Was downsizing my belongings somethings I have always done? When I was a kid and we were expecting company we would begin the process of cleaning the house from top to bottom. My mom would say “I want the house to look like a picture out of the Better Homes and Gardens magazine”. No pressure, right? We would work feverishly at making it happen but I’m pretty sure we fell short most of the time. Then again, we were just children.
Although my mom’s idea gave us motivation and is a wonderful goal, it is not always the best goal. We get an idea of what organized looks like and it often looks similar to what we see on HGTV, Pinterest, or Better Homes and Gardens. But is that reality? I don’t think so and it is not always sustainable. When we strive for something a bit different and work at it consistently, we can see real change.
I Struggle Too With Organizing My Home
My family and friends who know me best, know that my house is usually not like a picture out of Better Homes and Gardens. In fact, it rarely is. Honestly, when I started this business, I felt sure no one who knows me will think I can do this. It’s all about perspective though. I struggle with some of the same things that my clients struggle with so I get how it feels. If dreams, ideas, and projects that you want to do, or thought you wanted to do, created some chaos. I know that letting go of family heirlooms is hard. Downsizing belongings is not about getting rid of everything, it is about keeping what is important. I know that the creative mind seeks to do many things and often bounces from one project to the next. I am on the journey with you.
This is a Process
I am not a perfectionist who comes in and forces you to give up everything. Downsizing your belongings is a process. I want to give you some of the skills I’ve learned to make it easier. To show you I am right there with you, I want to share my office makeover with you and some things I learned in the process. Here are a few before pictures of my shelves.
For my office, I had to first decide what I was going to allow in the room and what I wanted to clear out. In the past, the room had been a catch-all. I wanted a neat and tidy space to work. I began by removing everything that did not have something to do with an office space or my work with a few exceptions. Once I got everything out that didn’t belong there, the room began to feel more comfortable.
I still felt like the bookshelves were chaotic. I wanted a more cohesive look. A picture on Pinterest sparked the idea of covering the books. This turned out to be a great idea to tone down the shelves. I used legal size paper, brown craft paper, and gift wrap. Then I began adding a few decorative pieces. This is when the room really started to take shape. I mostly used what I already had but there are one or two things that I bought specifically for the room. I was also given an adorable little Olive tree that was a perfect addition to my desk. Thank you, Christina!
4 Things I Learned about How to Downsize Belongings
There are a few more details that I worked on over the course of a couple of weeks. Here are my key takeaways.
First, remove what doesn’t belong.
Don’t just move them to another room though. Put them where they belong or at least the room they belong in and don’t let things sneak back in that don’t belong there.
Second, determine what stays in the room.
That led me to determine what would go in every other room in the house. I know this sounds so simple but when life gets busy. We begin to just drop things where it is convenient. Over time, it leaves chaos in its wake. Our lives change too. I now have two spare rooms that I didn’t have a year ago so I have the freedom to relocate items to new spaces. Take time to consider what you want in each room and what the purpose of the room will be. It will help you identify what to keep and what to get rid of too.
Third, straighten this room daily.
I’ll admit, there have been a few days that I just didn’t have the energy. As of today, the room needs very little straightening on a regular basis. I straighten as I go and I made sure there was a place for everything. Now, when the rest of the house seems a little overwhelming, I escape to my office. After a few minutes of enjoying the calm, I can go back and tackle the day to day cleaning.
Finally, start where you are and choose an obtainable goal.
Although a picture perfect home may be your goal, it’s not going to happen overnight. Once you achieve it can you make it last? I am not a neat freak. I have to work at keeping everything cleaned up. My new goal is not perfectionism or to make my house like a picture out of Better Homes and Gardens but rather to develop new habits that will eventually lead to a more tidy and peaceful home.
I am always open to suggestion on maintaining a welcoming home. I would be delighted to hear your thoughts on organizing, cleaning and maintaining your home.
