Home Makeover lessons I learned In the field

Home makeovers were a big part of my business back in the day, long before HGTV was a household name. They were day-long transformations that hardly ever involved buying new things, but rather using things my clients already had.

We would rearrange furnishings, properly hang artwork, get rid of clutter areas, add decorative pieces we would find in attics or basements, and even leave a design plan with recommendations of paint colors and decorative pieces.

Clients were always thrilled and could not believe the transformation, many times not even recognizing their own things.

We were fortunate to receive many rave reviews and heartfelt appreciation for creating a well designed space our clients could be proud of. There have been a couple of times, however, when we received a reaction that not quite as glowing, and with it an underlying psychology lesson. Here’s what we learned.

Lesson 1. Your Stuff Is Who You Are-For Some People

As some people acquire things throughout their lives, they form a special bond with the items, seeing them as an extension of themselves. It creates an uneasy feeling if those things are moved, much less removed. The reasons why are complicated, but studies have shown that the longer we keep things around, the more they become infused into our being, thus causing near trauma if they are moved.

There varying reasons for accumulating so many things in the first place, from being an average clutter bug, to having difficulties making decisions due to low self esteem.

Suffice it to say, if you are this type of person, you probably should not have a home makeover until you have sorted through your items, and are able to communicate clear guidelines for what is off limits, and what can be touched.

Lesson 2: Your Clutter Could Be The Cause of Your Anxiety

I remember walking into the home of an absolutely delightful woman, who was so happy to see us, she seemed to be trembling. As she walked us through the house, pointing at cluttered bookshelves, piles of magazines, furniture that was all pushed up against the walls, which seemed “not right” to her, she was visibly anxious.

Obviously, everyone is different when it comes to the definition of “cluttered”, but in my opinion, that is what this home was, without a doubt. She apologized for her jitters, but said she was a little embarrassed about how everything looked.

She needed new furniture and new bookcases, and that was the point of the appointment; to work with what was there but to have a plan in mind for what types of furniture pieces would work best. So she left for a few hours, and we started in.

We organized the shelves, removed excess items, opening up some of the shelves for some blank space and a personal trinket or two. We then completely rearranged the furniture, grouping it in a more conversational way, pulling one of the sofas away from the wall.

She returned and it was like she had been sedated. She looked around with a stunned expression, slowly went to sit on the couch, and said, “I can’t believe this is the same place. I don’t think I need new furniture at all!” We didn’t really think she did either, but she had to get there on her own.

The point is that clutter, for some, is a source of anxiety that increases in proportion to the “stuff” that’s around. It’s helpful to identify whether that is what you are dealing with or if you actually just need to make some purchases. Knowing the answer could save you a lot of time and money.

Lesson 3: Use The Colors You Love-But Not In Excess

I’m a fan of color in design. Just not every color, and usually not on every wall. Color psychology has not really been studied extensively, but it is commonly thought that it does have an impact on mood and feelings, though not always long lasting.

Regardless, I have been a believer in adding your favorite colors in small doses, and continue to add them as you see fit. That can be a better strategy than slopping magenta on the walls in your living room, only to decide one month later that it may have been “too much of a good thing.”

The “fun stuff” that you want to buy and sprinkle around, then ends up pushing the whole room over the edge to too-much-ness. Colors that bring you joy are much more impactful in small doses, and joy is what we are after. So it’s ok to want color, just go slowly.

Often, not much is thought about how clutter, room arrangements, and color can truly impact our moods, and even uncover some unknown insecurities.

So before you go jumping into making changes in your decor, give some thought to these valuable lessons that I have learned first hand. It could save you some time, money, and maybe some unnecessary anxiety.