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How to Spring Clean Your Home Decor

4/24/2019

16 Comments

 
 
When I think of spring cleaning, I often think of scouring and scrubbing. And lots of hard work.

But what about spring cleaning your decor?

What would spring cleaning mean when applied to the way you decorate?

That urge that you get to move the furniture and other things around is a normal response to the newness of spring. But, as I suggested in yesterday's post, I recommend that before you go shopping for new decor, or decide on a completely new look or feel for your living room, you declutter your home.

By the way, a group of us are participating in a decluttering challenge this week, so if you don't want to do it alone, join us.


Next Step after Decluttering: Undecorate


Once the clutter has been cleared, I suggest that the letting go process continue, for at least a few more days. 

Get rid of it. Your decorating, I mean. :)
Undecorating is a lightening fast practice where you remove a layer of cute stuff from your house in hopes that it prompts you to be more intentional with your decor. -Myquillyn Smith, author of Cozy Minimalist Home
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I have done this step before without knowing there was a name for it. When I did it, I want to see the room at its barest, so I could feel its spaciousness and then, add the bare minimum it needed to make it hygge cozy.

Sometimes, I just wanted it bare after a Christmas season loaded with decorations. In fact, there is often a moment, right after Christmas, when I feel like I can't stand another moment of all the things being everywhere.

It's like the depressing mess after a great party. You ask if all that fun was really worth it. And there's a moment when you're not sure.

That's how I feel in the days after Christmas. What once wrapped me up in cheer is now a depressing reminder of what is now over.

And my home feels overstuffed with it all. Putting it all away gives me a feeling of relief. And then, I need some time with the bareness and spaciousness before I retrieve everything I hid away during the holiday season.

It's that bareness that I recommend here.

Getting rid of all of the decor will bring a breath of fresh air to the way the room feels. And once it's clear, if you leave it that way for several days, it will be easier to avoid going overboard in your decorating.

What if it only needs one new thing?

Myquillyn suggests making that one new thing a plant, and then, see what else it might need.

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 What about You: Which Room First?


So, to summarize, after yesterday's task of getting rid of anything you no longer love, or that doesn't belong there, you undecorate.

Let it stay bare for a few days and then, decide what would make it feel just right.

Do this in every room, and your whole home will feel fresh and new and spring clean. :)

Which room which you work on first?

See you tomorrow!

Love, Jeanine


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Don't forget to join the decluttering challenge: Tackle Your Scariest Space.

Decluttering expert, Dana White, author of Decluttering at the Speed of Life, is offering a free 15-minute video with decluttering tips, and a workbook with printable worksheets. You also will get my decluttering tips checklist for 5 steps to declutter your home without feeling overwhelmed.
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16 Comments
Eydie link
4/24/2019 03:48:56 pm

Your advice is right on. One of the best things I could have done was sell my house and move into a 550 sq ft apartment. No room for clutter and my weekly cleaning keeps me on track. Happiness is living in a small space!

Reply
Jeanine Byers link
4/24/2019 08:56:15 pm

That's wonderful, Eydie! I commend you for keeping the clutter away.

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Alice Gerard link
4/24/2019 04:12:07 pm

All right. I am going to try decluttering because I am tired of looking at the disaster. But where to start... Hmm...

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Jeanine Byers link
4/24/2019 08:59:49 pm

LOL! Where to start? I had lots of options to choose from, too. But I always suggest starting with your favorite room, or the place where you spend most of your time. Because, if it's your fave, you'll be more motivated to keep going until it is clutter free. I say more about that & even have a meditation moment for it when you sign up to get my free checklist.

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Bonnie Anderson link
4/24/2019 05:58:32 pm

I live like this. Several years ago I entered the process and I love it. I just put away Easter on Monday and it felt so good! Thanks for the reinforcement.

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Jeanine Byers link
4/24/2019 09:03:21 pm

That's great, Bonnie!! Well, I love the excess at Christmas, but after that, I love the space, so I know what you mean.

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Martha link
4/24/2019 07:59:20 pm

Once again great advice Jeanine! I always start with the computer/sitting room which is the first room people see when entering our home. Once I start and get one room organized, it's much easier to move to another.

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Jeanine Byers link
4/24/2019 09:04:18 pm

YES! Martha, that is so true! Once I get started, I get motivated to keep going. And when one room is done, I want to make them all look so good.

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Douglas Sletten link
4/24/2019 09:34:47 pm

My son has become a minimalist and when I see how it working out for him, I am impressed. Unclutter! It has become a little OCD about it, but when I go to his apartment I somehow feel better. I am going to try it.

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Jeanine Byers link
4/26/2019 09:15:55 pm

Oh, that's so neat that you have noticed feeling better at his place. I bet you'll love it once you try it.

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Lily Leung link
4/24/2019 10:23:06 pm

Jeanine, I love this idea of undecorating and bareness. Thank you for your posts. They are encouraging me to unclutter. At least I am dealing with each day's mail and papers as they come into the house.

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Jeanine Byers link
4/26/2019 09:17:28 pm

You're welcome, Lily! Oh, that's wonderful. I'm glad they are encouraging you. Dealing with mail can be such a hassle. I'm glad you are finding ways to deal with it right away.

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Debi Walter link
4/27/2019 07:36:47 am

Jeanine,
This has been on my radar for a couple of years, and I’ve done it here and there. But I keep feeling the need to do my whole house. We have lived here going on 27 years and a lot of stuff has settled. Thank you for keeping the voice alive in my head. I can’t wait to actually have the time needed to do it.

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Jeanine Byers link
4/27/2019 09:32:00 am

You're welcome, Debi! I know what you mean about finding the time! One of the things she says in the free challenge video is not to take on the whole thing at once, but to start with just one space. Then, she shows you how to make progress on it right away so you get an immediate win.

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Karen Sammer link
4/27/2019 09:44:13 am

Great article Jeanine...now if I can just convince you to come to my house and put a little hygge into my environment :-)

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Jeanine Byers link
4/27/2019 09:52:23 am

Thanks, Karen!! Ooh, that would be fun! But I have several hygge articles in my lifestyle library, so see, you've had the power all along. :)

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    Jeanine Byers

    Lifestyle blogger & hygge hermit who will help you conquer mornings & create a slower, more family-present lifestyle in a single bound.

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