GPS Living Spring 2024

The vertical fluting of Dekton Ukiyo in Umber accentuates clear surfaces.

thing doesn’t have a place, create one or kiss it good-bye. You will need to make it clear to your family that cleared surfaces are no longer dumping grounds. This may require solutions for situations that create clutter. A bulletin board near a kids’ crafting table encourages you to put artwork up rather than let it pile up. Similarly, an organizer in your entryway keeps nearby counters from becoming mess magnets (and may help you keep track of your keys). Some additional strategies: if household members are reluctant to get on board, let them know that anything left on a surface will become fair game for the recycling or donation bag. Be honest with yourself about what needs a permanent place. Can the contents of your bulky knife block take the place of a junk drawer with a knife organizer from KraftMaid? Might a compact French press take up less counter space than your bulky old coffeemaker? When it comes to the bathroom, you may want to start by clearing out your medicine cabinet. Removing years-old prescription bottles and nearly empty antiperspirants may create space for the grooming tools that usually crowd the vanity and threaten to fall into the sink. Don’t forget your biggest surface—the floor. With less clutter elsewhere, you’ll be better able to evaluate which pieces of furniture you use rarely. Consider clearing seating that you only use when company comes over and swapping in a chair from another room on those occasions instead. And ask yourself if you’d be better off getting rid of any piece with a surface that consistently defies decluttering. Whatever you do, don’t just buy more bins. Though they’re great tools for sorting and storing seasonal decor, they’re not meant to be neatly stacked boxes of mess. If you find yourself legitimately low on storage, talk to a GPS designer about functional, attractive solutions. As you clear your home, you’ll find yourself better prepared than ever to talk about how you want it to look and function. ■

The veining of Caesarstone Time in Solenna lends dimension.

33

WWW.GPSLIVING.COM

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online