Having a messy house can lead to messy habits. Clutter is an issue everyone struggles with on a daily basis. It’s important to organize and keep the home well kept. In addition, there are steps an individual can take to ensure that tidiness is maintained for extended periods of time. Helen Lee Schifter has given her advice on how removing clutter from the home can be beneficial. According to Elle Decor, she states that it can improve the happiness of the occupants and increase spirituality by incorporating practices in the home.
Sustainability is very important when it comes to getting rid of clutter. Many people assume that renting a dumpster and throwing things into it is the ideal solution to disperse clutter. However, repurposing items of furniture that may have just rotted away in a field, is definitely a way to be eco friendly and give a person a “feel good” attitude about decluttering. Schifter says that she has supported small businesses by giving them old furniture and having them remodel, rebuild, or paint it to be something that matches her Zen home. Going from a Victorian-style home, which basically means having items everywhere, to monochrome, the minimalistic vibe was not easy. Everything had to be changed.
Adjusting to an eco-friendly way of improving the style of a home can be difficult without the right resources. Sometimes, items can’t be altered. For example, a mirror can’t be changed to be something else. However, it can be added to another piece of furniture to complement it. Maybe, instead of throwing out furniture, it can be donated to local shelters, Salvation Army’s, or give it to a friend who’s interested. Giving away items that Helen may have spent a lot of money on was easy for her. Many tables, chairs, and other pieces she had were very high quality. Since she worked for Vogue, having a fashionable home was something she couldn’t avoid. According to her LinkedIn, she was also an editor at Heart and Glamour magazine. Most of her life, she has been working in fashion, which is why it’s so important that it translated into her home.
For decades, Schifter has adapted her style to what has been trending. However, she always includes a piece of herself in what she owns. Since becoming a Zen Buddhist, she favors minimalistic forms of art and not as many patterns. Having highly patterned articles around the home can make it seem more cluttered than it is. Solid shades and colors release the “busyness” feel in any interior design. This included swapping out painting for plants.
Substituting certain furniture for plants is super important in any modern home. Plants bring so much life to a home and can increase how happy people feel. Being able to take care of a living thing can really help with health and wellness, according to Schifter. As the pandemic continues, it’s obvious that having lots of house guests won’t be in anyone’s future. Donating or giving away unused chairs, couches, and seating areas can help bring out focal pieces in a room. Instead of filling the empty space with items that aren’t meaningful, leave it empty, or fill it with life (aka plants).Developing an individual’s sense of style takes time. If clutter is what makes someone happy, then, by all means, clutter away. Schifter is just trying to help people envision a home where it’s easy to destress and relax. Having a minimalist style helps people focus on bigger issues in their lives. Taste Terminal, a popular blog outlet, has displayed Helen’s hard work. After having such a successful career in fashion, interior design is something Schifter grew to enjoy. She tried to be as eco friendly, positive, and open with her sense of style. Due to her kind nature, she highly supports small businesses online and locally that have helped her refurbish some of her beloved items. It brings her personal satisfaction that her minimalist home was a collaborative effort and brings her happy thoughts every time she steps foot in it. She recommends to anyone who can, to try to get rid of clutter during any downtime. A clear space allows for a clear mind.
