If you don’t clean regularly and thoroughly (or have someone else do so), décor won’t make your place look a whole lot better. No matter how high the quality or expense of your stuff may be, if your place is dirty, it loses a lot of panache.
It’s obvious that you never really see something until you have to clean it. Most people just keep buying things and stuffing them into available spaces, or, at best, putting some thought into placement and then just leaving them there for years. Every so often they’ll wipe said object off, and perhaps dust it once a month, but it’s important that the area around it not be forgotten-and not just as a matter of clearing out dust bunnies and other allergens. Believe it or not, the vibrancy of every item of décor, as well as walls, draperies, blinds and carpeting diminishes when left unattended for too long. Cleaning is an excellent time to take stock of the condition of your possessions, the practicality of their placement, and the way they interact with their surrounding space.
This week, I did my every-nine-month wall, door and molding cleaning-and as usual, was surprised that it actually gleams (it’s all white). I probably should do it more frequently, but the idea of it is always more overwhelming than the actual work. What’s funny is that if this type of cleaning is separated into 3 or 4 activity periods of about an hour each, it’s not difficult at all, and a quick wipe with a simple wet cloth dampened with diluted liquid soap can extinguish almost every mark except paint scratches or splashed hair coloring. At the same time, you’ll get an overview of just what repair work may need done, and chances are, you’ll also have a few brainstorms along the way regarding décor changes.
Small rugs can be washed outside and rinsed with the hose, then left to dry in the shade while hanging over a chair; you would be wise to vacuum first to remove pet hairs and ground-in dirt. If your drapes can be machine washed, try to do so at least annually-you will be able to notice a distinct difference, and will feel good knowing that you’re no longer breathing in the trapped dust. Blinds should be wiped fairly often, but, if you’re like most people, this chore falls way down on a priority list, if it’s even there at all. But try to give them a decent cleaning to get off the top layer of grime, especially if you’ve gone to the trouble to wash the other window treatments.
Now how do you retain that level of almost-perfection? Keeping on a cleaning maintenance will also keep the attention on your lovely items and décor choices instead of your guests being distracted by clutter or dirt. That means making a schedule and sticking to it-or forcing your kids and spouse to abide by some parameters. Try to get your weekly cleaning routine down to a science in a way that works for you. For example, clean each room at a time or, even one floor per day…whatever you can manage. See if there’s a convenient socket so that you don’t have to keep moving your vacuum connection; it’s much easier to do an entire level in one swoop. Keep a supply of cleaning products and utensils in each powder or bathroom so you don’t have to keep toting them around.
Who wants to come home to a dirty house and be more stressed? Your abode should welcome you with organization, beauty, with favorite items out arranged to your satisfaction. When people (especially kids) clean their own mess, they will hopefully realize humility and understand accountability. When one aspect of your life is under control, you may feel empowered to take even more control in other areas; feeling like the house has the upper hand is not the best feeling to experience. Finally, think about it-when’s the last time you saw a messy, dirty room advertised in a décor magazine or showroom? No one wants to live in a museum, but the most harmonious surroundings are clean and neat as well.
This site is primarily about the visual aspect of our homes, yet we can’t forget the audio aspect. What good is it to have a stunningly lovely home, but have our nerves be grated upon by sounds that make us want to go elsewhere?
Noise pollution is just as bad as all other kinds of tangible pollution. Do some sounds really annoy you? The other day a perturbing sound started me thinking about the relevance of why certain sounds affect certain people, and the only reason I could figure was that they touch part of our historical psychology-in other words, they remind us of past unpleasant associations. Probably psychologists have a whole realm of more technical causes, but I don’t like reminders of times when I felt bad, and I’m sure most people don’t, either. The same could be said for sounds that elevate our mood; again they are quite variable and can cover a wide range. But, some sounds bother us to such a degree that they may even be a reason for not living in a specific locale.
Some of the sounds I particularly find disquieting would definitely affect my home atmosphere, just as those I love could add to it. For example, I find the sound of a train whistle quite sad, and would never live near a track that’s still in use. The forlornness of a train whistle conjures a despair of hard times from my parents’ generation that is unexplainable, but still very real to me. I would not wish to hear neighbors play music from the 40’s, especially polkas…My grandparents would listen to such music on an old radio every Sunday, and, although my childhood was happy, such songs have always inexplicably annoyed me.
I also can’t stand Instant Message notification…you know, that aggravating “blmmmp”. Even worse are those sounds that some people install in place of that blmmmp. (One time I was near the computer and didn’t realize it was on. My daughter had just turned off the monitor but left the audio volume on “high”. As I bent over to retrieve something from the desk drawer, a loud kissing smack reverberated out of the speaker and almost gave me a heart attack.) That, to me, is noise pollution.
So, what can you do to eliminate the bad noise and add good noise into your home to put you in a better mood? And, is there any way to add to your décor while doing so? Perhaps there is, if you think long and hard and use some creativity. One very common way to block out street noise is with a machine that generates another noise, such as humidifiers, air conditioning, heating, and the like. But few want to have to resort to machinery all the time, especially if it’s not really required. “White noise” devices for bedrooms are small but effective, and bubbling fountains may be considered for use in family or living rooms. They don’t need to be the type seen in pictures of mansions; less ostentatious models are now available for the “average” homeowner. Most folks wouldn’t want to keep a television on all day, but turned to cable music stations, or using a radio set on a non-commercial station may also work in offering a pleasant layer of music to blanket the neighbors’ lawnmowers, dogs, or kids.
Don’t forget chiming clocks; grandfather clocks have been long held in esteem for their reassuring bongs every hour, but only you can decide if they would be disruptive to your sleep. Wind chimes outside a door that’s open during warm weather can add a pleasant feeling to your home, but you can also hang one on the inside, above a window, for the same effect. (These have the added benefit of being made in metal, wood, shells and other natural materials, and can be a lovely accessory to any room.)
Look around and see if anything bothers you, and do something about it. Turn off speakers if they bother you; close windows if the kids are playing ball underneath it-or open windows to hear the wind and the birds.
There are good reasons why certain monks and nuns maintain periods of silence, and why cats run away from noise and commotion. Sounds do have a way of getting to us, for good and bad reasons.
Decorating with Childhood Toys
0 Comments Published by Karen Amato Schwartz on 7/14/2008 at 12:36 PM.
Do you still have any of your toys from childhood? And, if you have them, are they in closet somewhere, or displayed in a creative way? There is something touching about saving what was once important to you, even if you don’t have children or aren’t even planning on having children.
My parents kept some of my toys in their attic for almost 30 years. I’m glad they did; it was heartwarming to see my daughter play with them. Until age 6 or 7, my old fashioned Barbie with the puffy blond hair and Stewardess outfit did just fine. Then my daughter realized that Barbies no longer change their clothes; parents just buy more Barbies. Poor puffy haired Barbie dropped low on the totem pole behind Mermaid Barbie and the Brat doll (who didn’t even have feet). Such is the way with new inventions…
So what have I done with such remnants of my youth? Well, it’s not exactly like we’re living in a toy store, but I put some items out now and then to add a little humor, and perhaps you can adapt these ideas to do the same with your possessions.
1. If you have a child-sized chair, stash it in a corner of a room, add a cushion, and then sit a doll on top of the cushion. Young guests will be drawn to that corner, and it could add just the whimsy you may want.
2. Small animal collections, or even horse statues, might fit on one of your shelves, especially in a workroom or office. Group like materials together, such as a collection of Beanie Babies and arrange them to be all sitting up or facing the same way.
3. If you have small toy fish, you can create an underwater scene by gluing them onto poster board that’s been painted in blue and green swirls, then attaching small seashells along the bottom, and framing it. This may work well in a bathroom.
4. Two or three similar stuffed animals (either by type or color) can also add lightheartedness where you need something different. Tie strips of material around them as scarves in the winter, and let them don sunglasses in summer.
5. If you display mini-cornucopias around Thanksgiving, see how children’s plastic fruit or vegetables look when displayed in it; they may or may not be too small. Another option is to arrange the fake food in small bowls around displays of pilgrims and fall items representative of the harvest.
6. Horseshoes and old game boards can be hung on the walls of game rooms or finished basements, and blocks can be set besides standing books, like book ends.
7. If you or your child has a collection of really small novelty items, you could consider making them into refrigerator magnets. All you need is a bunch of old advertising magnets, cut into 1 or 2 inch squares, and some heavy-duty glue. Find the flattest space of each object, glue the magnet piece on, and let dry overnight.
8. Old checkerboard or chessboards can be painted over with fanciful designs to become conversation pieces.
9. Consider hanging one or two shelves just for those special objects that you would like to have within sight, but don’t want to be in the way, such as past souvenirs, flags, or trophies-even if silly.
10. Bulk a large amount of small colored balls in a jar, place a collection of different playing cards in a basket, or drop several dozen marbles into a glass vase.
11. If you have older kids, they may be amused by “toy wreaths” using items from their earlier youth, such as a forgotten collection of plastic reptiles, bugs, dinosaurs, snakes all hot-glued onto a twig-wreath.
12. Another use for old toys could be a small Christmas tree decorated with a few strings of colored lights and model cars, small plastic novelties or tiny animal statues.
Finally, as mentioned a few weeks ago, cute centerpieces can be made by using toys arranged in seasonal themes.
Add a bit of panache to your surroundings with well-loved items from the past. You may not feel like a kid again, but you may just feel wonderment at life once again.
