideal home but it is not. While it may take a lot of time to organize just a single room, the simple solution is always to take it one day at a time.
You don’t have to finish the task that same day. If the room has accumulated a lot of unused stuff over the last months, then you logically should not expect to have it cleaned up in just a few hours.
Don’t even be tempted to give up.
You don’t know what clean feels anymore. Perhaps you have spent so many months or years slipping into the bad habit of not cleaning up. The sad result is that your house is no longer clean and presentable. You could, again, be tempted to just leave the clothes on the floor or to have the coat rack take on more than it could bear – but just don’t.
To solve this never-ending loop of bad habits, remember that a clean home is tantamount to being physically and mentally healthy. So spend enough time to keep your home clean all the time.
A Positive Effect
It has been studied that people who have clean homes tend to be healthier than people who have unorganized habitats. Associate professor Nicole R. Keith, Ph.D. of Indiana University pointed out the health risks that can be prevented with a clean home. Imagine not having to worry too much about heart disease since you live in a clean home.
Another study that was published in 2010 in a scientific journal also proved the connection between depression and a dirty home. According to the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, women who lived in cluttered homes showed higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
The Princeton University also came up with its own study wherein the visual cortex was found to be overwhelmed by irrelevant objects. When this happens, it is observed that the subjects became less focused and had a shorter attention span.
Another amazing effect of decluttering is that people with clean homes tend to choose healthier lifestyles. Since clutter tends to stress the brain, it has been observed that people resort to stress-eating when they are placed in an equally stressful environment.
Sleeping better and being more productive are also other benefits that you can expect from keeping your home clean. If from now on, you would want to stay in shape, then you have to create a list of goals to keep you motivated. Plan your cleanup regimen and set realistic goals.
Tags: declutter, decluttering, decluttering benefits, decluttering tips, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | Comments Off on How Decluttering Can Change Your Life
Friday, November 10th, 2017
American Leather Bedroom Queen Bed MEN-BED-QN
Decluttering one’s home is most homeowner’s wish. The problem is, when it comes down to actually doing the task, many just simply give up. While decluttering isn’t easy, it is easy to accumulate so many stuff in life. You justify this by saying that these things are your collections and that they even make you happy. Remember, though, that true happiness is never dependent on materials things.
So, why should you declutter?
Clutter Equals Stress
It is not an imaginary thing – clutter can cause stress. Cortisol (the stress hormone) is often associated with a high volume of household stuff. This means that the more material things remain cluttered in your home, the more stress you tend to experience.
Messy homes are even seen as places of failure.
Stress is also attributed to other conditions such as overeating and weight gain. Some people feel more tired when they see a lot of clutter in their home. And haven’t you noticed how difficult it is to focus or even to process information when you are in a cluttered environment?
Decluttering in a Nutshell
First, dare yourself to live only with the things that you need. A lot of stuff even in a spacious home could easily look like a hobo’s haven. If you can, stick to the basics such as a comfy couch, a bookshelf, an end table, and a beautiful center or coffee table.
Always be focused on cleaning up. You don’t have to begin piles of magazines. You can just clip the articles that you want then have the rest thrown to be recycled.
Categorize your possessions. This is an effective way to sort through your stuff. Begin with your clothing, then carefully check your jewelry, bags, shoes, books, electronics, and so forth.
Discard any of the items that you have not used for over six months. If there are items that you keep for posterity’s sake or for sentimental reasons, then at least store them properly so they won’t visually clutter the rooms of your home.
Give away the things that you no longer need.
Cynthia Rowley for Hooker Furniture Dining Room Long Board Rectangle Dining Table with 2-20in leaves 1586-75200B-BRN
The Decluttering Don’ts
If the professional fees of organizing professionals make you dizzy, then it’s time to DIY. But if you have to do this on your own, make sure that you’re not going to do these mistakes –
Tags: declutter, decluttering, home decluttering, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on An Immaculate Home for the New, Minimalist You
Thursday, November 2nd, 2017
Century Furniture Living Room Made to Measure Sectional 10-Sectional: Cleanliness also means having ample light and an airy atmosphere.
If you’re not feeling motivated to clean your home then you’re not alone. Many postpone cleaning their habitats for as long as they can because it is far from fun. Yet messy homes can up the stress levels of their inhabitants. Also, you won’t be able to find things more quickly if there is so much clutter all around.
Having kids and pets could double your cleaning efforts. The benefits outweigh the difficulty of cleaning up, though, which means you should value a clean home more than spending more time in front of a gaming console.
The idea of steaming the carpet or wiping the refrigerator is not a project that most people look forward to doing. But if you want a spotless sanctuary, don’t fret. There are ways to cleaning your home without spending too much time being dirty.
Compartmentalize
There is no need to take a leave off work just to clean your home. And, no, you don’t have to become a speed cleaner in order to finish this cleanup project.
First, you need to divide your chores according to the frequency that you would do each. Being able to cut down your cleaning time means establishing a system.
You can work from one room to the next, with one room representing one day of the week. You can also group the cleaning chores according to their level of difficulty.
Getting the time down means you have to be consistent with the time and the day that you assign for each task.
Compartmentalization also means you have to be consistent.
Take Note of the Little Things
While it is a huge deal to clean the ceilings as well as the wall-to-wall carpet, it is also crucial to remember to clean the nooks and crannies in your home.
For example, you should remember to wipe the insides of your microwave at least once every week. You can also deep clean this appliance twice each month. Just use half a cup of water and white vinegar. Place the mixture in a microwave-safe dish. Turn on the microwave on high till the window shows some steam.
Wipe using a clean sponge.
A toilet is also a place that has a reputation as a dirty space. Clean the bathtub since it has been proven to contain more bacteria than your trash bins.
Clean the Windows Inside and Out
If you can’t seem to get the squeaky clean look that glass windows are supposed to have, then invest in a quality squeegee. Use a drop of dish soap – yes, just a drop – in a gallon of water. Spread this mixture onto the glass windows then use the squeegee to remove the sudsy concoction.
You should be able to enjoy the clearest glass windows in no time.
Organize Cleaning Tools
Have all of your cleaning tools at arms-length. Doing so would mean you won’t have to walk from the cabinet to the area where you’re cleaning. Wear an apron also when you begin cleaning. Have a carpenter’s tool belt on the ready. Use cleaning clothes that have deep pockets.
Be Positive
Yes, positivity can help you finish faster. Be positive that you will be able to spot the areas that would require cleanup. Be positive that you will find the issues before they even require a cleanup.
A good cleanup will also ascertain that you won’t be having crawling pests. Clean up as soon as messes happen so that clutter will no longer pile up and you won’t have to worry about vermin at all.
In the process, you are guaranteed that your home’s building materials, as well as furniture and appliances, will have longer lives.
Tags: clutter removal, clutter-free home, decluttering, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on 5 Amazing Tips to a Spotless Sanctuary in Less Time
Wednesday, September 20th, 2017
Top to bottom: Hooker Furniture Bedroom Nest Theory Storage Bench 101-94019; Flexsteel Living Room Storage Bench W1434-021S; and the Thomasville Living Room Sojourn Storage Bench HS1646 18ST.
Cleaning up mess is not – you must admit it – the easiest and most fun thing to do. Yet everyone loves a clutter-free space so you also know that it is something that you have to do one way or another. Finding the energy and time to do the project, though, is a totally different topic all together.
So what could you do to hasten decluttering so you can enjoy its benefits soon?
Match and Toss
Do you have a pile of Tupperware containers inside your cupboards? This is the time to pull them all out and to start matching the lids to their respective containers. Check for other items inside the dishwasher as well. Store the matched containers and lids and give away any excess pieces that no longer fit into the cupboards.
Stack the matched pieces neatly then go back to the containers that do not have lids. Have those pieces recycled.
Unload ‘Em
Your next 10-minute decluttering project is to dig into the fridge and look for those messy condiments which have been stuck there. These are those spices and condiments which you did not like but ended up storing anyway.
It’s time to unload the fridge and to let go of these bottles. For those that you decide to keep, just wipe the wipe the bottle bottoms with a wet sponge before you put them back in. If you have extra time, group the bottles according to taste – the sweet ones go together while the spicy ones have their own space inside your refrigerator.
Check the Utensils
Your third project is to check out the utensils in your kitchen. Do you use each item daily? Or are most just stored there and remain unused for many months now?
See if you really need all 15 of your spatulas or turners. If not – and frankly you really need one or two – then dispose of the others. If there are utensils that you want to still keep due to sentimental value, then just store them in a different bin. That spot near your stove should be reserved for the ones that you regularly use for cooking.
Oh, the Pen Mug
Yes. That mug where you store all of your pencils and pens. Check if all of your pens still have inks. And for those that are lying around in the kitchen, the dining room, or even the living room, it’s time to scoop them all up and place them inside that mug.
That mug should be their only home when they are not in use. If you have tons of pens, then you might want to give away or donate some of them. There are various non-profit organizations that would be more than happy to receive your lovely pens.
Organize the Socks
Now open your drawers and check out how the socks are stored. Pull out each pair, match the unmarried pieces and inspect each for holes and damages. Fold the matched pieces then return them in your drawer.
Before you decide to throw the unmatched pieces, try checking for their partners in your laundry area. Once you confirm that some do not have mates, then just put these pieces to your recycling bin. Once you have a mount, you can then find a textile recycler in your area where you can donate them.
Organize Shower and Laundry Supplies
Check your shower area then pull out all bottles of shampoos, shower gels, and such. Those that you use daily need to go to your shower caddy. The other bottles that are used less frequently can be stored in a drawer or a bathroom cabinet.
Give away the products or throw away the contents and have the bottles recycled. While you may think that you’re wasting resources, think again. Instead of taking up valuable space in your cabinet, just let them go.
Do the same with your laundry detergents and stain removers.
Tags: declutter, decluttering, decluttering tips, DIY decluttering tips, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | Comments Off on Decluttering Tasks in Under 10 Minutes
Wednesday, February 15th, 2017
The Stanley Furniture Bedroom Upholstered Storage Bed Queen 518-13-43 offers drawers for extra clothing, socks and other accessories.
Some people have admitted to hoarding; some keep denying their obsession. Hoarding is characterized by someone having a hard time parting with possessions. Such a behavior can have a harmful effect on the physical, emotional, financial and social life of the sufferer.
Well, we’re not here to discuss about a psychological disorder, this is not the site for that. You also won’t read about symptoms leading to hoarding. Let’s just discuss how you can keep your home clean and clear from stuff that you don’t really need.
The basic guidelines include the following –
Under Two Years
The guideline to not becoming a hoarder is to let go of things that don’t have any sentimental value to you. Or, if you have not used the item for more than two years, then you know that it’s really time to let it go.
At times, these items could not mean anything at all. It might be as ordinary as empty butter containers in your cupboard. These may have been intended, originally, to become storage containers but they just ended up taking space. If this is the case, then it’s time to throw them away. Allow other people to recycle them and turn them into something more useful.
Minimalist Clothing
What about those clothes that you have kept for a long time?
Clean up your wardrobe by, first, removing all your clothes from the closet. Do you see any empty hangers? Set them aside then start sorting your stuff into three boxes – keep, donate or trash. Take a careful look at your keep box. Take a second time to sort through it again. You will observe that there is more clothing there that can be classified under the donate box.
Take out the box that’s labeled trash.
Keep Photographs and Sentiments
Of course, there are a lot of items that were given to you by your loved ones. This does not mean that you should flood your home with items that you no longer use. If these items are sentimental to you, then have them displayed. If the collection has been hidden all the while inside the cupboard, then it was time for it to go a long time ago.
Don’t fear the feeling of letting go. This is letting go of your kids’ clothes when they’re already adults. The secret to having a clutter-free home is to admit that you need to let go of some stuff. You can take photographs of these sentimental items instead and have them kept in an organized container.
Recognize Commonly Hoarded Items
It is also important to recognize the items that are commonly hoarded. These are papers (especially old newspapers), clothing, plastic bags, car parts, tools, bolts, nuts, screws, electronic equipment, and building materials.
Old furniture should also be discarded and replaced with sturdier ones.
As soon as you identify your hoarded stuff, then it’s time to declutter. Find them one by one then label every single one of them. Create homes for these items and ensure that they are always returned to their rightful places.
Horizontal surfaces must be kept clean at all times. Remember that flat surfaces can easily gather dust. Keep your paper files to a bare minimum. In your kitchen, be sure to label pantry items in order to save time in finding ingredients.
FFDM American Cherry’s Warwick Corner Cabinet Deck is great for those tight, often unused corners.
Decluttering Takes Time
Admit to yourself that you have to begin slowly. Don’t go through all your stuff in one day then have a mound of them dumped the following day. Doing so could lead to negative feelings such as anxiety and regret. Instead, go through one small space or collection at a time.
Keep yourself from saying, “I’ll put this aside for now”. Get things done and do them now. Don’t trick yourself. In place of this, you can try framing only the best item or two from your collection. You can then consign, recycle or donate the rest of the pieces.
Tags: decluttering, decluttering tips, home decluttering, home organization, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | Comments Off on No Space for Hoarding – 4 Decluttering Tips to Commit to Memory
Monday, January 30th, 2017
Stanley Furniture Bedroom Upholstered Storage Bed California King 696-13-50 has drawers where you could store extra clothes and accessories.
Have you ever thought of perusing your home’s interior design? Was there ever a time that you realized there are just some things that don’t fit into the area? These are the kinds of things that are often small but they still bother the beholder, thus, they’re referred to as an eyesore.
Though quite small, eyesores are the kind of problem that you tend to notice and keep noticing once you’ve already seen it. These are just the kinds of things that could keep annoying you.
In order to get rid of these design eyesores in your home, here are some functional and creative ways that you could hide such. This means you can finally say bye-bye to eyesores with style –
Think of Maximizing Space
Begin with end in mind, they say. Most of the design eyesores that you see in your home are keeping you from having a neat and maximized space. With more and more people piling up in cities, it becomes more important that you learn to maximize every available inch that your home offers.
You can always begin with clever hiding and coming up with uncommon storage solutions. You can even creatively repurpose surfaces such as having a blackboard on your refrigerator.
Other means just asks for the conversion of an unused space into something more beautiful and functional.
Space maximization should be your single motto as you go about with getting rid of interior design eyesores.
Drawers Under the Stairwell
Do you remember Harry Potter’s first room in the series? He did sleep under the stairs. That room could easily be converted into a space that’s also useful (sure, maybe not a bedroom because it’s simply too small).
How about installing drawers there? These drawers could then be used to store books, memorabilia or lots and lots of shoes. They could also be utilized as a toy storage solution.
Router in a Lovely Box
‘Ever seen those lovely boxes that they sell in department stores? It’s time to put them into good use by having the router placed into one of them. No one needs to see that ugly router lying around or hung somewhere, right? Choose the design of the box, make sure that it blends well with your chosen style.
If a box still looks bulky to you, then you can always repurpose a big, old book. Take out the frayed pages and just leave the hardcover. You can sandwich the router there and leave it lying around like a regular book.
ooker Furniture Bedroom Archivist Six-Drawer Chest
Invisible Bookshelves
Books just gotta have a home. Of course, it’s always advisable to get a decent bookshelf or two. In the case when you’ve already installed two or more and you still have more books to store, then it’s time to put your bare walls to good use.
Install plank of wood using an angle bar. Drill the angle bar to the wall then place just the right amount of books on each plank – voila – what you have is an instant, floating and invisible bookshelf.
Photo Gallery on Unsightly Switch Plates
Who says you have to bear with ugly switch plates? If you see one that’s simply out of place in your home, then just hang a lovely framed photo to keep it hidden. If you’re feeling inspired, create a photo gallery.
Cable and Cord Solutions
Why default into cable hiding? The longer the cables and wires, the more that you can turn them into wall art. Create the New York City skyline using your cables.
Another solution is to take a cardboard box, cut dual canals on both sides then hide the cables in. This is a lot better than seeing them all tangled under your desk.
Be creative, unleash your artistic side.
Tags: decluttering, design eye sores, home eye sores, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | Comments Off on Getting Rid of Interior Design Eyesores
Tuesday, January 24th, 2017
The Winners Only Bedroom 29 Inches 3-Drawer Nightstand BQW1005 can be maximized with the use of drawer dividers.
Home organization is, ironically, such a mess. This is especially true when you don’t know where and how to begin. So if it’s your New Year’s resolution to create a semblance of order in your home, then you should consider learning these tips –
Establish a Schedule
Maintaining a schedule is crucial in home organization. As you consistently organize and clean up during the same days, you would avoid the headaches that come with accumulated dirt and dust.
This is your effort to stay on track so you have to set the days on your calendar when you will declutter. A lot of people focus on bathrooms, kitchens and other common areas of their homes that they end up ignoring the home office.
Paper Clutter No More
It is so easy for paper to accumulate in a home office so whether your paper clutter consists of receipts, mails, magazines or business cards, you have to have a solution for every kind of clutter.
As you receive copies of your magazine subscriptions but you end up reading them on your tablet anyway, then you might as well cancel your subscription and move on to digital subscription.
Throw your mails in the junk as you sort them and consider each one that’s not needful. To cut down on receipt clutter, use an app to scan then manage your numerous receipts. Receipts by Wave is one such app.
Well-Used Wall
If you’re a little short on cupboard space, it’s time to get your stuff out in the open. Go ahead and display the dishes on a chalkboard wall. This dark background will allow you to indicate a place for every item. The added benefit is that you even encourage others to keep their stuff right where they belong. If you’re artistic enough, go ahead and draw shapes; if you’re more of a poet, write poems, and if you’re more of a writer, then go ahead and concoct words that inspire.
The Unique Tub
What better place is there to congregate clutter than at the entry? So get a galvanized tub, put some discreet compartments using foam cores and you’ve just created the best cylinder for keys, mittens, hats, caps, gloves, bug spray, and just about anything that you can add in there.
Winners Only Home Office 32 Inches Metro Open Bookcase P132BR: Books shouldn’t be a part of clutter.
The Correct Nightstand Setup
The bedroom is a place of rest so to have it look cluttered just defeats this very purpose. It’s time to turn that messy nightstand into something more organized. Create compartments within the nightstand’s drawers so you can place your reading glasses, some novels, the remote control, cell phone, etc.
Toy Tagging
Children’s play stuff are a common clutter inside homes. Yet homes can actually still look pristine even without curtailing your kids’ play time. Stock your shelves with tagged toys or label the containers with photos of the toy that is placed inside. When you want to update, just swap the photo of Buzz Lightyear with that of Bumblebee.
Don’t Forget Electronic Clutter
The electronic clutter that you have on your computer shouldn’t be treated differently from paper clutter. You should also sort the files especially the ones on your desktop. Know that people who are organized with their electronic files tend to be orderly in their home office.
An example of an organizing tool that you can use is Evernote. This is an app that will help you remember the big and small things on your tablet, phone or computer. You can also organize recipes using the Evernote Food app. Here, you can also record the places where you have dined at.
Conclusion
Organization requires discipline so you have to commit to your New Year’s resolution. If you want your home to declutter and remain decluttered, then you have to have a resolve to make your home stay immaculate – there’s simply no other way.
Tags: declutter, decluttering, home cleaning, home decluttering, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | Comments Off on Your New Year’s Resolution – Clutter Busting!
Saturday, December 3rd, 2016
The Hooker Furniture Living Room Linosa Linen Accent Chair has basic lines and a simple design that are perfect for uncluttered surroundings.
Clutter isn’t a part of interior design so don’t think that it’s okay to leave the mess around. Whether the untidiness is due to poor habits or being a pack rat, the burden brought about by unclean surroundings could be staggering so it’s time to clean up.
Clutter clogs the smooth systems in your home. Because of this, you can be certain that costs will pile up pretty soon. Just imagine the amount of time lost in finding missing keys, receipts or cell phones and you would know how much – in dollar value – you lose.
The perfect time to declutter is – now – even when you can even peer through the piles of stuff anymore.
Look Downwards
Now let’s get started. From the beginning, look downward. Instead of trying to realize how large the mound of clutter is, try to look at the big picture then zero in on the more solvable areas. Begin with the kitchen counter, declutter the fridge, then the shelves, then find some drawers where you are going to store items that still have use within the next few days or weeks. Choose an item that you think would be a daily eye sore.
It pays to be happy about your small successes in cleaning. Do not expect to finish the project in just a day.
Slowly But Surely
Clutter can become intolerable over the weeks or months that it is left alone. Don’t let this dampen your cleanup efforts. Know that, slowly, you will eventually pile all boxes, box all small stuff, and put away those items that are used seasonally. Curing clutter takes time so don’t expect that there are shortcuts.
Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? Just do this project steadily and you should be able to see the fruits of your labor soon.
Divide Decluttering Into Sessions
Attacking clutter means you have to use up energy, time and motivation.
Use a schedule. Working for just 2-4 hours daily, thrice each week is better than working for six straight hours on a single day. This is the most efficient time that you could schedule for your cleanup.
The Century Furniture Home Office Apothecary Desk T4H-765 has ample drawers for all your filing needs.
Change Your Lifestyle
Clutter accumulates due to a lot of reasons. Whatever your reasons were, it’s time to change and take on new routines. Poor housekeeping routines simply have to go. Sit down with your whole family then, together, create rules that will be strictly followed henceforth. Choose the one that’s most realistic for everyone.
Box and Banish Method
This is a method of decluttering wherein you clean up, not bit by bit but in a more drastic manner. To do this strategy, just gather all the clutter from chairs, drawers, tables, counters, ovens, the floor, even in bathtubs. Place these inside boxes or trash bags and have them stacked outside of your home. Work till the surfaces are clutter free.
Next, open every box one day at a time. Consider the items that were included in there. Decide, once and for all, if you will throw or keep the items that you see there as you check them, one by one, each day. All the items that remain inside the box after you carefully examined each need to go – no exception.
Imagine or Role Play
You can also use your imagination to declutter objects. Once you see an item that you’re having a hard time letting go, try asking yourself this question – If I’m buying this right now, how much am I willing to shell out?
This is a creative, psychological technique that you could use to remove unnecessary items from your home.
Tags: decluttering, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Monday, November 14th, 2016
This lovely wooden piece comes from FFDM’s Highlands Collection.’Talk of focal points!
Here’s a great reason to begin decorating for your home now – the end result of your project will enhance the mood in your home. With the right decisions come better sleep inside the bedroom, less stress in the living room and much joy in the kitchen and dining room.
Here are some ways to turn your home into a haven –
Establish an Effective Focal Point
One of the first things that you would notice when you enter anyone’s home is a furniture or architectural part of the home anchoring the rest of the design elements. This is the focal point.
It is your duty to create a focal point for your home. This should be something that is noticeable once you enter your home. It could be a large porcelain vase, an abstract painting, or a memorable souvenir from your travels.
Say No to Debris
What are you still doing staring at that pile of old newspapers on the floor? Pick ‘em up.
Piles of stuff on the hallway or the entryway must go. They all spell chaos and mess inside your home and that’s bad for productivity.
Have a place that is designated for every item. Place the most chic containers right by the door then find bins for incoming and outgoing stuff.
Create Ample Room
Anxiety builds where there’s too much stress or chaos. Reduce the clutter in your home by making space. Cut on all the non-essentials. Let go of unnecessary furnishings, magazines, files, picture frames, etc.
A magical way to create space is to paint one of your chairs or tables and let it blend or disappear into the wall. Painting the walls with a light color will also make the room look a lot more spacious.
Highlight, Don’t Flood with Light
It would be difficult for you and your family to relax during the night if there is a bright overhead lamp right in your living room. This is much like attending a concert wherein you are amped all the time. If you don’t want to be revved up all the time, then use spot lighting just for the areas that need brightness. For all the others, install dimmers that you can activate according to your mood.
Find and install full-spectrum bulbs for a more soothing and natural ambience.
Simplify the Color Scheme
Practice restraint when using colors and patterns. Mixing patterns means you must know how to keep the color schemes within bounds. If you are the type that likes a lot of colors, then be sure to keep patterns to a bare minimum or you’d risk making your home look like the venue for the next Iron Man triathlon.
A relaxing room should be one that’s devoid of too many patterns and colors. Find the most soothing hues then put in just the right amount of furnishings and accessories so that your place becomes more meaningful.
Love Mother Nature
In fact, you should love her so much that you are willing to bring her into your own home. Bringing the outdoors in means having pots of houseplants, some mirrors to reflect the natural light, and the biggest windows to accommodate the beautiful rays of the sun; the view should also include an interesting landscape and awesome trees right outside your home.
The Hooker Furniture Bedroom Vintage West California King Wood Panel Bed is the perfect focal point to your bedroom.
Turn Off Your Electronics
Put the TV set and the computers in areas where you are not supposed to relax. These are your home office and the entertainment area. Do not let these electronic appliances interfere with a good night’s sleep by putting them inside the bedroom or the living room. In their place, use throw pillows, lamp shades and the most calming colors that you could find.
Tags: adding colors to a home, creating a focal point, declutter, decluttering, determining the focal point, finding the focal point, focal point, houseplant, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, nature, nature in interior design, nature-inspired design, nature-inspired home, outdoor view, tips
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 26th, 2016
Look for furniture that could double as a storage unit just like this Jessica Charles Living Room Dare Storage Ottoman 81-SO.
When you’re about to move in to your new home, cleaning up is the primary task that you need to focus on. But this mostly means that it’s time to clear up stored items that have been accumulated over a long time – if not your entire lifetime. So you’re thinking of becoming more organized this time? It’s not impossible, but it’s not easy either.
Here are several organization methods that should help you with your cleanup goals –
Practice One In and Another Out
You may begin with this rule. As soon as you have decided on which things to bring with you to your new place, then you need to make enough room for it. There may be situations when this rule would not apply, though, such as when you’re starting with your first apartment and you still don’t have that many furniture and accessories.
This rule may not apply also when you’re about to move all across the country or the globe. It simply wouldn’t be practical to bring your prized furniture on the airplane or to have them sea freighted. Other than these scenarios, you can make use of this basic rule.
Consider which objects you would need to purchase and what furniture pieces you’d be keeping.
If you’re beginning to think that you’d miss a shirt, a pair of shoes or even a mug, then think if it is a part of a collection. If it’s not, then let go. Even collections need to be evaluated now and then.
Begin with Storage Spaces
Organization is equal to having ample storage space. With this in mind, then you should begin your organization goals with storage spaces. Consider whether your attic, basement, garage or closets would be able to hold some of your not-oft used pieces.
Purge items that have long been stored (a month or longer) and no longer have any use. Unclutter or free up storage areas – not just rooms. This means letting go of stuff that has long cluttered your cabinets, drawers, bins and other such useful storage units.
Organize, Don’t Just Store
What most homeowners think about when organizing their home is simply decluttering. An organized home is a home with ample shelving units, boxes, and cabinetry. Know how to align, stack and heap stuff in a neat manner. Even the greatest storage solutions are useless if you only dump your stuff in them.
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Make Use of Labels
Once you have decided on how to store items, it’s time to have them labeled. It would be pointless to stack storage boxes one on top of the other if you’re not able to recognize what’s in each. You would end up opening every single box looking for an off-season curtain or bedding.
Take the time to attach those labels on every box if you don’t want this scenario to happen to you. Check some label templates online. Print them out and start labeling your storage bins. There are small, medium and large labels, choose which ones you need according to the size of your boxes.
Store Digitally
When you’re thinking of storing stuff, don’t just think of tangible pieces. There are now things in this world that you can’t store in boxes or cabinets. These are things like digital files – from photos to videos, your favorite music and documents.
Declutter
Of course, home organization also means decluttering. So say goodbye to these items (yes, you have to!) –
Broken sunglasses
Wrong prescription eyeglasses
Inkless pens
Unused food containers
Old clothes
Mustard, catsup and soy sauce packets
Salt packets
Scarves that haven’t been used for a long time.
Tags: decluttering, home organization, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, storage, storage advice, storage systems, storage techniques, tips
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