ask the question why are so many innkeepers buried in clutter? And why is it so darn hard to get out from under it?
Some have been dealing with this dilemma for years.
An inn is much more than a roof over a guest’s head; in most cases it’s also the innkeepers home. Quite often we work in our own environments for years without taking stock of our inventory, like furniture, dishes and décor.
To be honest there are way more knick-knacks and furniture than there should be in a lot of B&Bs. I have visited many properties in which I could not put my suitcase or makeup case in a place of convenience because of knick-knacks or furniture that wasn’t useful. Sensory overload is an issue that Innkeepers need to aware of. It’s up to owners to create a B&B and personal paradise all in one.
Learn to organize like a Pro. Here are seven decluttering tips to help you get there.
If You Don’t Love it,
Re-Gift it to Someone Else
This includes everything from clothing to furniture, especially inherited furniture. Terah Kathryn Collins, author of The Western Guide to Feng Shui teaches that our “stuff” is always talking to us energetically. She says, imagine the bed that you inherited from an aunt talking to you or your guests every night. Do you love what it’s saying? If not, time for it to go. Anything we’re keeping out of guilt or obligation is a health risk—seriously, let it go. And if you need help, get a friend or professional organizer to come over and assist you. I remember visiting a Floridian inn a few years ago where the house was white with accents of turquoise… beautiful. I entered the lobby and there were Victorian chaises mixed in with white furnishings. I asked the owners if they inherited the chaises of which of course they replied YES. The furniture you’ve inherited may not ‘fit’ or ‘go with’ your décor but you take it out of obligation because most likely you have the most room in your family to ‘put’ stuff. Give it or sell it to someone that will love it. I have a saying, “Don’t be the Curator of someone else’s life!”
Renew your look
I just saved a photo of a bedroom on my phone that was of a room that was nice, tidy and white, clean and chic looking. It was a photo from when my rental house was staged when it was for sale. I loved this photo and asked myself why can’t I have it look this way for everyday? We need to live with what we love just not dream about it. I always wonder how an innkeeper lives in their private space? Is there room just as nice as the one their renting…something tells me not, which is a shame. We all deserve to have a beautiful space. It makes us feel better and do better!
Too many Tchotchkes.
If you know what this is you’re halfway there!
(In case you don’t here you are: A tchotchke is a small bauble or miscellaneous item. The word has long been used by Jewish-Americans and in the regional speech of New York City and elsewhere.) My point is guests want hotel-sparse with warm accents of home, for their B&B stay. A friend of mine had a B&B called the Doll House and everywhere was her collection of dolls, on the stairs, in cabinets, you name it. She wasn’t attracting the younger market and I think you know why and that speaks volumes. Painfully but realistically we have to get with the times. Keep the dolls and the beloved tchotchkes in your own part of the house to enjoy, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
Step 4: Get Help – yes seriously!
I visited an inn a couple of years ago and the innkeepers office looked like a bomb went off. How could she find anything in there? How can someone live and work like that? What does that say to the staff? Some decluttering projects are just too big and too daunting to tackle by yourself. So hire a personal organizer or a very tidy friend who you will listen to. Be sure not to just pile all the old stuff into a new space. A professional organizer could be one of the best investments you’ll ever make. They normally work in two-hour blocks. More than that might be too taxing. It’s very difficult to let things go. But with the right help, it gets easier and easier. The basement is of course everyone’s nemesis. Cleaning it out can be exciting and rewarding. With every load that goes out the door you’ll feel freer and lighter. And don’t forget to celebrate, not go shopping for more stuff but maybe a lunch or dinner out, a movie and experience of some sort, not a new Tchotchke!
Step 5: Decluttering is a Way of Life, Not a One Time Thing
Let your spirit move you. There are times when you’ll be really into decluttering and cleaning out. And when one of those times hits, go with it. You’re hanging onto 12 file drawers full of articles and recipes that you have collected over your career. And guess what? Most stuff now available on the internet, you don’t need to keep yards of paper that your staff or family will one day have to get rid of!
Priorities
When you have a busy B&B business, go easy on yourself. We work way more than 40 hours a week; most of us just don’t have the will to organize our space. It is much more rewarding to take a walk or go to the beach or have dinner with friends. And so—sometimes we never really got organized until we can’t stand it anymore. Trust me on this—life is long. And there will always be time to organize your house. Concentrate on one room at a time. Don’t make a career out of it.
Decluttering Tips to
Turn Your B&B into a
5
Sanctuary
By Mary Hughes
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