By now, many of you have joined our January Cure and are pumped to spend the next four weeks purging, organizing, cleaning and decorating your way to a happier, healthier home in 2013. And that's great -- a new year is a new start, and what better way to welcome it than with a metaphorical bang? But what if you like a slightly quieter, slower start to the new year?
After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I'm not quite ready to break out my floor sander and label-maker just yet. I do, however, love to tinker with my home, and making positive changes in January isn't something I want to avoid, per se. So if you're like me, in lieu of a major home overhaul, I'm offering up three simple projects for your consideration, all of which I do yearly with great success.
Clean Out Your Closet(s)
My predilection for post-holiday sales-shopping means this is second nature to me. After all, you've got to have somewhere to put your new stuff! Spring will be here before you know it, so you might as well make room for new things now.
January also feels like a natural halfway point in the season; I find that if I haven't worn something so far this winter, I'm unlikely to. Alter, donate or pass on as necessary, and check out this post for more closet-clearing inspiration.
Lighten Your Digital Load
This one's easy to do from the comfort of your sofa (providing you have a laptop; otherwise you'll have to move to your desk). A lot of junk can build up on your computer over the year, and now is the time to clear it out. Delete that which you don't need, and store what you do (January is a great time to go buy that external hard drive you've been meaning to pick up).
Also take the time to unsubscribe from newsletters you no longer read, delete old email and store accounts you no longer use, and make sure all your software is up to date. You'll feel better for it, and your computer will thank you.
Organize (and Display!) Your Photos
Sometime this month, I'll sit down and create a 2012 photo book of my holidays, events and get-togethers from the past year. This gets the photos off of my computer and into a tangible form that I and others can actually enjoy (not to mention it's super-fun reliving all the great moments). I've also chosen a few of my favorite snaps to print and frame, since I've made it a personal intention to display more personal photos around my home.
What do you think of these bite-sized projects? Do you prefer them to a full-fledged Cure, or are you more of an all-or-nothing type? Have any other manageable home-improvement ideas to share?
(Image: The Craver Compound House Tour)
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
How To Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
I have been "unsubscribing" a lot this morning, but Apartment Therapy STAYS!
A big yes on the "display your photos" idea! I would love pointers to where I can find affordable/DIY photo frames that are not boring. I have tons of photos I would like to display but don't have the budget for 20 photo frames - even a cheap frame like the IKEA stuff adds up at $4.99 a pop, plus the cost of plexiglass to replace the glass (I live in earthquake country).
Any idea where that plant vase/holder came from? It is amazing!
I second that Matt. Want!
Try going to craft stores like Michael's, Jo-anne's etc.
They have a circular on line and very good coupons in store.
The craft frames there sometimes go deep discount and the wood ones can be a couple dollars. If you have paint or want to buy spray paint they instantly become Perfect!
Tip: if you're hanging on the wall and not sure exactly where you want them, trace each one on any paper and use those to move around easily on the wall until you have your design
Ditto about the plant stand. Where can this lovely piece be found?
The plant stand is called the Bullet Planter, you can buy it at Design Within Reach. See here: http://www.dwr.com/product/bullet-planter-short.do?from=Search&cx=0
Looks like it can even be used as an Ice Bucket! I love DWR
Thrift store are often great sources for photo frames. You may have to check back several times to get 20 in the style and sizes you need - you'll have the best luck with cheap and simple styles like those from IKEA. Fortunately, frames are fairly easy to paint to get one uniform color.
Dunno about the plexiglass, though - you may just have to cough up for that.
I love displaying personal photos, but since moving into a small home and trying to live in a more clutter-free environment (more conducive to cleaning!), I have trouble finding a place to display them. Most of our wall space is taken up by art or windows, and there is not much in the way of flat furniture surface for display. Does anyone have any ideas for display that don't involve having to frequently move frames for dusting?
Looks like an ice bucket to me.
Cleaning my floors gave me that perspective on my apartment yesterday. After years of being a regular AT reader (which inspired me to become a constant un-clutterer), this is the first time life has aligned so that I can try to follow The Cure.
I identified a few awkward spots in my apartment...some I could quickly address (and did) while others...I have to figure out what to do.
There are so many fun/creative ways to display photos with the help of Pinterest and Google you can definitely find some ideas that work.
Here are a few ideas:
http://www.smallchichome.com/2011/06/organic-bloom-frames.html
http://alwayschasinglife.blogspot.com/2012/01/gallery-shelves-again.html
http://pinlavie.com/how-to-transfer-an-image-to-a-canvas/
You could also collect cheap frames from thrift stores and then spray paint them all one color.
so far this new year i've been tackling one cabinet/drawer/section of closet every other day. since the areas a relatively small it's not a huge time commitment, and i feel great when it's done. just yesterday i cleaned out my Tupperware shelf and recycled all the old containers, ones without lids, etc. great feeling at it only took 20 minutes!
HA!
I put those three things on my to-do list for January (with a bunch of other small projects actually). I already did #2 on New Year's Day. The closet is on the list for this weekend because the Big Sisters will be in the neighborhood and they pick up clothes. That way they won't sit around.
I ordered pictures from favorite vacations before Christmas so I would be ready for my photo-book project. That one will take up a couple of weekends, hoping to have it done by spring.
Thanks!!!!
IKEA has frames (or used to anyway) with plexiglass in them, not sure what sizes they have. Even at $5/frame that might be more cost effective.
What about displaying your pictures without frames? I've seen some great ideas using wire and little clips here on AT.
I believe that the planter is the bullet planter. There are a couple on Etsy right now and a few on EBay.
That plant stand is terrific! It really grabs the eye, especially the green leaves contrasted with the orange vase. $155, ouch.
I have been looking at DIY and wonder if anyone can reproduce that for cheaper?
I always thought digital frames were kind of cheesy until my parents got one. My dad changes it up pretty often and I find it mesmerizing whenever I go home. Rarely do they really look all that nice, but it sure is fun to watch random family photos flick by.
Re-think that "if I didn't wear it yet this winter." Often in the Northeast, the most bitter weather comes in January, February and March. I don't take my extra-heavy sweaters or fleece pants out when I take out the other winter stuff. Instead, they come out in January, when the eary fall stuff can go away. We tend to have more than 4 seasons in NYC, so I try to put clothes away/take out others about 6 times a year!
I'm not doing the cure, but I am working my way through my cubpards and closets offloading stuff. This is phase 1, the easy choices. Later I'll see how ruthless I can be about the harder ones. (Like the cute snowman plate that I use for cookies once a year...) (It doesn't take up much space, BUT...)
Lighten Your Digital Load
Done. I dropped my 20 lb laptop on my foot last week, and replaced it with an Ultrabook. Literally lighter, and it has none of my old data! How wonderful for me.
I'm not doing the cure this year either due to life being what it is for me since I will be needing to move, once I have changed jobs (gotta get on that job search again!) No, not unemployed, but where I work, the pay is pretty bad and hasn't gone up a whole dollar in 5 years. Sad, really.
Add to that, my rent now exceeds any one paycheck so I get help and once I know where I will be working and how much I'll be bringing in, then I'll move. I almost set off to find another place in my price range, but family crisis put the kibosh on that, for now.
Otherwise, I would be really looking at my place and shifting many things around to make room for muses and such as I have boxes that I had already packed that I knew I would not need immediately as I looked.
However, this doesn't mean I can't go through and get rid of cruft and really think things through as to what to look for in my next place, come spring/summer, hopefully.
Dayum, wish there was an edit function as the first paragraph is a total run on sentence!
Oh how I hate it when this happens.
Love that photograph, that's more or less my style, a bit mid century, 70's mod modern all rolled into one space.
I think these items are more my speed. the cure is kicking my butt.
Actually, I think the most essential thing I did to start the year is set up my bill and receipt files, and start fresh with logging my receipts. I HATE bookkeeping, and always put it off until it becomes an overwhelming task. So starting off with a plan and a system for the new year is making me feel really good.
2012 Photo album is done with copies ordered for all who'd like one. Unsubscribing is manageable. I'm having trouble keeping up with the cure. This weekend I managed to buy green cleaning supplies and flowers, but I didn't manage to clean all the floors in the house. I think I may need to generate my own short list. Thank you for the suggestion. I also really like the last comment, setting up systems for managing finances, what a great idea.
For those of you organizing receipts and other documents, you can use https://www.siftsort.com/zooley/jsp/account/login.jsp to organize your important papers. I'm going to have to do it for my sister who has developed dementia, parents who have their litany of illnesses and their financial stuff. You can email your documents and have your bills go directly to your account via your own siftsort email so your regulare email doesn't get cluttered after you unsubscribe to everything. Very secure system to keep important stuff safe and accessible when you need it. Setting it up will take me a while since it's now for my whole family. But imperative now that my sister can't write her last name without help.
@ People who like the planter
It's also available from an online place called Hip Haven. I discovered them from advertisement in Atomic Ranch magazine. They sell the planter for $150, with a $10 discount if you buy two. It comes in 16 colors, including a rattan finish that I particularly like living in hot weather. It also comes in three heights and has three leg finishes, so you can customize.
Hip Haven also has a great collection of MCM lighting fixtures and they sell hairpin legs you can use to make your own MCM-style tables.
Atomic Ranch is a great resource if you are into Mid-Century styling. The ads have introduced me to many interesting retailers.
http://www.hiphaven.com/retro-bullet-planter-by-hip-haven/
If you really want to lighten the digital load, rather than an external hard drive think about using a cloud service to store all the non-confidential extras. And by all means, find a cloud backup service. I am very happy with Carbonite but there are others out there. Nothing is lighter than peace of mind!
To display photos cheaply there is a device (under $20) that looks like a mobile only with clips at the end of each arm. I used to buy them for teachers' gifts but can't put my hands on one right now to give you the particulars. They are often sold in modern gift stores and museum shops. I love them for displaying photos and post cards. Someone please help with the name and source.
I did some unsubscribing right before the new year.. I'm still unsubscribing as we speak.. I love the thought of creating photos of memories.. I just have to print out the digital one's.. :o)
Does anyone know what type of plant is in the planter? I own the exact planter and LOVE the color contrast. thanks!
Looks like a jade plant in the planter, nevalicious07.
Good idea - I just went and unsubscribed from a ton of newsletters and sale flyers that I never read. That five minutes saves me the five minutes I waste everyday deleting them. Thanks for the reminder!
I've been thinking it's about time again to clean out my closet. It's been about 6 months (but that was LONG OVERDUE) so I'm sure I missed some things.
I backed everything up a few months ago and organized my photos and deleted old stuff I didn't need anymore.
What type of chair is that?
I much prefer smaller projects after the holidays than big jobs. Doing a small task and seeing the results motivates me much more than the commitment to a full program. These are very doable, thanks!