"What About The Rest Of Us?"

“It’s all very well being all “designery”, and living a Polly-Perfect life, but what about the rest of us? Those of us with four children, two jobs and a home that wasn’t our first choice. Never mind telling us to spray paint the brass chandelier with chalk-board paint, what are we supposed to do?”

That’s a really good question, and, honestly, it’s not easy. None of us have charmed lives filled with matching doodads and champagne coming out of the faucet. Decorating a home isn’t about that. As our grandparents used to say, it’s about making do, but I prefer to call it “pretending as if”.

“What Not To Wear” is one of my favorite shows, and having a home, to me, follows the same principles that they teach. Their credo is that you have to accept the body you have right now. Even if you hate every nook and cranny of it, it’s yours, and that’s what you have to work with. If you dress that body as if you love it, then you will get nice clothes that fit, you will look better and, gradually, feel kinder towards yourself. Maybe you will never, ever be the size you wish you were, but if you enjoy what you have, and take pride in it, you may begin to fall in love with it.

Your home is exactly the same! Even if you are not happy about where you are, you could still pretend as if it is the most perfect place in the world to be. Make some changes as if you really do care; fix things that bother you on a daily basis, don’t cost a lot and can be done in an hour or two.

Here are some quick fixes for “the rest of us”:

• Declutter your kitchen. It’s often the most used room in the house; keep the surfaces clean and remove what shouldn’t be there. This will make it a much happier place to be in (and it might be bigger than you think).
• Place a decorative bin somewhere for each of your children (and yourself). Toss in everything that should be put away. When the bin is full, empty it.
• Check your front door; remove dead plants and fix anything that is broken (doorbell?). Coming home should be a good experience.
• Buy everyday items (dishwashing soap, laundry powder and liquid soap) in colors, designs and scents that you like. Making daily decisions that please you will sneak into your well-being.

See, nothing wrong with a little pretending….

Spring Cleaning (in Winter)

Every Spring, when Winter has finally left, I look around my home and feel a bit disappointed.The ground outside is thawing, little bits of color are peeking out, but inside my home feels dingy and cluttered (closed in, tired, and filled with too many things). It happens every year, so I shouldn’t be surprised. Then, within days the garden comes to life; the sunshine is a little brighter, and all of a sudden there are not enough minutes in the day to get things done. I become overwhelmed with things that I “must” do.

When it’s really cold, I can’t be bothered to run outside to take things to the garage, so I put them in cupboards and onto shelves, waiting for a warm day. Eventually, after almost six months of this, my home becomes a hodge-podge of orphaned items that really don’t belong in there. Add to this, the hibernating effect of Winter, and my home becomes a candidate for prescription medication.

So, this year I’ve decided to do things a little differently. Instead of bemoaning the cold (well, I will always do that really) I have started to Spring clean my house now. I cleaned my kitchen the other day, and pulled everything out of the cupboards. Plonked what I didn’t want into the car, and drove around with it until I was forced to go out into the cold (again) and deliver it to the local thrift shop. Then, in anticipation of a not-quite-freezing day, I collected boxes of “stuff’ by the front door. One day, armed with warm gloves and a coat, I traipsed it all into the garage and put it away, tidying as quickly I could before my fingers started to go numb.

Two weeks ago I repainted my counter-tops with new “counter-top” paint (wouldn’t really advise it in the bitter cold, it is nasty smelling and takes a few days to cure). I love them now that it’s finished, but don’t do it with young children or pets in the house with you, it’s very strong, oil-based paint and the fumes take a while to dissipate.

Yesterday I went through all of my filing, yes, all of it, and threw away more than any grown woman should have. In lieu of a shredder, I found great satisfaction in setting them on fire (safely, of course), which made the whole process seem quite exciting! This weekend, I will venture into the closet, maybe the basement and even consider painting the Living Room again.

I know it seems like I am playing games in order to make it through until Spring, and you’re right, but truthfully, it’s fun to play games in your own home!

January, Better Than You Think!

At this time of year we are all recovering from overindulging in one way or another. The wake up calls come fast and furious; the credit card bills start coming in, we question our bank balances and we worry that the dryer is mysteriously shrinking our clothes. We decide to stay home more, saving money, and promising ourselves we will get back on track during the coming months. The happiness of giving (getting?) gifts, and celebrating with people we love, is quickly forgotten as January stretches before us; a long month that often feels hungover and bloated.

But, it doesn't have to be that way. Truly. So what if we ate too much, and bought far too many decorative candles (just in case :-) It's done; remember the fun that we had, make a budget, eat a bit less and start planning your dreams.

While you're at it, why don't you take some steps to guide you through the post-holiday blues? Taking down the Holiday decorations will automatically make your house look cleaner and less cluttered. Whiz around with the vacuum cleaner and you're half-way there. Next, honestly, I would buy some flowering bulbs (if you are still like me, trapped in the Winter months) to cheer you up and bring some life and color inside. If you are living in the Southern Hemisphere, throw out the tree, tidy up the tinsel and pick a gorgeous bunch of something to put on the table.

Chances are, wherever you live, the daylight is different at this time of year, consider moving the furniture so that it catches the afternoon sun. Experiment with angles, or swap an unexpected piece from one room to another. Clean off a chair or bench from the garden and bring it inside for extra seating. Have fun, deliberately try what you absolutely know won't work, and try to see your home from a different perspective. Give it a day or two, and if you don't like it, just move it back. All you've lost is a few hours.

Do you have a favorite poem, photograph or painting that you can frame and hang somewhere? The slightest decorative change in your home will make you feel happier! Even a favorite vacation spot to motivate you. It is so easy to download and print a copy of something that you love. If it is an old poem, consider printing it then soaking it in tea or coffee to age it. Any photograph, reprinted in black and white will look more "artistic",  but, more importantly, it will fit seamlessly with absolutely any style of decorating. Many museum stores sell postcards of famous paintings for no more than a few dollars; placed, matted, in a frame, they will take on an importance that belies their actual cost. Even an old letter or drawing can be displayed with a simple, black (plastic or wood) frame. Buy several from a discount store, or take out something from a frame you already have. Hang your new piece of art in a favorite spot that you will see every day!

Another thing to do is to play music around the house. Go through your CD collection, or plug your I-Pod into speakers. Dance around. Listen to songs from ages ago. Reminisce. I know it sounds daft, but sometimes we have to get back to basics and put a bit of effort into cheering ourselves up. Bake something from scratch just for you, not because it is a special occasion for someone else. Enjoy the time it takes to measure out the ingredients. Eat it warm! Play a children's game on the computer (Spongebob Squarepants?) read a book for hours (without feeling guilty) or get some paints and pretend you are an artist for the day.

Whatever you do, don't let January be a blue month, because it's always better than you think!