15 Ways to Reduce Your Stuff & Redecorate Your Home

Can you reconcile reducing consumption while creating a cozy and stylish home? I am a bit of a redecorating junkie. While I would like to always practice what I preach, on occasion I am guilty of impulse buying for my econest. I can’t kick myself too much because on close inspection, if I hold a mirror up to my consumption habit, it reflects mostly socially and environmentally conscious spending choices. Either way, moving more towards less consumption is an ongoing goal.

I am working hard to get beyond my shopping urges. I came across a phase coined by artist Zoe Murphy – “Love what belongs to you.” This phrase now seeps into my thought process when I find an item that would “just be perfect” for the econest. It has made me realize that I do not have to buy green to go green. For those committed to reducing consumption, and saving money without sacrificing style, consider “Love what belongs to you” to be the first line of defense.

Let’s examine why we redecorate, how we can keep the cost and consumption to a minimum, and some tips for redecorating and getting decorating right so you don’t waste costly time and resources on design mistakes.

5 Reasons to Redecorate:

1. Emotional Well-Being
Redecorating your home can have a profound effect on your emotional well-being. Creating a sanctuary at home that is uncluttered provides harmony and peace. Visualize what type of home you would like to come home to and create it.

2. Wipe The Slate Clean
Life’s transformations (divorce, job loss, winning the lottery!) require change. Sometimes change is out of our control. Creating a home is within control. You can start over again at home too.

3. Change Styles
Hey, we all grow and change, and the styles of our homes do too. To update changing attitudes and current trends, revamp and redecorate.

4. For The Fun Of It
Treat yourself to a change of interior scene and it might sweep out those stale feelings. You may find a focal point item that makes a new design statement.

5. Increase Resale Value
Redecorating can add remarkable value to your home’s sale price. Energy-efficient and eco-friendly upgrades top the list.

Next: 5 Ways to Redecorate on a Budget and 5 Interior Design Tips

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Karen M.

8:35PM PDT on Mar 30, 2013

Interesting article. I'm not much of a change person, but when I do change furniture, I buy used.

March 30
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Lauren W.

7:33AM PDT on Mar 27, 2013

Food for thought. Good article.

March 27
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Bonnie M.

3:13PM PDT on Mar 20, 2013

A place for everything and everything in its place. Easier said than done for many of us. De- cluttering is an on-going effort. So easy to accumulate stuff- more difficult to get rid of them. Thank you for the sensible and easy tips.

March 20
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Val M.

1:17AM PST on Mar 6, 2013

Thanks

March 6
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Joy S.

1:10PM PST on Jan 25, 2013

I'm sorry...I love my stuff...can't do without it....I'm an antique junkie!

January 25
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rene d.

5:05PM PST on Jan 19, 2013

thanks.

January 19
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katarzyna p.

3:47AM PST on Dec 31, 2012

we bought our own home finally in september. it's been really great to redo the house and we're working on the bathroom predominantly at the moment and the kitchen we're pulling ideas together. you need to think about the long term as well, because although my partner is reluctant to take the artex on the walls down, there's a good possibility that just plastering it over means that the plaster could be bad underneath regardless and in x amount of time, not only will the cupboard on the wall fall off, but it's likely to break and break the things inside. we all want to live economically and we've found that shopping around, bartering and using sales has been a great way so far to get the house how we want. yes there is still a lot to do, but we've made enough of an impact that i know when we finish, not only will we have a house we will love, but a house that will be worth more than what we bought it for