Whether it’s clutter, awkward furniture placement or plain old untidiness, some houses simply lack the soul homeowners desire.
And while some weary people have simply accepted their situation, others make small tweaks to bring much needed life back into their abode.
Here, Sydney-based property stylist and organisation expert, Anita Birges, speaks to FEMAIL about the common mistakes people are making with their homes and the simple things they can do to inject some soul back into each room.
Here, property stylist and organisation expert, Anita Birges (pictured), speaks to FEMAIL about the common mistakes people are making with their homes and the simple things they can do to inject some soul back into each room
‘Your home is your biggest investment and you spend so much time there so it’s really important that you are able to enjoy that time,’ the Mise en Place founder told Daily Mail Australia.
‘You want to spend time in each room, you want that feeling of security, calm, enjoyment and happiness and you want to be able to welcome unexpected company with open arms – not with a sense of panic!’
BEDROOM
The biggest mistakes people make with their bedrooms include over-furnishing, blocking out natural light and forgetting to declutter areas outside of the closet.
‘When it comes to the bedroom it’s about bringing in warmth and comfort with artwork, beautiful window furnishings and homey touches,’ Anita said.
‘It’s about the little things. For example always make sure curtains go all the way to the floor – don’t have them off the ground – as it makes the room look taller and brings more depth to it.
‘You also can’t just have a bed base and a mattress – you need either a bed head or an artwork in the space above the bed. They say not having something between your head and cold concrete can have an effect on your sleep.’
Anita also encourages people to ensure their bed positioning doesn’t mean their head or feet are facing the door and to ensure their bedside tables are clear and neat.
‘You need to keep clutter off that bedside table, it’s the first and last thing you see every day. Make it something you like looking at and don’t have it as a charging dock or dumping area for junk,’ she said.
The biggest mistakes people make with their bedrooms include over-furnishing, blocking out natural light and forgetting to declutter areas outside of the closet
Before: ‘You also can’t just have a bed base and a mattress – you need either a bed head or an artwork in the space above the bed. They say not having something between your head and cold concrete can have an effect on your sleep,’ she said
After: When it comes to bedrooms it’s all about symmetry, cleanliness and natural light
DINING/LIVING ROOM
While it’s a bad idea to have a dining room table that seats just two people, it’s equally as frowned upon to have too much furniture
‘One of the biggest mistakes in both of these spaces is over-furnishing and trying to squeeze too much into each space,’ Anita said.
‘If you have a dining room table that seats eight people, take off the heads of the table and only bring those chairs out if you really need them. Otherwise those chairs are being thrown around the room and being used for clutter and dumping mail and clothing on.’
Anita said it’s also important to keep the dining room free of clutter and to always have a centerpiece – whether it’s a candle, fruit bowl or item of your choice – to add soul to the room with a personal touch.
‘The centrepiece should reflect your taste and something that reflects the aesthetic of the home,’ she said.
When it comes to the living room, Anita says it’s important to keep it simple and beautiful.
‘If you have a dining room table that seats eight people, take off the heads of the table and only bring those chairs out if you really need them. Otherwise those chairs are being thrown around the room and being used for clutter and dumping mail and clothing on,’ Anita said
‘Look at a rug map to see how to style rugs in the room as many people are unaware how to use them and end up using them in a way that just looks wrong,’ Anita said
‘It’s a good idea to invest in an electrical box to hide all of your things and group them altogether – those four point power points are uninviting and busy,’ Anita said
‘When you walk in you want to feel a sense of calm, and seeing Apple TV wires and entertainment units and cables everywhere just adds to that hectic feeling,’ she said.
‘It’s a good idea to invest in an electrical box to hide all of your things and group them altogether – those four point power points are uninviting and busy.’
Furniture is also a big issue in this space.
Before: ‘One of the biggest mistakes in both of these spaces is over-furnishing and trying to squeeze too much into each space,’ Anita said, adding that clutter is a major issue
After: Sometimes, a large statement artwork works better than a number of smaller ones
‘You can’t have a three seater and a two seater and two side tables on each – I see more rooms with too much furniture than too little,’ Anita said.
’90 per cent of the time you probably do have too many things because people inherit items from family, Pick a piece you want to showcase and make that work then store or sell the rest.
When it comes to styling the room, there are a few simple tips.
‘Look at a rug map to see how to style rugs in the room as many people are unaware how to use them and end up using them in a way that just looks wrong,’ Anita said, adding that a small rug with a big couch simply never works.
The rule of three is also important.
‘It doesn’t matter what it is, groups of three look the best, especially when it comes to cushions and decorations,’ Anita said.
Before: Ensure that rooms don’t combine – children’s toys don’t belong in the living room
After: Only display what you need and what is visually beautiful on shelves, don’t over do it
BATHROOM
With the bathroom, it’s about keeping it clean and welcoming with small personal touches.
‘Cleanliness is the most important thing when it comes to the bathroom, especially the bench,’ Anita said.
‘Keep the bench as clear as possible, add a candle and ensure any items you have are stored away and not in the basin or atop the bench,
‘It’s also really important to keep the shower caddy clean – it’s all well and good to have a clean shower but if you have a filthy, full shower caddy in the same space it’s terrible.’
Anita also recommends a bath mat in all bathrooms and to organise the drawers and cupboards neatly in order of their purpose rather than stacking them all in with different items.
‘People have so much stuff that they don’t need and all of those things end up in the bathroom cabinet untouched and piling up. Even though you can’t see it, you know the clutter is there and it starts to impact how you’re feeling,’ Anita said.
With the bathroom, it’s about keeping it clean and welcoming with small personal touches
KITCHEN
In the kitchen, Anita says, the biggest mistake people make is not using the space properly.
‘The kitchen is a triangle and the main areas are the sink, the fridge and the stove,’ Anita said.
‘Draw a triangle and make sure whatever you need for each area is closest to you in that triangle and that everything has it’s place.’
Anita says it’s also important to utilise all the nooks and crannies in the kitchen.
‘Use the side of the fridge for things like step ladders and find a way to store plastic bags and tupperware in a clever way,’ she said.
In the kitchen, Anita says, the biggest mistake people make is not using the space properly
‘The kitchen is a triangle and the main areas are the sink, the fridge and the stove,’ Anita said
‘It’s also so so important to keep the bench tops clutter free – I can’t stress this enough. Bench tops breed clutter because people drop their bags there and the paper and mail and keys and all kinds of things which just looks terrible.’
Anita added that unless you are a chef, it’s best to refrain from putting all your knives, wooden spoons and utensils on show.
‘We all love watching cooking shows but unless you do it for a living you don’t need all that equipment everywhere like they have,’ she said.
‘It’s also unnecessary to have a heap of recipe books out.’
Finally, Anita recommends having green plants in the kitchen for a sense of freshness and calm and using the window sill for ‘beauty, not for clutter’.
‘Keep the detergent, sponges and anything else out of sight, not on the edge of the sink or on the window sill,’ she said.
Before: ‘It’s also so so important to keep the bench tops clutter free – I can’t stress this enough. Bench tops breed clutter because people drop their bags there and the paper and mail and keys and all kinds of things which just looks terrible,’ she said
After: Anita says it’s also important to utilise all the nooks and crannies in the kitchen
General tips for bringing soul back into the home
* Always have a welcome mat (a nice one, not a plastic one) as it is the first thing people see when they arrive
* Make sure the pathway to the door is clear and is not cracked to show you care
* With your colour palette, make sure you have three neutrals and an accent
* Don’t worry about trends – focus on what makes you happy and suits the aesthetic of the home. It’s no use buying a trendy outdoor set that doesn’t match or fit in the space
* Open up the doors and windows when you can for fresh air and natural light
* The solution to clutter is NOT buying more storage, that only makes the problem worse
* When cleaning and decluttering, don’t forget the beside tables, bathroom cabinets and kitchen bench
* Think about the artwork layout and make sure mirrors are placed so they reflect something beautiful – not the bins down the side of the house
* Make sure there is symmetry in the bedroom
* Follow the rule of three with cushions and look at a rug map for rug placement
* Place a console in the entryway with a mirror above it and style the console nicely with personal touches
* In a narrow space you are best to have two large artworks instead of lots of small ones
* With shelves, have a balance of what you need and what you want on there visually – you don’t need your whole book collection on display
* Get a professional in to help you if you are unsure where to start
* Use an oil diffuser – I use peppermint in the morning to wake me up and at night I use lavender to create calm
* Make sure your home stimulates all senses
