In order to look ahead to 2009, I'm going to have to look back for a moment to 2008. Last year, I really focused on my home and on apartment related projects. I Cured, I January Jumpstarted, and I replaced or refrurbished lamps, assorted furniture, bedding, etc. Despite all that work, in December I still found myself with an apartment that made me jittery. My best Christmas present this year came from my sister- she gave me the gift of a comfortable home for the holidays. After my Christmas wreath was stolen from my door, I basically entered a holiday funk that was only made worse by the knowledge that my apartment resembled a Law and Order crime scene after my most recent attempt to sort and organize my stuff....
On Dec 23rd, my sister got the keys to my apartment from my landlord and created order out of chaos. She cleaned, she sorted, she threw away papers, she hung up clothes, she put away books- she even set up my Christmas tree. She completed all the tasks I had half-started, and she did it because she wanted me (and my visiting USMC husband) to have a relaxing, peaceful atmosphere in which to spend our ten precious days together. She gave me back the home I had after my first, most successful Cure, and she inspired in me the determination to keep it.
Conversations with most of my friends have revealed that most of them seem to have at least one home-related resolution on the 2009 list. For my part, I resolve not to get so caught up in projects that I neglect the small things that more immediately impact my space. I am good at big projects, but 2008 taught me that having the perfect coffee table is not that satisfying if you can't see it under the pile of books and paper and project sheets; I resolve that 2009 will be the year of the cleared off coffee table!
Given that this is a blog devoted to home and decor issues, I'm certain many readers also have home-related resolutions for the coming year; please share them with us in the comments below.
The best NY resolution I made a few years ago was "finish what I start". I kept that very very simple - finish dealing with the daily mail, finish the dinner right down to dishes, finishing a DIY. OR...giving myself permission to let it go. First complete - or delete - whatever I had already started (projects, diets, commitments...) and steadfastly refuse to start anything until else until a space became clear for something new. I found if I don't consciously let it go, or finish it, the guilt is a real drag. It's made me look at things that I really want in my life, instead of just whatever appeared.
view AZkathy's profile
I'm sorry you has a rough season, but IMO - A completely cleared off coffee table is like a kitchen with nothing on the counters: Cold and sterile like a store display.
Where are the art books? The small collection of pottery? The candlesticks? The box that holds the remote controls?
I hope your new year goes better, Colleen
view bepsf's profile
Wow, that is so sweet! My sister stayed with me for the holidays and she unloaded the dishwasher. Once. Ha!
view tequila red's profile
i would like to have a mostly clear coffee table. for a xmas gift exchange on another of my 'net communities, the item arrived in a beautiful paisley-printed red and white box that i promptly used to corral all my remotes for the tv/dvd/stereo.
everything else was still scattered all over the tiny, ancient, Ikea Lack table. then i had a houseguest who took the remotes OUT of the box and swept everything from the table into it so that we could sit and eat dinner at the coffee table as i still don't have dining room chairs!
LOL!
view rouquinne's profile
That was really nice of your sister!
view Mrs.Mack's profile
Wow, we should ALL have family members so considerate!
My coffee table is (usually) empty except for one decorative platter. I chose a style with four drawers (2 on each of the long sides) for remotes, owner's manuals, and pet stuff, and with a shelf underneath for a cat basket and some storage boxes. The top is clear, though. It looks nice that way! (Those of you who like you pottery and candles are welcome to it, but believe me, if other surfaces have decorative items -- fireplace mantle in my case -- a cleared tabletop is not sterile, it is a visual respite.)
view SherryBinNH's profile
coffee tables are for feet only! i hate not being able to put my feet up for fear of knocking over some precious trinket.
view daniny's profile
Coffee tables are NOT for feet at everyone's house! Certainly not mine. Yuck.
I don't know what the point would be of *having* a coffee table if I didn't need it to put stuff on. Mine's got a crystal candy dish; a lidded box for remotes, lip balm, and coasters; and a tray for unread magazines. These are my essentials, and if they weren't there, I'd have to get up and go find them a dozen times a day.
view Jezebella's profile
In theory, the coffee table is for putting out some drinks and maybe a tray or bowl of snack food. While people are there to eat and drink. You might rest a magazine or book you were reading, if you're coming right back, or a box of tissues if you're home sick watching your stories. Remotes and other incidentals should find a drawer in an end table when not in use, magazines and catalogs contained below. I don't know about completely empty, but it's not a really broad, low pedestal for still life arrangements either.
In reality, all sorts of stuff ends up there because nobody puts it away, or they spend too much time on the couch that it really becomes inconvenient to keep taking it all out again every time. Like the coffee table is your control panel, your purse dumped out, everything you'll need close by to put off standing up and going somewhere else for a damn long time. I don't have a couch and my coffee table is in the closet right now, but I'm prone to this behavior at my desk. It's convenient to the user but messy to look at.
view K T G's profile
Great post Colleen, and... the rug is FANTASTIC. This is a very unique variety of Oriental Rugs. We believe this is an authentic Persian Tabriz, appears to be of very good quality. There are a lot of knock off carpets made to emulate this variety in machine made and lower grade hand knotted... However, I think it's fair to say this is the real deal. We did an entry on Mahi Tabriz Rugs (and those similar). Really hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed the rug! It's a great piece :)
Dave from RR
view Rug Rag's profile
Hi Colleen,
Happy New Year!!!
My goal this year is to clean our storage room that holds all of the things that can't fit in our apartment. I am overwhelmed at the idea of doing that but it has to be done. Thanks for your article it is giving me the courage I need .
Btw beautiful table and rug!!!
view Assyat's profile
Finish what you start... I like that... a lot. And with two small children, it's a pretty good goal to start with! It seems that I am in a constant state of interruption.
view SeattleMama's profile
My resolution is to continue with what I have already begun last year at my place. Some of what I did last spring was not planned but became necessary.
I replaced my couch back in November, but sold the old one on CL last Aug. I knew exactly what I was after and it took 3 months before I found a killer deal at IKEA in their As Is dept for 75% off it's original price and was able to get it delivered the next day. Go me! I bought an Expidit 2x4 bookcase to store my LP's and moved some cheap maple colored cubes to the bedroom closet for storage there, replaced an old, aging TV w/ a new 32" LCD HDTV so for this year, continue on w/ some re-arranging of stuff in the main living/dining room, continue w/ organizing the bedroom, get more artwork and replace 2 lampshades that need replacing (silk lining has split/torn on both) and continue purging and/or replacing of smaller stuff.
view ciddyguy's profile