There’s Been a Time Change; Time for Change!
Spring has finally arrived in Dallas; the trees are blooming, the sun is shining, and we are thinking it’s finally safe to fold away our winter layers in exchange for something brighter and lighter.Its time for our homes to be refreshed as well!
If we’re honest, most of us always have room to improve in our cleanliness and organization, especially when it comes to the less-designed areas of our homes; the purely functional garage and attic. Writing for our Christmas Blog during the Springtime calls for tips from these books to refresh your thinking about how to organize your storage areas, especially when it comes to your beloved (or should I say bulky, boxed-up, and antiquated?) Christmas decor.
“A major clear-out and a cleanup is good for the soul,” Bodoano says in Spotless Home. “I think the thing is to make it into an event—a celebration of your home—and a ritual to be enjoyed. It’s also a good opportunity to de-clutter, reorganize your belongings, and fine-tune how you use each room.”
So, are you ready to make an event of “out with the old” that ends in a celebration of your home and the things you actually love in it? To be able to say “…and in with the new” confidently, because you know there is space for the new, sounds like a freeing feeling to us. Kondo goes as far to call a tidy home “magic” that inspires a calm and motivated mindset. Her detailed guidance helps one determine which items in their home “spark joy” and which don’t!
The following lessons have been chosen from a full review of Life-Changing Magic by a favorite lifestyle blog, but we’ve applied them in our own way to a need we hear about often when consulting for custom Christmas decor and installations: the clutter of Christmas decorations in the garage and attic:
Lesson #1: Tackle Categories, Not Rooms
Instead of tackling clutter room by room, Kondo’s first lesson is to clean by category. For example, instead of getting caught in cleaning your entire garage or storage closet, which can only get messy again, deal with every single one of your ornaments, then move on to the category of Christmas serving ware in your cabinet. Deal with the least emotionally loaded items first, and then move forward from there.
Lesson #2: Nostalgia Is Not Your Friend
Especially when it comes to Christmas decor, we so often hang on to things that we do not use, keeping them in a box to deteriorate and take up space. Kondo insists that those trying to declutter must “put blinders on and focus only on the category” at hand. It is SO EASY to go down a rabbit hole of nostalgia when sorting through old memory-filled items.
Force yourself to think through the hang-ups of thoughts like “If I get rid of this, will I have anything left?” “‘What will I put out on the serving table this year instead?” If we sell ourselves on Kondo’s idea of only keeping items that bring us joy (and what else do we hope to have at Christmastime?) then we should be able to get rid of the things that take up space or that we take no pleasure in seeing out during the holidays.
Lesson #3: Purging Feels So Good
Once you get started, it is so much easier and fun than it seems! The question of “Does this spark joy?” frees you to let go of partially broken ornaments, the non-working light up Santa, etc. We think you’ll realize that you have many things that seem great in theory but aren’t actually your style. They may be better in someone else’s house, but don’t fit the style of home that you’re trying to create!
After doing some Spring Cleaning with your Christmas Decor,
Reap the Rewards!
Bodoano told Vogue in this interview to make sure that you reward yourself with a pedicure, massage, yoga class, or dinner at a favorite restaurant with an extra-good bottle of wine. And revel in the satisfaction that through doing a little cleaning, you’ve given yourself a physical and mental clean slate for Spring.
…And in With the New!
Did you rid your attic and garage of lots of “old?” If you are looking for an Interior Designer’s help in Dallas, we would love to consult with you soon to hear about the room you’ve made to reflect your personal style in your Christmas decor and partner with you to bring your vision for your home for the holidays to fruition.
