Decluttering | Does Your Home Reflect Who You Are

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Have you ever wondered if your home mirrors your true self? Just like people present their best selves on social media, our homes can showcase our personalities and lifestyles. Does your home reflect who you are? I hope so because this will make you the most comfortable.

I am reminded of the wisdom 'Be yourself, it is who you do best'.

We tend to capture and share our best moments online, like dining out at fancy restaurants or lounging on pristine beaches. Similarly, our homes often embody the essence of who we are.

The Unintentional Reflection of Who You Are

For me, my home is a reflection of my journey. It wasn’t a planned mission to curate a space that reflects my personality. Instead, it evolved naturally over time, as I brought in new items and let go of others. Having lived here for years, my home has grown with me, showcasing the changes and phases of my life.

Homes tell a story. If you walk into a space that's cluttered and inefficient, it might hint at the chaotic lifestyle of its owner. On the flip side, a well-organized, welcoming home may suggest a person who values order and peace.

Breaking Free From Trends Will Reflect Who You Are

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I believe in intentional living, not simply following trends. If you happen to love a trending style, go for it. Don't do this just because it is trending.

I remember my war cry as a kid to my parents - 'Everyone is doing this'! And I remember their reply was always the same- 'If everyone was jumping off a bridge would you do this too'?

It's fascinating how many people I know follow design trends that don’t genuinely make them happy. For instance, every room in my home has twinkle lights. I love their soft glow, and it saves on electricity. Plus I grew up in a home where the lights needed to be turned off in empty rooms and 'Don't stand there with the refrigerator door open'.

People often comment on how much they love twinkle lights, yet they only use them at Christmas! Why? If you love something, use it all year round. Who decided that twinkle lights should be reserved for the holidays? It’s your home—make it your own!

Personal Touches Matter to Reflect Who You Are

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Your home should bring you joy. It should be a place where you feel comfortable and content. My twinkle lights are a small, personal touch that makes my space feel magical. These little details are what make your home uniquely yours.

Think about what makes you happy. Maybe it's a particular color, a piece of art, or a collection of books. Incorporate these elements into your home. Don't be afraid to break the rules and craft a space that truly reflects who you are. This also serves you well to make your insides sparkle with pride.

Your Human Nature Reflects Who You Are

Most people love to belong. Without realizing it some folks go along with others because it is what they were taught. The 'It is better to go along, to get along' rule' is called people pleasing.

When you place pleasing other people and their opinions above your own you are giving away your comfort and a piece of yourself. Stop doing this!

If you love large patterns, geometric patterns, or a touch of luxury the next time you are deciding to bring a new item into your home make sure you love it! You spend a fair amount of time in your physical space and should be comfortable. Nothing is more comforting than surrounding yourself with things you love.

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A lot of time we buy the kind of furniture we think we should have. Sometimes, like Mick Jagger sang, 'We can't always get what we want' due to financial restrictions.

Sometimes it is because we don't have the guts, or we feel buying off-white furniture in a home with pets is dumb. Maybe a friend told you what you want is 'last year's style'. Stand firm and get what you love.

There are fun ways and more difficult ways to accomplish things. Have fun with outfitting your home! Your sense of self will thank you. Try new things, how else will you know what you love?

No Regrets When You Reflect Who You Are

To this day I regret the decision I made when I once bought a sofa. My first choice was the most gorgeous shade of plum purple. I did not have the guts to buy this color, instead, I opted for the boring brown color. Lesson learned.

I am no longer color phobic and life has been all purple couches since that experience!

Different people focus on different things when they are making their design decisions. For some the perfect balance is important. For others, there is nothing more important than to WoW! Guests because they feel a first impression is everything.

Intentional Choices Reflect Who You Are

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It's important to make intentional choices about our living spaces. What we choose to keep around us influences our daily lives and emotional well-being. When you walk into a room, does it lift your spirits or bring you down?

Your living space should be a sanctuary, a reflection of your personality, and a place where you can be at peace. You know better than an interior designer what you like and dislike.

My home does not look like a 'perfect home', whatever this means. Symmetrical decor is not my thing and I think many people prefer symmetry. I have no favorite colors. Neutral colors, bright colors, and simple designs, I like them all. I live with more than one color palette because I have never met a color I didn't love, except I will admit salmon isn't a favorite color of mine.

Years ago when I visited Shaker Village in New Hampshire It was the straight lines style of Shaker Furniture that I fell in love with, it is the simplicity of the design that speaks to me. Like the Shaker style my home decor choices are simple and functional.

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Some would say my love of animals requires the various rooms in my home to be furnished in a practical manner. I say no to this. When I first started to collect pets I had a lot of light colored and off white furniture. All this meant is I had to clean it more often. That furniture and my pets are both things that I adore, so they both stay!

My home needs to reflect the easy way I live, I don't care for fussy home decorations and unnecessary tchotchke because this makes cleaning much more timely because everything needs to be moved around to clean.

I am also an organized clean person. I like the things in my home to be simple, clean, orderly and to speak for themselves. Even better are pieces that have multiple functions, like Murphy beds.

Declutter first

Did you know a favorite trick of home designers is subtraction? This means to start by removing all the items from a room and only returning a fraction of them. There are times this is all it takes to get the look you have been trying to achieve. Always declutter first and get rid of as much as you can.

A good rule of thumb to consider when decluttering is to identify the things you love and either donate or sell your other possessions- if they are gently used and in decent condition.

If you do not know how or where to donate to check out my free Resource Guide that shows you where to donate almost anything and usually at no cost to you.

By keeping only the things you love you can't go wrong. If you have nice classic pieces you no longer love you can often fetch a very good price for these things. Selling online is a relatively easy thing to do today. People are often able to recoup a lot of their original costs for selling used goods.

In the end, your home is more than just a place to live. It’s a canvas where your personality, experiences, and preferences come together to create a living masterpiece. Stop saving the things you love for special occasions. Make your home a true reflection of who you are, and let it evolve with you over time.

Embrace your unique tastes and create a space that makes you happy every single day.

Forget what the rest of the world is doing and live intentionally making your furniture choices based on the things you love. You have heard it before - Live your best life!

Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutter-er and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. “Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.

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