The Organized Life archives

Creating A Space That Expresses Your Personal Style

Dear Subscriber,

There’s more to “getting organized” than simply putting things where they belong.

As our spaces become clear, our aspirations naturally shift to a higher plane.  The question often becomes, Now that I’m out from under all that *stuff*, how can I achieve my real goal, which is to make my space into a beautiful and welcoming room, home, or office?

Make no mistake, being organized is the underpinning of any successful space.  It’s the essential first step.  But organizing your stuff in a way that allows you to express yourself in your space – that’s the trick. 

As I’ve moved from place to place over the years, hauling my stuff along with me, I finally realized that in order to have that stuff be organized, yet also have a beautiful home, I needed to buy furnishings that I loved to contain and organize it.  And the first step in that direction was to find out what I wanted to be surrounded by, what mood I wanted to create, what gave me the sense that my home was my sanctuary.

I needed to know – what is my taste?  Do I even have taste?  And if I do, do I dare to exercise it?  Then I thought: doesn’t everyone have taste of some kind?  How can I find out what mine is?

I became conscious that the power to create the environment I want belongs to me and me alone.  And you have that power, too.  Even if you’re renovating and need to hire an architect or designer, it is imperative to know what you like and don’t like so you’re not at the mercy of their taste.  After all, credentials don’t mean their taste matches yours!

Now I live in a beautiful --and yes, organized -- home that reflects my taste (and my husband’s – but that’s another newsletter!).  It is my sanctuary.  I worked hard to make this happen. 

Here’s my 10-step method.  It worked for me, it’s worked for my clients – and it can work for you.  Give it a try.

1. Go to your local book or magazine shop and buy at least 5 different home design magazines -- or maybe as many as 10.  This could mean an outlay of $50 or more, but it’s a worthwhile investment in your self and your future. 
2. To get you started, here are my Top-10 favorites:
• The World of Interiors– this is one of the most beautiful magazines on the newsstand.  Each issue is packed with an amazing variety of decorating styles from all over the world.  Published in England, but available in the U.S. at shops with a large selection.  I’m a subscriber.
• Domino– I subscribe to this as well.  It’s fun and colorful and full of practical suggestions and resources.
• Coastal Living– I love this even though I don’t have a beach house and probably never will.  Its style is fresh and clean and airy, something I strive for.
• Elle Décor– eclectic with a French accent.
• House Beautiful – somewhat traditional, but really useful for decorating examples
• Metropolitan Home– a modern, more urban take on home design
• Southern Accents– yes, Southern, which means that warm colors and comfort are a priority
• Martha Stewart Living– her streamlined yet traditional style can be very appealing
• Dwell– a super-contemporary, even futuristic, point of view
• Architectural Digest– celebrities and high-end designers have the money to put some great ideas into action.

Each of these magazines features a range of styles and practicality.  You might also consider House & Garden, Veranda, Fine Homebuilding, Cottage Living… there are many to choose from once you start exploring the magazine stand.  The point is to have a mix of sources to play with.  After you figure out which magazines suit you best, you may want to buy a few issues in a row for even more material. 

3. Sit in a comfy chair, put on some music, and start going through the magazines – quickly.  Simply turn the pages, not stopping to read the stories or even the table of contents.
4. Tear out pages that contain anything at all that appeals to you.  Discard any preconceived notions you may have about what “makes sense”.  Just tear things out with abandon -- ads, big pictures, small pictures, the works. 
5. Keep going until you’ve reached the end of this batch of magazines.  Do this in several sessions if you wish.  Each time I do this – at least once or twice a year -- I feel so much excitement that I get tired and have to take a break.  Treat yourself gently as you enter this new territory.
6. Sort through the pictures you’ve selected.  You may find that even as you did this exercise, your taste evolved, and rooms or styles that you liked at the beginning don’t look so great now.  Throw those pictures away.  Keep only the ones that really resonate with you; your style is taking shape!

7. Now organize them by room, and/or by feature.  In my case, I’ve accumulated enough pictures for every room, plus specific ideas for lighting, carpets, fireplaces…you get the idea.  You can keep them in files or a notebook, whichever feels best. 
8. Look at your pictures often, adding and subtracting as you go.  You may want to put particular favorites up on your bulletin board for inspiration or as a guide when you actually begin buying things.  When you’re working on a particular room – your kitchen, say – create a collage of  the pictures of that room to bring the project into focus, re-arranging them on the board until the room takes shape.
9. Keep the pictures handy and refer to them when you look through catalogs or shop online.  Show them to people who help you, like your architect, designer, or salespeople at the furniture shop.
10. Subscribe to your favorite magazines and continue tearing out pictures.  You may end up with hundreds of pages – I did, and I refer them all the time as my home continues to evolve.

Congratulations!  You’re well on your way to creating a space that’s exactly what you want.

Until next month, happy organizing!

Sincerely,

Ann Bingley Gallops
The Organized Life

ORGANIZING DISCOVERY OF THE MONTH

The weather outside is lovely; it’s time to open up the windows and doors and let the breeze in.  To prevent your doors from slamming shut in a sudden gust, you’ll need doorstops, and wouldn’t it be great if they could actually be attractive?  I recently realized that heavy bookends are perfect for this task.  You can find them in all sorts of interesting shapes and sizes for your various rooms. 

If they’re heavy enough to hold books, they’re perfect for holding most doors in place. 

GETTING IN TOUCH

I’d love to hear from you.  Please drop me a line with comments, questions, or suggestions for future newsletters.

Ann Bingley Gallops
The Organized Life

ann@theorganizedlife.net
www.theorganizedlife.net
646-382-3878

Copyright 2006, Ann Bingley Gallops