It's 2010: Clean out the old to make room for the new!

Welcome to 2010!

As you put away those last holiday decorations, you may feel like your home could use a little freshening up!  Here is an idea and a New Year's resolution that you can make and keep.

Each January when I am clearing out the decorations, my house always feels too cluttered and in need of some help. So I do what I call "decluttering lite."  It is painless and will make you feel so much better about your home.  We all know that clutter makes us feel tired and overwhelmed.  Check out my list and see what works for you.  Do something each day of the month and by February you will be finished!

The best part of doing this now is it allows room for some great new things to come into your life!

Old magazines:  Say goodbye to them!  It is a new year and you are not likely to catch up on that stack  of 2009 (or older!) magazines.  As a decorator, I keep a year's worth of magazines to show great ideas to my clients and toss the rest each January.

Furniture:  This is a good time take a look at your traffic patterns and furniture.  If something something is obstructing the flow in your space, rearrange it or store some of it.  At Spectacular Spaces, we use a U-shaped configuration and it always works. 

Collections:   Declutter your collections  grouping like items together.  If you simply have too much, put some away and rotate.  If you don't love it, donate it.

Quick clean up:  Vacuum under ALL furniture.

Books:  If you have too many, donate them.  Keep what you love and call your local library or church thrift store.  If they are taking over your space and you cannot part with them, consider some shelving that fits in with your decor.

Your closet:  Take everything out (this really does not take very long).  Anything that you have not worn in a year goes into your car to be donated.  DO NOT put it in another room or it will never make it out of the house and it becomes clutter.  Then organize your clothes by what you wear most often.  Then organize by color.  Seasonal items get relocated to the back of the closet.  You only want to see what you wear NOW.  Shoes and purses get organized by color.  Do not hang on to clothes that are too big or too small.  This is a new year!

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