We have all experienced “home-envy” when it comes to home improvements and interior design. This only seems to escalate with access to such beautiful images of rooms and spaces on sites like Houzz, Pinterest and Instagram. These websites have raised the bar for what we believe is possible for any home, whether you are into DIY or in the midst of your own home renovation.
It can be overwhelming to get inspired by so many beautiful homes and not know where to start. Our recommendation is that before you decide to paint the interior or exterior of your home, before you start buying new decorations or furnishings, and even before you really start deciding on a style for your space, get everything cleaned and organized. There is one thing in common when it comes to the images we see online – strict organization and extreme lack of clutter.
It is always tempting to jump into a new design for your home, but your vision won’t come to life if you fill your space with the same clutter that you had before. Everything in these inspiring images have been well thought out, from the color of the walls to those perfectly placed decorations in every nook and cranny. Because these homes were set up specifically for a photo shoot (and not necessarily an active living space), it isn’t always realistic – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible!
[/column]
[/column]
[/column]
[/column]
We talked to a top cleaning and organization company in Denver to help us take a realistic approach to decluttering our lives so that we can begin redesigning our home with a clean slate. Major Mom, located in Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs, is a team of local and highly-trained professional organizers on a mission to bring balance and control to any Colorado home.
We asked Major Mom what their process is in order to stick to a plan and not get overwhelmed. Here is some advice from the professionals:
- Start with one area at a time: Start with one room, or even just one drawer. Just getting one space organized can be the boost you need to keep going and not getting overwhelmed.
- Be kind to yourself: A space doesn’t get disorganized in one day, so it may not be possible to completely organize it in one day! Set a realistic timeline with small goals and stepping stones. Each hurdle will make you feel more accomplished than trying to just “organize the bedroom.”
- Begin by sorting like items: You can easily decide what to keep when you gather ‘like items’ together and see the volume of each type of item you own. You also aren’t ‘ping-ponging’ back and forth between different types of items. For example, it’s easier to make decisions about a box of pencils and a stack of notebooks than to go one-by-one. It can be overwhelming to bounce around with small items like “Do I need this pencil? Do I want this notebook? Here’s another pencil…”
Unlike the images we see online, our space has to be functional as well. Major Mom suggests “really digging into specifics about how the space is used, what works about the space currently, what doesn’t, and who uses the space.” From there, they create a plan of what the finished room’s layout will look like and how it will function, as well as an action plan of who will be responsible for each task during the organization process.
Once you have gone through the planning, decluttering and organization process, you may finally be ready to take a look at Houzz or Pinterest. You will have a more realistic starting point for inspiration with a better understanding of your space and how you want it to function. With your rooms decluttered, you will also have a better idea of the lighting in each space and be able to choose a color to paint your home that complements your style and the natural mood of each room.
Major Mom’s number one piece of advice is to stop the incoming! If you are hoping to upgrade the look of your home (which might require buying new items) your decluttering job isn’t over quite yet. Before you buy anything new, you have to have a specific place in mind for that new piece to go. If that space is already taken, you may have to ask yourself (or have an unbiased third party person ask) if you really love that item, if you actually use it, and would you rather have something else go in that space. Be mindful of what you bring into your home. The less stuff you bring in, the easier it will be to maintain what you already have.
Professional cleaner and organizers aren’t just for hoarders. In fact, any individual or family can benefit from better organization if they are “feeling overwhelmed (be it by clutter, paperwork, time or family management issues) and are ready to take control of your household by decluttering and creating sustainable systems and processes.”
Need a little help starting before you can bring your vision to life? Major Mom offers a variety of audio lessons and eBooks on their Organizing Store to help declutter every room in your home, and a monthly newsletter full of organizing tips and insights.
Major Mom understands that ‘life happens’ to us all, so they also offer maintenance sessions for clients to revisit previously organized areas and get them back on track.
Click here for more information on space planning for organization and efficiency.
Click here for more information on conquering the roadblocks to downsizing your stuff.
Click here for more information on the benefits of decluttering.
[/column]
Think you are ready to upgrade your home? From home painting to professional floor coating, Zenith Home Finishes can provide you with a free estimate! Connect with one of our professionals today.
[/column]
