Three Ways to Put A Little Spring in Your Home's Step without Busting Your Budget
Spring has sprung, and with it comes the inevitable rush of magazine articles and advertisements encouraging everyone to start the annual tradition of -- you guessed it -- Spring Cleaning!
Let's be honest: most of us look forward to spring cleaning as much as we do a trip to the dentist's for a root canal. Instead of stressing about making your home shine like the top of the Chrysler Building, relax and try one of these solutions instead!
Add a little green -- Greenery, that is! Nothing says spring like the first signs of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils in the garden. Seeing those hints of green after a long winter makes us feel revived and refreshed, just like Pantone's Color of the Year for 2017: Greenery. While Pantone has chosen other hues in the green family as its Color of the Year in the past, Greenery was chosen as a symbol of new beginnings and fresh starts.
This year, why not bring some of this lively green into your home by adding one new accent piece or accessory in Greenery? A vase, a throw pillow, or a picture frame can add just enough of a pop of color for very little "green"!
Take the Cure! Despite its name, Apartment Therapy's annual tradition of "The January Cure" can be started at any time of the year. The January Cure gives its fans the opportunity each year to take a look around their homes, make a to-do list for the coming year, and engage in activities that help promote organization, mindfulness, and simplification of daily tasks we all dread (bathroom cleaning, anyone?).
The January Cure uses a series of "assignments" -- including buying fresh flowers! -- to motivate and inspire followers to achieve their objectives at their own pace. Here's a link to this year's Cure: The 2017 January Cure.
Other than elbow grease and your time, there's minimal out of pocket expense. There's no deadline, pressure or judging, just a supportive and encouraging community of people who have the same goal: a beautiful home that's easy to maintain. Why not give it a try?
Hire a Professional! Sometimes a home isn't so much in need of a cleaning as a bit of decluttering and organization. For the average person, this can be a daunting task: where to begin? How long will it take?
The good news is that there are professional organizers like Hope Turenne who can help! Hope founded Affordable Organization four years ago, encouraged by friends who admired her gift for making things function better and buoyed by her love of helping people.
People from all walks of life -- working professionals, disabled individuals, middle class families -- have come to Affordable Organization with different needs: one room, a basement, help with filing paperwork. Hope helps her clients overcome their concerns about a stranger seeing their homes and how long the process will take. Hope's emphasis is on positive change, which can reduce stress and increase the happiness of everyone in the home. This can be accomplished if everyone commits to the process; Hope reports that some of her biggest success stories involve a reluctant spouse or other family member who, after seeing what Hope can do, sees the light and practically begs to have their space organized next!
The best news of all is that professional organizers like Hope can work with clients to achieve the goal of an organized home with a place for everything, while working within the client's budget. No matter the number of sessions or spaces involved, the end result -- less frustration and a happier household -- is well worth the time and investment.
Looking for more ideas? Not sure where to start? Schedule a consultation today!
Until next time,
Laurie
