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Do A Walk Through

Do a Walk-through
by Karen Henke

Have you ever moved into a new home determined to change or fix something that you were convinced that you couldn’t live with? Have you ever moved out of that same house never having made the change? After awhile it’s human nature to turn a blind eye. We just don’t notice things anymore because it’s lost in visual clutter.

There is a weekly column in our local newspaper. It features before and after examples of homes staged for resale. Each week I love to look at the column and see the transformation. But there is always a question that niggles me: Why wait until you are moving to make your house look better? Wouldn’t it be great to make the changes while you were still around to enjoy them?

So here’s my challenge: Do a Walk-through.

 In the beginning of my career, I was a Display Coordinator. One of my responsibilities was to tour the store with the General Manager each week. We would physically walk outside and come in again with fresh eyes. Our goal was to make a to-do list of details that we had been overlooking. I would then have a plan of action to carry me through to the next week. The list would note displays that had sold down or were looking tired and needed to be perked up. It would also identify products that were to be featured. This simple technique is extremely effective. I have been doing the same thing in my home for years. Except, now I don’t do it every week!

Start by walking through your house looking at all of the small details. The most pressing problems will jump out at you. The little details will become more apparent after you start looking with fresh eyes. If taking on the whole house seems overwhelming, pick one room. One option is to edit your most popular room; the one where the family spends the most time. Or if your goal is to have a haven away from clutter, choose the bedroom.

Regardless of where you start you will need a pad of paper and a pen. As you tour through each room, make note of how you feel in the space. Is the room warm and inviting? Do you feel relaxed and at ease? If an area feels crowded, gloomy or dark, take note. If you tense up at the sight of a pile of unpaid bills, make note of it.

Next, start by looking at the top of a wall and let your eyes read the wall like a book from left to right. Look at any hanging pictures. Are they the right scale? Do the pictures work well together? Are they hung at the right height? Does the wall need paint? What color would make you feel relaxed and comfortable? Eliminate all items that have become visual noise to you. Scan the windows and floor. Is the carpet threadbare? Do you need window treatments?

Identify areas or specific items that are giving you trouble. For instance, if mail is stacked up in different places throughout your house, you may need a mail processing center. Are there piles of coats, boots, and book bags by your entry? Consider creating lockers for each person or add a boot rack and hooks. The solution is different for everyone.

Most everyone has at least one clutter trap. Did you find yours? Our family frequently has piles building on the kitchen counter and dining room table. The semi-solution has been to make a place for all types of clutter. Each of my son’s has a basket where they can store notebooks, folders and homework. We have a basket for magazines and catalogs. A 3-ring binder holds all of our family information; things like schedules and school phone lists and emergency phone numbers. This minimizes the clutter, but still requires maintenance.

As you look around the room consider rearranging the furniture. Pull the furniture away from the walls. Is the room overcrowded with furniture? Try moving pieces from room to room. Sometimes moving furniture and accessories around makes them feel fresh again. Do you hunger for change? Try changing accessories with the seasons. Add a throw and a rug in the winter. Take up the rug in the spring and add bright pillows.

Once you have a list, you have a starting point. As with organizing, start small. Prioritize your list and chip away at it little by little. Before you know it your house will feel transformed!

Copyright 2007 Come2Order

Karen Henke is the owner of Come2Order in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.come2order2day.com and request a free Time-Savers Kit which is loaded with time-saving tips and services. And sign up for a subscription to the free monthly newsletter.