paulipenaloza's Ideas
19. Try indoor furniture outdoors — or vice versa. A covered porch during nice weather offers plenty of protection for some types of indoor furniture. Anything made of metal, solid wood, wicker or rattan should hold up well, especially if the swap is only temporary. Likewise, nearly any type of outdoor furniture can change up an interior room.
1. Light your candles. Candles create a lovely ambience like nothing else. Light them whenever you want a little mood boost — try putting one in the entryway, on the coffee table and on the mantel, and a few tapers or tea lights on the dining table.2. Arrange your coffee table nicely. A stack of books, a tray or basket, and a vase of flowers are all you need to make your coffee table look chic and pulled together.
Day 3: Bust bookcase clutter.Decluttering tasks: The big task for today is to organize and edit the bookcase and media cabinet. Your goal, should you choose to accept it, is to pare back the contents of your shelving to the point where everything fits with room to spare. Having extra wiggle room on each shelf means your space won’t be overstuffed again the moment you bring home a new book or movie.A note for parents: Giving a few baskets or bins of toys a permanent home in the living room makes for easier cleanup. Rotate the toys with a new selection from your child’s room every few weeks to keep it interesting.
Day 1: Deal with dust.Cleaning tasks: If you have a good vacuum with attachments, that’s the fastest and easiest way to banish dust in the living room. There’s no denying this is a lot of work, so consider this your official excuse to skip the gym today!Vacuum the room from top to bottom, starting with cobwebs on the ceiling and working your way down to the floor. Window treatments like blinds and shades can be vacuumed using an attachment.If your curtains are washable, take them down and toss them in the wash on the gentlest cycle.Vacuum or dust light fixtures, the tops of bookcases, picture frames and the mantel. Decluttering tasks: Remove anything that does not belong in the room — other people’s stuff, dishes from the kitchen, stray socks etc. — and return them to their rightful places.
Wall hooks or pegs. Having an easy spot to hang up coats and bags keeps piles of stuff from accumulating on the floor (and every other open surface). Choose big, sturdy pegs or hooks that can hold a heavy winter coat or school bag without letting it slip off. If you have young children in the house, be sure to include a few lower hooks as well.
Must-HavesRecycling bin. You’ve gotten rid of the paper piles, but keeping up with new incoming paper is key if you want to keep your space clutter-free. Place a roomy recycling basket as near the front door as you can, and drop the junk mail, catalogs and envelopes right in. An attractive woven basket (like the one shown here) means you can proudly keep it front and center instead of trying to hide it away — and end up neglecting to use it.
21. Do something nice for yourself. Brew yourself a cup of your favorite coffee and bring it back to bed with you on a Saturday morning. Or treat yourself to a long bath, or a glass of wine in the backyard. Enjoy your home!Tell us: What is your favorite free home tweak?
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