When you think of the month of February, St. Valentine’s Day often springs to mind. Whether you are celebrating romantic love or the love of family and dear friends, love is so important. So let me ask you this – Do you love your space? It doesn’t matter if you are in your dream home or just starting out – there is no reason you can’t make the most of your space.
Does your home feel like a loving, nurturing space where you can relax and recharge your mind, body and soul? Is there clutter standing in your way?
My primary rule for everything in my home fits into two categories – it is either useful or beautiful.
When you look at the items in your space does each item support your current life and activities? Over time we all evolve and change. Activities and hobbies that were very important in the past may not be part of your current lifestyle.
Give yourself permission to let go of items that “may be useful in the future”. Consider this: does the future possibility of an item’s use worth the space it is taking from your present life?
Often it is helpful to set boundaries about what to keep before you start to handle the items. Have you considered the following:
- When did you last use the item?
- How much would the item cost to replace (if you ever needed to)?
- How difficult would it be to reacquire the item?
Minimalists suggest that if an item cost less than $20 and can be easily sourced within twenty minutes of your home and you haven’t used it in the past year, let it go. Having this type of clear boundary in your mind can help you part with items when you are unclear or uncertain.
Still feeling stuck? Try rearranging the furniture! Sometimes changing how things are positioned opens up the energy of the space. Try moving out some furniture pieces and move in pieces from another room. If you are feeling more daring, try swapping the function of two rooms (an example – Living room and Dining room).
Change out the artwork on your walls and change your accessories with ones from different rooms. The act of clearing away all of your current décor pieces and trying out other ones can also give the room a different vibe.
The classic example for many people is the traditional Christmas tree. It is fun to set up and gives the room a different feeling. When you go to take it down after the holiday season, the ambiance of the room will feel different.
Life is too short to be stuck in a space you don’t love. Do yourself a favor – make the most of what you have and love the space you’re in!!