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Being a successful business owner requires organization, including an orderly
stockroom, a well planned staff schedule and reconciled finances. Yet too often
this level of attention falls by the wayside at home, resulting in piles of unsorted
mail, heaps of laundry and a general sense of chaos.
There's no wonder
it's overwhelming: According to the National Association of Home Builders, the
average home in 2005 was 2,434 square feet, compared to 1,500 square feet in 1970.
That's a lot of space to keep tidy.
If your house
is a source of stress, a few simple changes can help. The first step is noticing
the telltale signs. "Papers and other clutter form unruly piles that cry out
for attention," says Jackie Craven, author of The Stress-Free Home. Sound
familiar? Read on to learn how to create the haven you need and deserve.
GET ORGANIZED
Knowing where
your cell phone and keys are saves valuable time each morning. The same holds true
for the rest of your possessions. "When we organize our belongings, we put
boundaries around our daily activities," says Craven. "The bills won't
niggle away at our serenity if they're kept neatly in the desk. Unfinished projects
won't pester us if they're confined to a special area." But where do you
begin? Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, a health psychologist and author of The
Well-Ordered Home, offers four strategies:
• Start where you are. You don't have to tackle the attic,
garage or entire house at once. What entrance do you use most? To start, organize
just that area: Set up trays for incoming and outgoing mail, cell-phone charger
and a pretty bowl for keys. If you have children, consider installing cubbies for
each school backpack.
• Have what you need. Make daily tasks easier by staying stocked.
Place a bucket of cleaning supplies in each bathroom, so you can do a quick wipe-down
of sinks or showers as needed. Put a trashcan in the garage to encourage yourself
to clean out your car each day. To streamline bed-making during the morning rush,
keep bed linens to a minimum.
• Use active storage. Place the items you use most in an easily
accessible location. This is particularly helpful in the kitchen. There's no need
to store that bread machine in a prime cabinet when you only use it a couple of
times a year. If you have obsolete or unused appliances, house them in the attic
or, even better, donate them to charity.
• Get rid of clutter. Clean out the bathroom drawer that
holds make-up and hairbrushes. Toss anything old, and use trays to organize
what you keep. The pleasure of plucking your favorite comb from the tidy collection
will be instant positive reinforcement.
Beyond these high-traffic
areas, the pinnacle of clutter is usually a huge stack of paper, bills, catalogs
and notes that seems insurmountable. "It tends to accumulate where the mail
lands," says Kendall-Tackett. The solution, she says, is to sort your mail
daily. To make that task easy, set up a functional mail station. Toss magazines
and catalogs you don't need in the recycling bin, put bills and other important
documents in file folders with labeled dividers and mark any upcoming events or
invitations on your calendar. Do it every day and you'll no longer have to avert
your eyes when you walk by the spot where the pile used to be.
DECORATE FOR TRANQUILITY, NOT DRAMA
Function, comfort,
beauty and softness are the foundations of a peaceful home, according to Coco
Arnesen, an interior designer in New York City. "Furniture placement should
allow for an easy flow in your daily routine," she says. If a piece has no
clear purpose and is in the way, eliminate it.
Adding comfortable,
lush fabrics, however, can enhance the warmth of your space. "Chenille is
soft and luxurious," says Arnesen. "If you can't afford to upholster
an entire sofa in it, a throw is a nice alternative." Cotton velvets are also
sumptuous but less expensive. If you have kids, consider Ultrasuede, a durable material
that is easy to clean.
Lighting and color
also play major roles in the mood of a room. If you have harsh overhead lights,
install dimmers or use well-placed lamps and candlelight to make a room more cozy
and serene. Wooden blinds and sheer window treatments, which are helpful for privacy,
can also open to highlight a great view while letting in natural light.
When it comes
to color, choose carefully. An earthy palette with muted tones, for example,
creates tranquility. "Keep chartreuse and magenta for accents, like throw pillows,"
suggests Arnesen. "Strong colors cause agitation."
Use cooler colors
for the bathroom, like blues, aquas and whites, which all relate to water and cleanliness.
The master bedroom should be nest-like, with taupe, ochre, olive tones and even
silver blues. In the dining room, Arnesen recommends natural neutrals like brown,
beige, terra-cotta and cream.
Creating a generally
peaceful setting doesn't mean you have to forego drama altogether, however.
“A living room is where you can go a little wild," she adds. "This is
your showcase and where you entertain. So, while you tranquilize other parts of
your home, you may want to revive this room with vibrant accessories and
pillows. Or, paint the walls a vivid color.”
A FINAL NOTE
While these suggestions
may seem like a lot to handle, remember that creating a peaceful, rejuvenating
home environment should be an enjoyable process. If you stress about de-stressing
your nest, you are negating the calm you are trying to create. Instead, take
baby steps and tackle small chunks that have visible, immediate results. Before
long, easy organization will become the cornerstone of your philosophy at work and
at home.
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Getting It Done
Ready to de-clutter,
but don't know where to start? Kathleen Kendall-Tackett offers a few tips from
her book The Well-Ordered Home:
Focus on areas you use every day first. Organizing a kitchen, bathroom or
bedroom makes an immediate and obvious impact.
Set reasonable goals. You may not be able to revamp your
whole home in a week, but you can probably fix the bathroom in that time.
Provide incentives. Reward yourself for meeting goals, whether
an hour to read a book or a trip to the museum.
Cut yourself some slack. Adults often believe they should know
how to do things upon first attempt. Give yourself room to experiment, make
mistakes and learn from them.
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DANCE RETAILER NEWS April 2008
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