Kimberley's guide to home editing
• Nearly everyone agrees the task of moving is monumental. Ease the strain by beginning the process of editing months ahead of the moving date. Set a time goal, say 20 to 30 minutes daily, and tackle a single room for that period.
• Ruthlessly consider the need for each item. You know the rule: If you haven't worn it, used it or enjoyed it for more than a year, it's unlikely you'll miss it.
• Children and relatives may be less enthusiastic about receiving your castoffs than you imagine. Respect their right to create a home that matches their vision and instead consider charities that will sincerely appreciate your gently used goods.
• Take care not to edit so much that your personality and expression are absent from your new home. Incorporate collectibles and display items that have special meaning, allowing your most treasured possessions to assume pride of place.
Image courtesy of Pottery Barn.
4 Comments
whoa eriq, calm right down. To edit your possessions simply means to remove things that you dont need/want anymore so that when you are moving or redecorating your space, you dont need to account for things that will be a waste of space. A good example I think, is my step mother. She is a huge packrat/arts and crafter, and her home is packed to the gills with stuff. She could turn the basement into a useable space for her hobbies, but instead it is filled with games/toys that her children used 30+ years ago, and broken bikes. Editing these sorts of things from her space could give her more freedom to enjoy her space now, instead of holding onto these items and being stressed from the lack of space. Editing your living space is NEVER a bad thing, and she even points out not to remove things that absolutely define you and that you love. I love this article, as I just bought a house and am moving today!! We totally let things until the last minute and are now trying to edit as we pack.. An utter waste of time. Cheers!
Gee, I thought she was talking about people like me, who's kids have grown, no longer require the extra bedrooms & playroom & are sick of the long commute between the suburbs & the city. A condo downtown is looking pretty attractive to me right now.
I don't think Kimberly was specifically targeting people that have lost their jobs and have to downsize. She and other decorators have been giving "editing" tips for years. My husband and I went from a 5-bedroom, multi-level on an acre of land to a 3-bedroom, 1 floor bungalow and a manageable backyard and lots of flower gardens that I can still play with. My housework went from 3-4 hours on the weekend to about 1 hour as this house has hardwood floors so less vacuuming. Why did my husband and I need a 5-bedroom house. This house is mangeable now and in the future when the "joints" aren't working as well anymore. This house gives us more time on the weekend to golf, take the dog for long walks and enjoy our time off for our 2-day weekend.
'EDIT' your living space? Madam, you are talking about people who are abandoning their living spaces for something like poverty conditions because this over-inflated, collapsing economy just blew their jobs and their incomes from the middle classes straight out of the water. Do not demean them with sleazy euphemisms like 'edit'. This 'service economy' is going to destroy zillions of jobs and the law of averages does not preserve anyone's job above anyone else's unless your name is Warren Buffett. 'Edit' your own living space, Madam, when you too become redundant.