You Said It: ‘Let It Go’ and More Tips From the Week

Last week we talked about how clearing out clutter can help you clear the clutter in your brain. This week, it’s time for the next step, creating surroundings that inspire us. Buying original art, setting up a stimulating workspace or simply switching up the way you use a room will keep your creative juices flowing. Scroll through these great ideas and let them spark some new ideas for your own home.

“The last time I went through this I found the chant ‘stop hoarding!’ said to myself repeatedly worked. This time I think I’ll use Frozen’s ‘Let It Go!’ I’ve never missed anything from my last move so when I get through it I am sure I will not miss anything this time either.” — Houzz reader Leslie Tamani

Tamani is talking about cleaning out the clutter in preparation for a move. Last week we talked about clearing clutter, and I felt this comment was so great it deserved to be an addendum. Having a mantra or song to repeat while decluttering is such a great idea. I think we should come up with a full playlist. If you think of some good songs to declutter to, please add them to the Comments section.

Full story: 10 Steps for Saying Goodbye to Sentimental Objects


“After seeing many friends struggle to continue their creative pursuits with London’s high rents, Bird, who is from Liverpool, sought an economical workspace. His shed thus has become his home office, recording studio, art studio and urban oasis in one.” — Luisa Rollenhagen

Joel Bird is a carpenter, musician and sculptor whose award-winning garden shed has become the spot where he spends most of his time. Salvaged pieces like boards, windows and doors, solar panels, vegetables and even terra-cotta hands left behind by the previous owner all help compose this magical backyard getaway.

Full story: Visit London’s Shed of the Year


“ … gosh, we can cook biscuits in here.” — Bill Johnson

After seeing what Johnson and his wife Cathy have done to transform their camper, and the idyllic spot where it sits, I’m ready to move in, especially if there are freshly baked biscuits involved. How about you?

Full story: A 1970 Avion Camper Gets a New Groove


“I didn’t want it to be all about the television.” — Interior designer Elena Calabrese

This room went from unused formal living room to a room full of function, where a family of three spends most of their time. However, while the design provides comfy spots for watching TV, it isn’t the main focus. The designer created spaces for hanging out with friends, playing board games, reading, playing with and storing toys and Lego blocks. There’s even a space for building a gallery wall over time. The attention to the family’s needs and how the room relates to other spaces is a yardstick for designers.

Full story: Room of the Day: A Multipurpose Design Brings a Room to Life


“Enrich your home and feel good knowing your purchase is helping to support a local artist by shopping at local galleries.” — Laura Gaskill

Buying art does not mean you have to be an expert and bring a box truck full of money to Sotheby’s. I can’t tell you how much collecting original art has enriched my home and my life; it provides constant joy and inspiration. Buying art at neighborhood art fairs is so inexpensive it should be criminal; you’d be amazed. Often a fantastic folk art piece on plywood costs less than getting a poster framed. The best part of the experience is getting to know the artists who created the work.

Full story: 9 Reasons to Buy a Painting


“Another eye-catching element is the range hood with its supersize rivets. The surprise is that the element is a cover custom made by a blacksmith and bolted onto the original, plain vent hood.” — Mary Jo Bowling

I didn’t realize you could do that to a vent hood, did you? It’s an extra-cool detail in a fabulous kitchen. The reason I love this room so much is that it’s fairly small, but full of big ideas and big elements.

Full story: Kitchen of the Week: Simple Lines and Bold Color


“… usually the bathroom is one of the last places to get precious window real estate.” — Yanic Simard

Imagine the bathrooms in your house, and chances are this statement applies to your house too. Luckily, Simard has provided us with some great ways to brighten things up using colors, textures, materials and furniture and playing tricks with mirrors.

Full story: Bathroom Workbook: 5 Ways to Open Up a Windowless Bathroom


“I hated [the room] for two years,” — Homeowner and interior designer Lesley Glotzl

The answer to falling in love with her living room was setting up this beautiful workspace in there. I feel like I’ve heard “they never used this room” about formal living rooms at least 10 times this week, from the designers I interview and from stories I’ve read on Houzz (like the multipurpose room we saw earlier). Stop feeling as though it has to be a place where all you can do is serve tea to the queen (unless that’s what makes you happy, in which case, bake some scones and royal the place up).

Full story: Houzz Tour: A Family Home Comes Together One Piece at a Time


“Why not simply evaluate your needs and your current space and make smaller adjustments to create the home you want today?” — SPACE Architects + Planners LLC

This basically reiterates the last point. But it bears repeating. Stop living like your house is going to be on the market tomorrow (unless it is), or that Houzz is on the way over with a camera crew. Instead, make your house suit the way you live, instead of trying to tailor the way you live to your house.

Full story: Get What You Need From the House You Have

URL: You Said It: ‘Let It Go’ and More Tips From the Week http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-25045.html