MOVE YOUR STUFF: CHANGE YOUR LIFE

by Erin Sharplin Love
erinlove@panachebyerin.com

Have you ever gotten the urge to refresh a space in your home?  Recall how you felt once that job was complete.  Did you feel more relaxed and happier?  That is the power of moving your stuff!  You see, when items sit in the same spot for an extended time, the air and space around them tends to stagnate, which means that the energy in your home becomes stagnant, too. Stagnant energy can leave you feeling tired, stressed and weighted down.  So, if you have noticed that feeling of unrest in your home, try moving your stuff.  It will change your life! Below are a few ways that I use this theory in my life and in the lives of my clients:

Change décor with the seasons.  This is the easiest and most common way to keep the positive energy flowing.   With each season comes a reason to refresh the décor and design of your interior and exterior spaces.  For instance, now is the perfect time to put up any summer fabrics and décor and put out the fall items.  An important part of this process is to clean the spaces as you go.  Get rid of any dust and cobwebs that may have formed on the surfaces and in the corners.  

Bring the outdoors in.  Plants (real plants) make a space feel lighter, cleaner, and more alive, so having them inside in the form of flowers, branches, and plants will keep the good energy flowing.  If you have a good selection of plants inside of your home already, move them to a different area (with the same amount of light) and give them a good misting.  Gently wipe the leaves down and remove old dead leaves and growth.  Don’t forget to add one or two new ones that are season specific.  

Rearrange your furniture.  Now, I am not saying that you should completely rearrange your furniture every season or even every year.  I just suggest moving one or two items from one room to another to create a different flow and energy.  For instance, do you have a chair that you can move from the bedroom into the living room?  What about a side table that can serve a different purpose?  You can even move an item inside the very room it is in.  Any movement will disrupt the stagnate air and create energy.  

Deep clean each space.  This isn’t a task to tackle in a day, as it takes time and patience.   I suggest choosing one room or area a week to concentrate on.  Then you should clean it from top to bottom.  Wipe down walls, baseboards, light fixtures, furniture, cabinetry, everything. Wash the curtains, clean the blinds, wipe down the windows (inside and out).  You get my drift.  The point is to get rid of the dust, dirt, and grime that leads to stagnation.  While you are cleaning, make sure to fix anything that is broken or needs repair.  If it is something that isn’t easily fixable, set it in an area where it can be attended to later.  Get it out of the room you just cleaned, though, you may not reap the full benefits of the freshly energized space.  This is a good time to oil any squeaky doors and replace any burned out bulbs, etc.  

Sweep your porches.  Don’t forget the exterior of your home.  Give your entrances a good sweeping, cleaning, and décor update, too!  The entrances to your home set the tone for what is to come, so keeping them pristine is one of the most important steps in this process.  Don’t forget to add beautiful plants and other items that will make your life happier and easier.  A way to make your life “easier” is to place tray or rack in this area to corral boots, purses, and coats.  Having a landing spot for your most used items will make leaving home and coming home so much easier.  

Use light to your advantage.  Light, whether from opening the curtains in the morning or lighting a candle over dinner, adds movement and energy to the space it is in.  Light can energize you or calm you.  Use it to your advantage and make sure to update the lighting sources in each of your rooms.  Change bulbs to higher or lower wattage or add dimmers to get the best of both worlds.  Clean your light fixtures often and add reflective items to bounce the light around.  

To take this concept one step further, I challenge you to set intentions for the spaces you are refreshing.  Want to improve your relationship with your spouse?  Set that intention and keep that goal in mind while you are moving, cleaning or replacing items in the bedroom.  Want to make more money?  Set the intention while cleaning and refreshing your home office.  You never know what may come to mind or evolve from one simple intention!  Move your stuff, change your life.