One service I provide for both my home staging clients and interior design clients is decluttering assistance. While you might think decluttering is simply tidying up your closets, cleaning out drawers, and getting rid of old books, it actually goes much deeper than that. And the results are quite profound.
Santa Fe Living Room - BEFORE DECLUTTER
Santa Fe Living Room - AFTER DECLUTTER
The Emotional Element
Marie Kondo, the insightful developer of the KonMari Method™ and the author of the best-selling book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” has really raised awareness around the power of decluttering. Her techniques focus on finding an emotional connection with a possession to determine if it should be kept or let go. I’ve found the wisdom of Marie Kondo’s approach to be helpful when considering how best to support my own decluttering clients.
At its most basic level, the decluttering process clears your home of excess. But I’ve seen that it also brings a profound awareness to our relationship with the things that surround us. So many of my clients have gained deep fulfillment through the decluttering process, and I’m able to offer a variety of methodologies to help them succeed.
Heirloom Quality?
Here’s an example: think of the grandfather clock or your great-grandmother’s china you’ve hung on to for years, only to realize you’ve never liked it in the first place but held on to it, moving it from house to house because, “It’s a family heirloom!” You assume your adult children will want it, but discover they have no interest in cluttering their homes with these old hand-me downs.
These items are not, as they once were, treasured and appreciated. They no longer hold any connection to the past and they don’t fit in your home or with your current lifestyle. A commitment to decluttering and using an emotional test like The Konmari Method™ gives us permission to let go of the guilt associated with letting these things move on.
Feng Shui is another practice that teaches the positive effects of decluttering. It frees up more space and energy in your home and allows you to experience something greater on a subconscious level. It gives you the ability to invite more creativity, have meaningful relationships, and enjoy a balanced home or office environment, one that is suited to who you are and compliments your lifestyle.
Master Bedroom - BEFORE DECLUTTER
Master Bedroom - AFTER DECLUTTER
What Happens Next?
After the process of letting go and decluttering, many of my clients ask me how they define how to furnish their house. They ask: “What is my style and how do I pull it all together?” This is where the fun begins as a designer!
I start the conversation by looking at what was “saved” and seeing what is important to you. We discover your likes and dislikes, how you live, and size up the floor plans to start defining a style you can live with. After that, we select furnishings and decor, then pull it all together to create a design for your home you truly appreciate and love, surrounded only by what brings you joy.
Freedom From Clutter
Decluttering, whether you are preparing to sell or staying in your home, is a powerful tool that helps keep a check on whether or not you are surrounding yourself with items you love. And it’s the first step in finding your particular style to create the home and lifestyle that expresses who you are. You may even discover you have more time to enjoy life.
A lifestyle change like decluttering doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s not the easiest thing you’ll ever do. That’s why I’m here. Having someone help you with the process can make all the difference. If you’re looking to start a new chapter in your life story, starting with freedom from clutter, give me a call today.