Ok the secret is out. My living room is indeed painted bright yellow (do not adjust your screens, that is the real color and the lady in the picture, my dear Grandma Betty) but now to the topic at hand…

We all love to feel good. That’s why the word of the week is ambiance. Say it with me ˈam-bē-ən(t)s. It’s defined as the character and atmosphere of a place – YOUR PLACE. You ever notice sometimes when you enter someone’s home you immediately feel good, you like the energy? Ambiance. Conversely, I’m sure you’ve been to homes where you don’t feel so relaxed and begin thinking of ways to escape? Ambiance too. Now close your eyes and think of your home. Imagine trying to host a romantic evening. See where I’m going?

So, you feel like your current living quarters is more like a dorm, maybe a dive bar, right? Well, you don’t have to move or go out and spend piles of cash to create a positive, romantic, or even productive mood in your space. All you need to do is make a few small changes that will guarantee you “that romantic night”. Over the course of the rest of the week, we’re talking about taking simple steps to add atmosphere or AMBIANCE to any space. Without further ado, I give you the first step to adding ambiance to your pad.

Step 1: De-clutter (and CLEAN dammit!)
Now I know you are tired of hearing the word “de-clutter” but extra items sprawled about a room detract from the calming energy needed for a healthy and relaxing environment. Furniture pieces that become catchalls for junk make me sad. My friends accuse me of being a minimalist. Guilty as charged. I look at it this way, you probably spent some time selecting that piece of furniture, right? Why hide its beauty with junk? It’s like going to a restaurant, taking forever to order, and then when your food finally arrives, you ask for the Heinz!

So you ask “How do I identify clutter?” Well, I have a few guidelines:
• if it has a logo,
• you got it for free,
• or you haven’t touched in the last six months,
you might want to get rid of it. Donate items to charity or recycle them if possible. Trust me, you will feel really good after doing so.

Here are some other de-clutter tips:
• Try no more than 3 items per tabletop. Be it candlesticks, a tray, frames etc. – you get my point?
• Utilize your wall space. If you find you have a crowded dresser maybe a shelf above your dresser can help.
• Use zip lock bags to group similar items and then tuck those items in a drawer.
• If you are a paper junkie a corkboard may do you good.
• If you have a crazy shelf that reveals all your dirty secrets try adding baskets in the cubby holes of the shelf.
• If you have lots of books, make them more presentable by taking off the protective covers. PLUS they look better on the shelf – classy!

While you’re at it, wipe down all those hidden dusty old surfaces.

Can you guess what Step 2 is? Check back tomorrow to find out! Also comment on any ways you’ve created to help yourself de-clutter. I’m Derrick Johnson and I Dare You To Be Domestic!