It's officially the first day of spring and with spring comes spring cleaning! However, before you start deep cleaning your home why not get rid of the clutter that's in your way. Getting rid of clutter can reduce the time you spend cleaning and it really just feels so darn cathartic. For many of us, clutter in the home causes stress and discontentment and there are psychological explanations for why this is so. It bombards our minds with excessive stimuli and distracts us from where our focus should be. It then starts to feel like your possessions own you, and that's just no fun. Make your home a happy home!

“Clear your stuff, clear your mind”

— Eric M. Riddle

I do understand that sometimes it's overwhelming to even think about the stuff we have accumulated and the time it will take to go through it all. Choosing what to keep or toss can be a distressing process, but it doesn't have to be. I have created a free downloadable printable of a spring decluttering checklist if you don't know where to begin. It's just a rough list, but at least these are some things you can probably throw away guilt free. 

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF WHEN DECLUTTERING:

It's a good idea to set some rules for yourself before you begin decluttering in order to get rid of things you don't really need. Here are some questions you should ask yourself when you declutter.

1. Do I have a duplicate?
   • It's not really necessary to have a duplicate of some items. It makes sense to have duplicate of some things, like kitchen baking trays if you like to bake large batches. Evaluate its purpose as a duplicate item and draw a fine line between being prepared and creating clutter if you keep it. 
2. Have I used this in the last year?
   • We sometimes hold onto things that seem like they might be useful, but it's important to evaluate how often you actually use them. Be real with yourself, if you haven't touched it in 4-6 months, despite your best intentions, it's a good candidate for decluttering. 
3. Does it make my life simpler?
4. Am I keeping this out of obligation or guilt?
   • It's likely that there is something  you are holding onto not because you love it but because it was a gift and you feel obligated to keep it. It's understandable that you don't want to hurt someones feelings, but it's your home and you can decide what you want in it. Tell yourself that it's okay to declutter gifts, if it's still good why not donate or sell it, someone else can love it. 
5. Am I not throwing this away because I don't want to waste money?
6. Do I have a realistic plan to use this?
7. If I were shopping right now, would I buy this?
   • People change, our style and tastes change, keep items that you can see yourself purchasing in the present.
8. Is it easily replaceable or can I borrow it?
9. Is this item worth cleaning and storing?
   • Your time and space in your home have value. Consider how much time or space an item takes up and is it really worth cleaning, sorting, and storing. 

Now that you have set yourself some guidelines lets dive into the process. 

5 - STEP DECLUTTERING PROCESS

1. Choose an area to declutter

   • Make your way through each room in your house, one at a time. Gather everything together in one area and start going through it

2. Ask yourself your guiding questions

3. Separate items into bins/piles

   • Once you have evaluated an item, put it into a different pile or bin by category. You can have categories such as: Keep in this room, Keep in another room, Toss, Donate, Sell, or Repurpose. Choose what makes sense to you. It can be as simple having only a keep and toss pile or all those mentioned previously.. 

4. Put everything in its new place

   • Make a home for everything you do keep, and make sure you put it back after you use it to avoid clutter in the future

5. Get rid of items you are not keeping as soon as possible

   • Get rid of items you are not keeping as soon as you can, or else you will be staring at them second guessing yourself. 

I hope this guide can help you in your decluttering process. It is by no means the only way to declutter, it's just how I do it. Set your own rules, make the process somewhat enjoyable, by the end of it, you will most likely feel as though a heavy weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

HAPPY DECLUTTERING!

Winter is coming. The weather outside will be frightful heading into the cooler months, and we will all most likely be gathering with family and friends inside to warm up during the holidays. Don’t let the dropping temperatures drag you down, here are some tips to help you redecorate your space to bring some warmth inside your home and create your own cozy winter refuge. 

1.     Warm up those windows

If you are feeling a chill in the air, insulate your windows! Dress them up with drapes using heavy fabric that matches your existing style. When drawn during cold weather, drapes can reduce heat loss from a warm room by up to 10%. To reduce heat exchange or convection, hang them as close to the windows as possible a let them fall onto the windowsill or the floor. 

2.     Fuzzy floors

Hardwood, tile or stone floors are great in the summer months but during winter…. not so much.  Add a fluffy area rug in your living area – or any area you see fit really – to warm up those feet and make the room feel much cozier.

Image Source - Adorable Home

Image source - House to Home

3.     Fire it up

If you have a fireplace be sure to rearrange your furniture towards it. This will create a warm and cozy gathering spot for friends and family. They will surely appreciate the warmth and ambiance the fireplace provides.  To give it an extra flare add textured pillows and throw blankets to stay warm and snuggly regardless of whether there is a fire going or not. 

Don’t have a fireplace? Have no fear. Candles are great too. Place candles strategically around the room to achieve the same warmth and glow. 

Image Source - Fresh Design Pedia

Image Source - Garrison Hullinger

4.     Bring nature indoors

Bring the outdoors inside, because why not enjoy a touch of nature in the warmth of your own home.  Think sprigs of evergreens, birch branches, twigs of bright red winterberries, pinecones, etc.  There are so many ways to display and arrange these items inside your home during winter. Whether it be a DIY or store bought decor have fun with it! 

Image Source - Pottery Barn

Image Source - Equallywed

Image Source - Liz Marie

Image Source - Liz Marie

5.     Warm inviting smells

Décor and accessories can go a long way towards cozying your home, but filling your home with smells of the season is important too. A bowl of potpourri consisting of cinnamon, pine needles or evergreens can do the trick or you prefer diffusing essential oils PaLoHa Essentials has a post about wonderful winter essential oil blends you can try, here. Additionally, there are so many scent options offered in candles from various brands, they can range from earthy scents to sweet candy cane, the hardest part is picking them out.

The thought of creating your dream home can be extremely exciting. However, there are certain things that you can overlook when it comes to home renovations. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when taking on a remodel to help you save time and money, as well as ensure you don’t gray prematurely in the process.

1. Rushing into it.

Don’t get caught up in the excitement of a renovation project and rush into it without developing a good plan. Be patient. Before starting anything, come up with a design with your contractor, a realistic timeline, and look into whether or not your project needs a permit. Coming up with a good plan is tedious and time-consuming but having a bad plan or no plan at all can delay your project, derail progress, and increase costs in the long run.

2. Taking matters into your own hands (DIYers)

I love a DIY project as much as the next person, but just know when to hand over a project to professionals.  Realistically evaluate your own abilities before deciding to start a project without hiring a contractor. Sure a blog post or YouTube video may make it seem easy but just know that you may not end up with the result you were expecting or you may not be able to finish the project at all. Then...after investing your time and money into doing a  project on your own, you may have to hire a contractor to repair your mistake anyway. So realize that hiring a contractor is a worthwhile investment. They have the expertise to plan the project, maneuver through challenges, and apply best practices to ensure superior results. 

Tip: If you have made the decision to go about a project on your own, we offer home renovations consulting to help advise you on the project from start to finish. Read more about home renovations consulting here.

3. Choosing the first contractor you meet or a contractor with the lowest quote

 A contractor can make or break a project. Don’t make the mistake of choosing the first contractor you meet. Take your time.  Be sure to interview several contractors, communicating to them your expectations for the project and request an itemized estimate from each one. Moreover, the lowest quoted price might be tempting, but it can be misleading and unrealistic.  A low quote can mean that the contractor is not accounting for certain costs or even worse, they might cut corners once the renovation starts. 

4. Having an unrealistic budget

What I mean by “unrealistic” is creating a budget, which doesn’t allow for wiggle room.  A good rule of thumb to follow is once you have decided what you want to spend, increase that number by 20% and that should be your budget.  This 20% cushion will help prevent added stress when unforeseen events arise.

5. Choosing the cheaper option

It’s understandable that you are looking for ways to save money on a project, but don’t automatically choose the cheapest fixtures.  Talk to your contractor about the tradeoffs between quality and price for your certain aspects of your project. You’ll probably be better off selecting a better quality product that fits within your budget. Investing a little more on quality means you won’t be spending money on repairs in the long run.  

Tip: If you are in no rush at all, you may be able to find great deals on items that you do want throughout the year. You just need to keep your eyes peeled and you can save on material costs without compromising quality. However, make sure you have the right measurements before you buy it!

6.  Changing your mind.

 Try your best to stick to your initial plan once a renovation project has begun. Changing your mind throughout the project and doing last minute add-ons can get costly.  However, a good contractor will let you know what will cost extra if you do so happen to change your mind. Ultimately, coming up with a refined plan in the beginning in order to help you not doubt yourself throughout the renovation.