Today let's do some clutter busting in your living room. We're going to take a look at your furniture. Stand in the middle of your living room with your arms to your sides. Relax and take a deep breath. As you let it out, scan your your furniture. Does anything make you feel tense? What feels out of sorts?
Often clients will feel uncomfortable admitting an item of furniture no longer serves them. They tell me about how they spent a lot money on it, or that it was passed down through the family, or a designer told them it would be good for them. Meanwhile they are not happy. What's important here is to be fully aware of how your living room furniture is actually making you feel. It's okay to admit, "I don't like this."
I remember one client who didn't even want to go into her living room. She told me it was a room that everyone in her family avoided. She finally relented. She shrank in this room. It was like the sofa, chairs and tables were bullies. I pointed out how it was hurting her, and that she could do something about it. She got it and ended up selling the furniture on Craigslist.
You can also find out how you feel about your living room furniture by sitting on a sofa or chair. Take a seat and take a deep breath and relax. How does it feel to you? Are you happy and comfortable? Would you read a book here? Would you buy this if you were at Ikea today? If not, then ask yourself if you can let it go.
Sometimes clients are intimidated at the thought of getting rid of something big, heavy and bulky. But it's also hard to live with something big, heavy and bulky. You can place the item for sale on Craigslist, ebay or a local paper and tell people they need to transport it themselves. If you don't want to try and sell it, please consider donating it to a charity (many offer pick-up services) or put it on freecycle.org.
Continue by seeing how you feel about any tables, lamps, plants, musical instruments and bookshelves. Remember that this is your living room. You want to feel open and alive in this space.
Thanks again for being open to taking this honest look at your home with me. Fall's a great time to clean house. If you feel stuck and need some assistance, know that I'm available for online video clutter busting via iChat or Skype. Sometimes it helps to have the extra support. My rate is $75 an hour and I can be reached at brooks@clutterbusting.com