I have always told my husband that it takes 3 years to get settled in a house. I came to this conclusion after we moved for a second time and it wasn’t until we had been in our new house for three years that I finally felt somewhat settled. I think it is nearly impossible to move in somewhere with all of your belongings and be able to arrange them perfectly the first time. You need to live in a house and really establish your flow before you can even attempt to design your things. The style of your home has to evolve as you settle into your new surroundings
This does not mean that you have to spend three years living in a mess. Three years is just how long it took me to finally reach a happy place after many trials and errors. I moved, rearranged, and switched things around until it felt right. I feel all squirmy and uncomfortable when things are not just right in my house. I can sense when a wall needs something or the space is too cluttered. Some days I just wake up and know that the entire room has to be moved into a new formation.
My tip this week is to learn to let the flow in your house dictate what you buy and where it goes. You want to purchase things that serve a purpose (looking pretty is a purpose by the way!) but allow yourself to think outside of the box. Just because something belongs in the kitchen doesn’t mean thats the only place it can go. And your furniture can move around based on where its needed most. Freely arrange and rearrange until your house feels just how you want it. Here are some good guidelines when trying to arrange your things:
- Whether you are moving into a new home or have been living somewhere for a long time, never be afraid to rearrange. Try moving your furniture around and mix up the accessories. Bring in lamps or take away some of the clutter. Do some playing around until the room feels just right. If you feel like your living room is not the inviting place you would like look for ways to make it more people friendly; arrange seating so people are facing each other, don’t make the tv the focal point, and use side tables so you have easy access to a book, the remote, or a coaster for your drink.
- Don’t feel forced to use things for their intended purpose. I bought a basket-weave storage box that I had originally planned to use as an ottoman. It eventually became a window seat, then mudroom storage box, and finally a toy box. It has lived in 4 rooms. It goes with the flow, our flow and it serves its purpose based on where we need it.
- Do remember the importance of your families habits. For example, living rooms: Are you a couple that enjoys movie nights? Then make sure to purchase comfy throws, extra floor pillows for lounging, and a cool wooden storage box for DVDs or remotes. Are you a family with small children? Then you will need creative storage for toys so you don’t live in a constant “playroom”, shelves to display breakable things up and away from little hands, and an army of baskets: books, magazines, shoes, items to be taken upstairs, remotes, etc.