If you
read a lot of lifestyle magazines or watch home and garden channels on tv, you
might be tempted to feel bad about the state of your home. Between exceptional
natural lighting, perfectly complementary accents, and a complete lack of
clutter, the tips that come with those lifestyle shows and articles might make
you feel like a failure.
But no
home that’s lived in is perfect. The sun will not always be shining directly in
your windows. You’ll probably pick up or be given a home decor item or two that
isn’t in perfect sync with the rest of your decor. And once in awhile, there
will probably be toys, tissues, mail, and other clutter out in the open.
On the
other hand, organization can help you find items you need and prevent your
possessions from owning you. A clean home is a safer home, and it’s worth it to
find a balance between not taking care of your home and obsessing over its
cleanliness. Below are some common areas of concern in a home and how to find
that middle ground of accepting little imperfections.
Lighting
You’ll
rarely see a staged home photo that doesn’t include tons of natural light. Of
course, that does look better in photos, but that doesn’t mean you have to have
tons of windows in order to have a well-lit space. Once you’ve optimized your
existing windows with curtains or blinds that you like, think about what
lighting would best suit each room. My living room has some globe ceiling
lights, as well as a little side-table lamp for ambient lighting for at night
or when we want the drapes closed.
Some
areas in your home just won’t get very much natural lighting, like the bathroom
or your hallways. There are lots of tricks to lighting hallways, like
recessed and ceiling-flush lighting fixtures that don’t take up lots of room.
Today you can find light bulbs in all sorts of tones, and some emulate natural
lighting really well. Do some research to find the option that works best for
you.
Lack of
Space
A common
theme in “perfect” home images is a lot of space. There’s no clutter, and most
of the furniture is against a wall, leaving lots of room to move around in the
middle. Sometimes, this aesthetic isn’t an option, especially for people with
children. You need tables and other surfaces to put things on for easy access.
There are lots of items required for raising kids, and those items need to be
stored, usually in drawers or on shelves. This means that if you have small
rooms, they will fill up quickly.
The
first thing I do when feeling crowded is de-clutter. I get rid of junk mail,
start a thrift store box, and figure out what I really need and what I might be
able to sell or get rid of. Then, with the rest of the space, I look at
function. Where do I want certain items to be accessible? How can I make them
as aesthetically pleasing as possible?
In the
living room and play areas, I use organizational tricks tomake a small space look bigger. This can involve lighting, mirrors, and using
vertical space. Built-in shelving and stackable furniture can be a lifesaver.
In the
kitchen, I make use of compartmentalized storage. I love finding unique
containers to keep often-used utensils handy. I’ve also hung pots and pans on
the wall. Pinterest is full of fun ideas, and I always get inspired by bloggers with examples ofhow they organize their kitchens. If you’re a DIY-er, it’s not hard to find
fun-looking projects that help you organize your kitchen ona budget.
Kids’
Stuff
No
matter how much you try to limit the amount of possessions your kids
accumulate, they will still collect massive amounts of stuff. People will give
them presents. They’ll come home from parties with cheap toys and other favors.
They’ll win prizes at game centers and bring home art from school.
While
you’ll probably be able to get rid of party favors and other generic toys
during your regular de-clutter, I think one of the most challenging things to
organize is children’s art. Some may fit in binders and scrapbooks, but others
you’ll definitely want to display. I’ve found fun ideas for both DIY and commercial options for
hanging kids art. I love the idea of using a towel rack or curtain rod, since
you can find those easily and hang them pretty much anywhere.
Your
house may never look like a magazine cover, but what’s important is that you
enjoy living in it. Organization is great for being able to find things and
prevent household injuries due to too much clutter. Cleanliness prevents
illness and pest infestations in your home. But perfection is not only
unattainable, reaching for it will likely take your attention from the
important things in life: building a happy life with your family.
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