Blog & News

Natalie and her husband was quite overwhelmed by the home buying process. There were a lot of things to learn and Natalie hopes to guide others buying their first home by sharing what she knows. You can find more information on their site homeownerbliss

Are you about to move in with your significant other? First, congratulations! Second, it’s time to prepare yourself. Moving in together is an exciting step in a relationship, but it also comes with a lot of problem-solving, decision-making, and budgeting. Not only do you have manage your belongings collectively, but you also may have different opinions about decor. And if you’re like most couples, you want to find ways to decorate without breaking the bank. Here are four foundation decorating tips that will help you create an inspiring home and ultimately save you money:

1. Communicate

Just like any aspect of a relationship, communication is key when it comes to decorating a home together. What do each of you want for the overall style of the interior? Mid-century, modern, rustic, Victorian? Do you want it to be eclectic, with each room having a different feel? Discuss which items are sentimental; be honest from the start about the things you’re not willing to give up. Also, consider essential features each of you want, whether it’s a quiet home office or a big entertainment center in the living room. Once you discuss what’s most important to you, plan a budget and keep each other accountable so you don’t go over.

2. Use storage

Moving in together means you probably own more items jointly than you can use. For example, if both of you think your furniture set looks better than the other’s, it may come to one of three options:

1. Combine pieces of each furniture set for an eclectic style.
2. Sell both of your sets and pick a new one out together.
3. Choose one set and put the other in storage.
Storage is a great option for any belongings you can’t fit into your home or that you’re simply not ready to give up. If you need time to decide whether to keep, sell or donate items, consider renting a self-storage unit. Another option to free up some much-needed space is to purge some items in your closet (figure out which clothes you don’t wear or don’t need anymore and donate them) and employ some smart storage options.

3. Go with neutral walls

Painting is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to change the look of a home. That’s why it’s a good place to start when it comes to decorating. Putting a coat of neutral color on your walls (e.g. grey, beige) will give you a strong base to help you design the rest of your home. In every room, walls will serve as the backdrop for all the other design elements and decorations. Neutral colors will allow for more creativity, and it will also leave room to join opposing styles. Plus, it’s easy to change the color of walls or add an accent wall if you decide to later.

4. Compromise

While it’s important for each of you to voice your desires, chances are you will need to compromise. For instance, if you envision a large dining table for hosting family and friends, and your partner prefers a smaller table to save space, maybe you can go with a mid-size table and keep an extra cafe table in the closet to bring out for big dinners. It also helps to figure out where each of your passive areas are. That is, if you don’t have a strong opinion about the color of the walls in the master bathroom, let your partner choose. You’ll not only need to compromise between each other’s tastes, you also may need to compromise on things you both like so that it fits your budget.

The decorating process is a big part of moving in together. Begin by communicating your
desires and coming up with a budget to work with. Utilize storage for things you’re not ready to give up, and paint your walls neutral to give yourself a good base for decorating. Finally, learn the art of compromise. Both of your experiences will be fun and satisfying if you start off on the right foot.

 

Wouldn’t it be great to have your home in order, your finances on track and to feel more in control of your life? We believe life is so much more pleasant when your space is less cluttered and your financial future is more clear. Join Jane of Serenity Organsing & Decluttering Service and Abby of McMurtrie Wealth Management Ltd for a fun night of demonstrations and interactive play on how to declutter and organise for a happier home, and plan for your financial future.

You’ll get

• Drinks and buffet
• Live demonstration on how to declutter efficiently, organise and design your storage system
• No obligation financial consultation and advice from Abby including but not limited to how to plan and gain a clear perspective on your financial future, from preparing for the “what if’s?” to planning for retirement
• No obligation decluttering and organising consultation from Jane
• Complimentary access to Serenity Organising & Decluttering Service’s online course “How to declutter and organise your space – the fundamentals” (usual price £19.99)
• Complimentary access to online course “How to declutter and organise paperwork” (usual price £9.99)
• Complimentary guide on “How to live less cluttered and more organised”

Yes, you too can have the space you love, the life you enjoy!

Book directly with us to get further discount!

It’s that time of the year again. While some of us are busy making New Year’s resolutions, others consider this to be waste of time. After all, we get told most the great new resolutions fail by wayside by March. But even you don’t believe New Year’s resolutions, you must have your own dream for 2018, is it to exercise regularly, eat more healthy food and lose weight, or save more for that dream holiday, or get a new bathroom, or stop smoking?

Whatever you dream is, the best way to jump start it is to get organised! Start from where you live! Because life is complicated, balance work and life a modern world requires a lot of planning and organisation, and time. It is difficult to find extra time for your new excise regime, if you’re stuck in a house full of kids’ toys and paperwork, and can’t even find your sport gear. How can you cook healthy meals regularly if your kitchen is so cluttered that you literately have no space on the kitchen counter? But don’t despair, we are here to help. We can get your living space/ work space organised, so you have a clear space to think and plan how you can realise your big dreams, and not waste money on getting duplicate items!

If you’d like to get a jump start of your 2018 goals, don’t miss our January sale! Book with us between 8^th to 31 of January, get 10% off your bill!

To celebrate National Organising Week this year (6-12 November 2017), we offer 10% off total bill if you book with us between 6-20 November 2017. NOW is the perfect time to declutter your place so you can have more time to relax and enjoy the festivities!

We are featured on LOVESPACE!
LOVESPACE is the UK’s first storage by the box service, offering collection and delivery nationwide. We are honoured to be invited to contribute to their blog. Click the image below to check their blog.

We’re committed to healthy living and we understand challenges people face to cook and eat healthily these days. That’s why we are giving you this weekly meal planner and grocery list for free, aiming to help you stay organised, eat healthily. We hope that by using this planner, you’ll live a more healthy and organised life. Here’s to a new, happier and healthier you!

Meal planner

 

Good news! We are on Houzz, you may have heard of it, may be a fan for a long time, I’m happy to announce we are on it now!

Is paperwork a source of clutter in your home? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. Many people struggle to keep paper clutter under control, either at home or at work. For some, a messy desk might spark creativity. For most of us, however, disorder means stress, distraction and poor performance. The good news is, we have 4 steps to help you tackle paper clutter.

1.Create a paperwork sorting system and streamline your files

photo credit: adventurousdesignquest.blogspot.co.uk

Tamara Rahoumi of Martha Stewart Living suggests a paperwork sorting system should be created based on subjects and priority. Labels such as “finance”, “education”, “urgent” can be useful, have your most important files stored securely in a metal file box, while other files stored in magazine file organisers (as shown in the picture above). Additionally, it is important to have a file drawer close at hand for current projects, suggest label: current projects; another drawer for documents relating to finished projects you want to hang on for a little while, and files you may want to keep for a while but don’t need urgent attention (We recommend clear this drawer every 1-3 months depending on how quickly it fills up).

2. Set up an entryway paper organiser or kitchen paper organising zone

If you are lucky enough to have a sizable entryway, “make it easy to keep mail in the same spot every time you make a trip to the mailbox by creating an organisation station right when you walk through the front door”, says Louisa Kamps of realsimle.com.

photo credit: idealhome.co.uk

Aby Garvey of simply 101.com points out kitchen is a natural landing spot for paperwork at any home, but this doesn’t mean your kitchen need to be filled with paper clutter. The solution is to create an organising zone in the kitchen, where incoming mails and other paperwork can be handled and organised.

If don’t have a lot of space in the kitchen, don’t worry, even a small counter-top filing system using a small basket or file box could help. One of the advantage of have a small basket or file box containing essential tools for dealing with everyday paperwork, as suggested by Aby, is that you don’t have to worry about lack of space for dealing with paperwork  when you have guests over. Simply move your file basket or box temporarily into your bedroom until your guests leave.

photo credit: http://www.realsimple.com

Apart from incoming mails, other paper such as receipts, electric device user manuals, and business cards for local tradesmen and even takeaway menus can be sources of clutter, too. So it is equally important to dedicate space for items in those categories. i.e. a labelled binder for all your user manuals, a business card folders for local business.

3. Minimising incoming mail by going paperless

photo credit: lundin.se

Going paperless can reduce your paper clutter and benefit the environment. When you deal with existing paper, ask this question: can I find this information online, or somewhere else quickly? If the answer is yes, bin the paper.

4. Get rid of unwanted mail early, and declutter your paper along the way

Whatever system you go with, they key is to give your paper designated destinations, and act according to their urgency and importance.  This way, you will reduce your chance of losing important files and/or missing deadlines. An added bonus, is that you will have the space to display the nice post cards received from friends and family:)

Try these steps and see if they work for you, we’d love hear your feedback!

 

 

Photo credit: http://www.realsimple.com

1. Don’t wait, start now, start small

Focus on one thing at a time, if you think you can’t manage the whole wardrobe, how about start with a drawer. Aby Garvey, who runs professional organising courses online says: “this is an incredibly useful strategy if you are feeling overwhelmed by clutter or your to-do-list.”

Photo credit: http://www.idealhome.co.uk

2. Know yourself and create the right system works for you

Nina Saeki, a former architect and vice-president of JALO, the Japan Association of Life Organizers, believes that decluttering strategies must be individually tailored, that no single approach fits everyone. While some of us tend to be naturally organised, most people would benefit from hiring a professional organiser who is experienced and able to create and/or customise a storage and organising system which suits each family and/or individual’s needs. Once you have a functioning system, all you need to do is to maintain it regularly, sounds much more manageable than digging through a room full of clutter, right?

Photo credit: http://www.marthastewart.com

3. Group it, label it

Of course, for those of you who are keen on DIY, it is possible to create a good storage and organising system with a few good strategies and some thorough understanding about your own lifestyle. To start with, space planning is essential, after you get rid of your clutter, plan your space and then invest in adequate storage. If you are renovating, work with your contractor to make a good storage system. Once you have the adequate storage, define the purpose of any space and group your possession, last but not least, label your possession.

photo credit: Aby Garvey

4. One in, one out

Once you get organised, stay organised by stick to the “one thing in, one thing out” rule. For example, if you buy a new frying pan, chances are your old one isn’t working, get rid of it now before clutter build up in your space.

5. Make regular decluttering your new habit

Admittedly, it take time to cultivate a new habit. Take your time, edit your possession on a regular basis. Why not schedule your own declutter session now? Write down in your diary the space your want to tackle and when you want to do it. Or if it feels too overwhelming, contact us now. We’d love to help!

6. Reward yourself

Here is the best part, celebrate your decluttering success, whether it’s big or small. “This step is one of the best ways to stay motivated as you continue moving forward.” Says Aby Garvey from Simply 101.