Home decor...

[ScrimpAndSave]

As many of you know, I am planning to buy my father's house in about a year and a half. Until then, I am paying rent and living in the home with him. My dad is a very handy fixer-upper type and I love to help him out...especially since the home will be mine someday.

His methodology is simple...buy quality (ceramic tile, paint, granite, fixtures, etc.) and install them yourself...take your time...do it the right way...be meticulous.

He can do it all.

As we repaint and remodel different parts of the house, we sell and donate much of the clutter and kick knacks that have been acquired over time. After finishing a room, I am very careful as to what I buy to inhabit the space again. I am starting to learn that less is more...and sometimes it is better to not fill every possible space. It gives the illusion of more square footage and definitely makes it MUCH easier to keep clean.

I grew up being a little messy - having a mother clean your room everyday seems great at the time, but in hindsight, it took me a good 25 years to figure out how to get organized on my own (I love you, mom!). Keeping a home free of clutter certainly helps with home organization...

What are your home decor, organization and decluttering tips?

[Gjowers]

Of course this topic is a matter of personal taste, but here's my take on it: Buy quality once. By that I mean buy the best quality pieces you can afford so that you don't have to replace them later. Don't buy trendy pieces; go for classic style. If you ever tour historic homes, notice how the same furniture, curtains, wall coverings, rugs, etc. in those homes are still fashionable today. That's why I say buy high quality, classic pieces that will still be regarded as stylish decades from now.

Quality pieces are expensive, but my approach is to acquire them over time. There's nothing wrong with buying used - frankly that's my preferrence. And do your research, learn about what to look for in furniture.

As for artwork, before you go dropping hundreds of dollars on prints, go to local art galleries, or look around for art online, you might even try ebay. One of a kind art can be found for less than the mass produced stuff you see in department stores and in frame shops. Spend your money on things you will treasure.

As for decluttering and organization - I could use some advice on that myself.

[Caoineag]

I am a less is more type of girl. I don't go for extremely expensive furniture because I understand I like to change my environment alot. I buy high enough quality to last until I am ready to give it away. I have always had friends and family willing to take my furniture off my hands when I am done with it so it hasn't been a problem. If a piece is meant to last for a long time (think ceiling fans or other build in hardware) I try to make sure its versatile so I don't have to replace it again just because I changed the look of the room. Rugs on the other hand need to be cheap and nice looking. Replacing them is an easy way to change up a room after a couple of years. As to hanging pictures, I have to say I keep that to a minimum. Its really easy for wall hanging to make a room look cluttered and I can't stand clutter.

I tend to rearrange my living room every 3 months. I tend to rearrange my other rooms every 6 months to a year. Every time I rearrange, I use that as an opportunity to declutter and clean. But then, I am strange like that

[SacredFaerie]

Don't buy something unless it has a space already. When you buy something with the thought "I have to have it and I will find a place for it" it generally ends up becoming clutter.

[gamecock43]

Realize that nothing will appreciate in value over time.

If everything matches or comes from the same "set" it will get boring quickly.

Don't fill up a space immediately because humans are much quicker to buy things than they are to get rid of things.

[Snave]

My wife and I love art, so we purchase local artists paintings. We find that it adds a lot to our home and they are paintings we love. They range anywhere from a couple hundred to 1-2 thousand dollars. For the last many years, we have purchased a few a year as anniversary or Christmas presents to ourselves. Now, our walls are filled with some beautiful paintings. I feel like it really completes our home. We never really tried to find specific shapes, sizes, etc... We just bought what we liked and worked it in. I think if you end up trying to match too much, it just lookes too staged.