Filed under: Your Home, Storage & Cleaning, Storage & Organization
New rule: Before bringing anything new into your house, make sure the things you have are doing their job.
We're so excited to get a peek inside the new book "The Meghan Method: The Step-By-Step Guide to Decorating Your Home in Your Style." Text by Meghan Carter; Published by Gem Multimedia LLC, distributed by Cardinal Publishers Group.
Many people assume that when you redecorate you ditch everything and buy all new stuff. But that's not even remotely true. More often than not, you'll find a gem or two among the things you own. Which means you've got to sort through your stuff to see if you have any diamonds in the rough.
Sometimes, you'll get lucky and have tons of things to reuse. Other times, you'll have none. Either way, it's a good idea to sort. For one, if you find things to reuse, it saves money that you can spend on splurge items. And two, it's convenient. You don't have to schlep around town or spend hours online searching for the perfect item, because you already have it.
But don't let those two benefits persuade you to keep things you don't truly love.
When you decorate, the only tools you have are the things you put in your room. That's it. In the end, decorating is just filling a room with objects, and the objects you choose tell the whole story. They're what dictate what you can do in your room. They're what elicit the emotions you want to feel. They're everything, which means you must choose the objects you use in your room wisely.
So no compromising. Don't hold onto things out of guilt or because they're convenient. Every single item you put in your room must fit the following criteria:
Furniture and other tools must be...
Comfortable & Easy to Use. Test the item. Sit on it. Use it. If it doesn't easily work or is terribly uncomfortable, get rid of it. Keep in mind, if you truly love the item, it can be fixed. So don't ditch something you love simply because it wobbles or needs new padding.
Functionally Necessary. Look at your functional needs sheet. If you don't see the item on your list, ask yourself if you forgot to include it. If not, it needs to go. You don't need it.
Congruent with Your Emotional Wants. Look at each item and see if its characteristics are similar to those listed on your muse and style sheets. If not, it's not right for your room.
If they are, ask yourself if you like the item. Keep in mind, you can have things reupholstered and refinished in different colors. So focus on the shape and texture of the item - not its color or pattern.
If you're having a tough time deciding, move the item to another room. Seeing it in a new setting will help you to see it with fresh eyes. Why? The stuff around your item influence the way it looks to you. So it may be the combination of it with your current decor that you don't like - not the item itself.
Decorative accessories must be...
Congruent with Your Emotional Wants. See above.
If a piece doesn't fit those criteria, it's not right for your room. Get rid of it. Give it to a friend. Donate it to charity. Sell it at a garage sale, on
eBay or
Craigslist.
Of course, saying that is easy. Actually doing it, that's another story. Especially when we're talking about getting rid of Grandma's rocker or a painting from a dear friend - even if we never liked them in the first place. But remember, it's the memories and sentiment we've attached to those things - not so much the things themselves. And while you may feel like you're losing a piece of the past, you're really trading in for the future. The "what could be."
If you're feeling guilty, take photos and videos of the item before sending it off. Or do what my Granny did - keep it in the attic, and only bring it out when that person comes to visit.
Either way, get all the things that don't fit functionally and emotionally out of your room. That way, you'll have space for all the things you want and need.
So get to it. Sort all of your items - your furniture, accessories, light fixtures and everything else - into three groups: the keepers, the maybes and the goners.
The Keepers. Without a doubt, these things perfectly fit all of the necessary criteria. They're the items you truly love.
Make a list of all those keepers. Take a picture of each one. Write down each depth, width and height. Make note if any need repairs, refinishing or reupholstery.
The Maybes. These things fit all of the necessary criteria, but you're not in love with them. However, you don't hate them either. If your budget is tight or you can't find anything better, these items could work.
Make a list of all those maybes. Take a picture of each one. Write down each item's depth, width and height. Make note if any needs repairs, refinishing or reupholstery.
The Goners. These are the things that don't fit the necessary criteria and need to go. For each, decide whether it can be used elsewhere in your home, or if it should be given to a friend, donated or sold.
If you're looking for more great DIY decorating advice, pick up "The Meghan Method: The Step-By-Step Guide to Decorating Your Home in Your Style."
Or check out some of our favorite decorating stories:
Want to Look Younger? Start With Your Home
How to Decorate: Start With a Statement Rug
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J.D. Pooley; Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images
