how an innkeeper lives in their private space? Is their room just as nice as the one they're 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.
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!
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.
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We all deserve to have a beautiful space. It makes us feel better and do better!
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