It takes some time to admit you can’t control everything, but it’s pretty freeing once you do. Pandemic has taught me that I may THINK “I got this”, but ultimately I DON’T GOT THIS.
With a Type A personality that’s a problem. What do I do to balance out the fact that I can’t control much? I talk to my plants. I also decorate and redecorate my home. I wanted to write about this because if you’re like me and you’re desperately in need of SOMETHING you can feel good about tackling on your own, within your own timeframe that you can sit back (if sitting back is something your kids allow you to do) and enjoy- this is a solid option.
You’re probably all “must be nice to have an unlimited budget, bitch”. I don’t. When I recognize I need to take on a new project there are a few things I do before I start:
1- Identify what’s going OUT before new things come IN. Selling apps like OfferUp (not an ad, but it should be) are my best friend. I clean items up, list them with detailed accurate descriptions, well lit photos and at reasonable prices. The pricing part is KEY. Just because you feel like your Great Aunt Linda’s vase SHOULD sell for $200 doesn’t mean it’s going to. Nobody else cares that it belonged to Great Aunt Linda. They just want the damn vase. If you want the free space, price appropriately and get rid of the thing.
2- Begin researching products and ideas that I’ll need to bring my concept to life. I change my decor as frequently as I change my underwear, so buying versatile pieces that are easily transferrable from room to room is key. I set alerts on my favorite sites, on buying apps and I browse when I have free time until I find something I LOVE. If it happens to be outside of my price range, I figure out how to DIY it or I stalk it until it either goes on sale or I can find it gently used.
It took me way too long to realize that if I just keep buying and gathering I’m gonna end up drowning in STUFF and also most likely broke. The biggest lesson I needed to learn was this: IF YOU DON’T LOVE IT, IT NEEDS TO GO. If an item is purely decorative and has no emotional or historical tie to you, it’s simply taking up space. When you start viewing everything you own through that lens it’s crazy how easy it becomes to whittle down your belongings and learn to highlight things you truly care about.
Also, paint. Paint is your best friend. It solves so many problems if you take the time and do it right. And these days there’s a paint to tackle literally EVERY surface. Wanna paint your fridge red? Wanna resurface your countertops? Backsplash? Furniture? Hell, I just bought patio furniture CUSHION paint. Who knew?!
So this is my biggest piece of advice… When you feel out of control, control the look and vibe of your enviroment or start educating yourself about how to do so. Pinterest and message boards can be your best friends. Have fun with it. Shit… shift a few things around from room to room just to mix it up a bit. You’ll be surprised what a difference it makes.
Have an awesome weekend, my frands! Let me know if there are any recent home projects you’ve tackled or whether there’s something you’re about to take on that you’re psyched about in the comments!
xoxo – Deena
Deena Lang 