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Home Decorating: Where Are My Surfaces?
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Keller Hawthorne www.kbhoutlet.com
Many of you probably remember visiting your grandma's house as a
child. I can still see how my grandmother had decorated her
home. Every inch of surface and space was filled! The mantle,
the kitchen counters, and of course the floor. She was a
self-proclaimed pack-rat! When you walk into a home drowning in
"stuff", it immediately bombards you and creates overwhelming
vibes. So, how do we show every little nick knack we love,
without going overboard?
I have a very strict rule with myself that every surface in my
home should be clean and almost completely cleared. I enjoy
showing off my candles, vases, and other items. However, I have
learned when it becomes too much. As a teenager I had covered
every inch of my dressers and desk with decorations. My bedroom
had become more of a showplace then a home. My decorations were
nicely placed as sort of a retail window display, but I could
never find a place to set something down.. Which of course meant
the floor was the only other option. As you can imagine, my old
room never stayed clean for very long. Years later, when I got
my own place, I was finally sick of my beautiful items appearing
more as clutter then as strategically placed home decorations. I
cleared my surfaces and started fresh!
I now place only a few of my "can't live without" decor pieces
on my desk, dressers, dining table, and kitchen counters. The
rest have been stored away. If you don't think you can part with
your treasures, remember these great benefits to the "minimal
design":
1. Once you have items stored away, you can replace which items
you show off each season, which will give your home a new and
fresh look. Mix and match and it will look as if you redecorate
every month, just by switching which items you have out!
2. When you place a ton of distinct and unique items together,
they each lose their charm and eye-catching appeal. If you want
people to notice your great design sense and adorable treasures,
make sure they can actually see them amongst every other item
you have in your home.
3. Your home will appear more spacious and much tidier with this
method. Plus, now you can see that beautiful wood table you've
been covering up!
4. You can actually set stuff down! And to make sure you don't
get in the habit of making a mess, set designated decorative
baskets for items such as car keys.
It is easy to get caught up with buying every little nick knack
you can find and covering your dressers with jewelry boxes and
the dozens of perfume bottles you simply have to keep. But, keep
in mind that a cluttered home can infringe on your efficiency as
a home business owner, full time parent, or simply a person who
needs to find their shoes! But remember, you don't have to throw
these items out. Spend some time today removing half of the
things you have displayed on your surfaces. Neatly store them in
an easy access linen closet for future use. In a few months,
when you feel like you need a change, replace the decorations
with your stored items and voila! It will look as if you just
redecorated. By using the "minimal design" you will be surprised
out how much better your home will look and feel!
About the author:
Please keep hyperlinks active and content as is when reprinting
this article. Keller Hawthorne is the owner of The KBH Outlet,
which specializes in www.kbhoutlet.com. Find more home decorating and gardening ideas at
our www.kbhoutlet.com/resource_center.html. Copyright © 2005 The KBH Outlet
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