Fresh flowers brighten up any room.
8 quick tips
Even if you don’t go through Maxell Gillingham-Ryan’s entire eight-week process, which includes deep-cleaning your home, adding lighting, decluttering, painting, adding décor and finally throwing a party, he offers these suggestions to make your house or apartment feel more inviting:
1. Light it up: Get more lamps; don’t rely on the overhead light in the center of the ceiling. Have three points of light at eye level when you’re sitting down in each room and tie them into points in a triangle. This will create the warmth you’re seeking.
2. Create a landing strip: So much of what clutters a house comes through the front door. Create a place near the front door to toss or sort through mail, slot things and manage correspondence such as junk mail, magazines, letters and bills. Also, leave sunglasses, wallet, keys and other items that create clutter elsewhere in this spot.
3. Don’t let your television control the room: Avoid furnishing your living room like a movie theater. Instead of placing the sofa across from the TV, create a more social space with at least three points of seating facing one another. Consider hiding the TV in an armoire.
4. Clean up: New décor is not going to solve a home’s “breathing” issue. Get rid of clutter, then grab a broom, mop, dust pan, vacuum cleaner and get to work. It’s the most affordable way to revitalize your home.
5. Honor yourself: Choose some favorite items that hold great significance or tell a story about your life — such as family photographs, your college diploma or vacation mementoes — and prominently display them in your home.
6. Draw from inspiration: Use any collected group of colors from a neck-tie, scarf, pillow or rug. That’s your color world. Stick to it while decorating a room and you’ll never go wrong by choosing a jarring color that doesn’t go with the room.
7. Cook at home: The heart of the home grows cold when you don’t cook at home. Buying food is one of the most affordable ways of spoiling yourself. It provides the best aromas, creates good energy and sends off a signal that you use your home, giving it that cozy feeling.
8. Group therapy: Besides his step-by-step book for curing your home, interior designer Maxell Gillingham-Ryan also posts information on his Web site to support your efforts. Here you can blog, get tips on furnishing, shopping, painting, selecting colors and more. You also can post questions to get advice from others. Join in at www.ApartmentTherapy.com.
