2015 Resolution | Declutter your home
Styling/photo by Michelle Halford for T.D.C
Decluttering the home is a great way to kick-start the year. I liken it to a good detox, because much like the benefits on the body, detoxing your home will improve your day-to-day living and sense of wellbeing. It can, however, be a daunting task, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to begin. To help, I’ve broken the process down into steps.
1. Decide which rooms of the home you want to declutter. Never try to declutter your whole home in one go. To avoid losing motivation, work on one room at a time and set realistic time-frames for completing each room.
2. Do a thorough edit. Be decisive - and for those who have a natural tendency to hoard, be ruthless. With each and every item, decide whether you want it to be on display, stored away or discarded.
3. Teamwork will help get the job done faster, so enlist the help of family and friends. Also bring the kiddies on board. They love getting involved.
4. Examine your space. Storage is vital when it comes to controlling clutter, so look at ways of creating more. Unused wall space is a great place to mount shelves or wall hooks. The key to success is in establishing a place for everything.
5. Once you have decluttered, maintenance is crucial. Get into the habit of putting things back in their right place. Regularly review the organisation systems to ensure that they are still working for you and your family.
STORAGE IDEAS
If your home is lacking in storage, I recommend looking for functional pieces of furniture that include clever ways of storing items, like my son’s bed below. Perfect for housing bedlinen and books, his Brooklyn Bed has a set of Bed Boxes that slide in underneath. You can purchase both online from Mocka NZ.
Styling/photo by Michelle Halford for T.D.C
Think about how you can make the most of your space, such as turning a kitchen or living room nook into a useable workspace, with a small desk and wall shelving.
An important piece of furniture, it’s worth doing your research when it comes to shelving systems, to ensure that you find a solution that works best for you, and how you like to live. Think about what it is you’d like to display, such as books or decorative pieces. Do you like to have some things on show, hide stuff away, or a bit of both? I love the look and flexibility of boxed storage, so the Stacked Shelving system by JDS Architects for Muuto is a favourite. Made from painted MDF, there are different sized modules for you to configure as you please, whether placed in the living room, bedroom, or even the hallway.
Another Scandinavian shelving system that is all about versatility is the String. On the top of the wish-list when we built, I was thrilled when the Auckland-based store Bob and Friends started bringing them in from Sweden. Fitting in beautifully with our home’s Scandinavian aesthetic, it quickly became the hero piece of our living area. The cabinets and shelves can be configured in any number of ways, providing great storage and the ability to display the things we love.
If the budget doesn’t stretch far enough for a designer shelving system, I highly recommend going with a DIY alternative. In this issue, BNZ GoodHome contributor Cocksy transforms an old set of drawers into a simple, yet functional storage unit. As you can see below, the results are pretty impressive! I particularly love the clean lines, natural plywood and white painted finishes. For step-by-step instructions, take a look here. Below, I show you some Scandinavian-inspired styling ideas to complete the look.
WHERE TO BUY
HAY Flower Pot with Saucer, Box Box Set (Green & Grid), Copper Lup Candleholder, Plisse Archive Folder, Stone Rolling Pin, Green Pen Organiser and Feather Pen – Cult Design NZ
Lightyears Volume Fade to Grey Table Lamp – Cult Design NZ
Copper Flower Pot – Cooee Design
Louise Roe Copper Tealight Holder - Norsu
Skandinavisk Hygge Scented Candle - Norsu
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This article is intended as a general discussion only. BNZ recommends the recipient get independent advice. The views expressed are the writer’s own and do not necessarily represent those of BNZ or its related entities.
