DESIGN
WITH
JENNY
MARTIN
HOME.MADE.SIMPLE
62
BY: JENNY MARTIN | INTERIOR DESIGNER
t happens. Over the years, we
accumulate a real assortment of
furniture and décor items. Cherished
possessions handed down from
people dear to us, objects bought on
a whim, things we’ve spent hours
staring at the computer trying to
decide on just the right piece in just the
right fabric, and then, forgotten items
that are currently in the attic. Sadly, the
resulting decorating scheme is often less
attractive than we’d hoped.
I
What to do? We can’t all afford to start
over, and the financial hangover left by
Christmas makes big expenditures less
than appealing. Lucky for us, it just so
happens that this is the perfect season to
take on those indoor projects. And there’s
lots that can be done on a budget to start
pulling it all together. First, I’d start by
looking for areas in your home that look
chaotic or cluttered and then…
EDIT, SIMPLIFY, DECLUTTER
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: If you have collections of things,
group them, and if you have larger collections of things, put
some away. Your bookshelves don’t have to be filled wallto-wall with books, break up the space with interesting
accessories or pieces of art, and add in a few picture frames.
Mix front facing books, with books that are stacked. For other
surfaces, ideally you should have minimal items or groupings
of items on them; for example, a vase with an orchid, a small
sculpture and a stack of 3 books.
EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE: Adequate storage is also
important, so look to add strategic storage pieces, especially
in a house like mine where I need to hide a mess of plastic
toys at a moment’s notice. Good options are ottomans or
benches with hidden storage, side tables with drawers, and
even baskets work great to consolidate clutter and create a
calmer environment. Vintage trunks can make unique side
tables and bookcases and shelves give you the opportunity
to organize and artfully display your accessories.