Detox Your Living Room In 10 Easy Steps:

1) Get out your camera. Most people don't think to use the camera as a decorating or detoxing tool but this is so helpful. Take a photo of your living room, in it's most perfect form. What catches your eye? Are there too many books on the bookshelf? Do you notice shoe's at the front door. Use these photo's as a guide to the area's that need "detoxing."

2) Take your shoes off. You would be surprised at the amount of dirt we bring inside our homes on the bottom of our shoes. Start taking your shoes off at the front door and you immediately cut down the amount of dirt that you will have to sweep up.

3) Be creative with storage. Do you need a place for those shoes mentioned above, those extra quilts that little ones often like to cuddle up with on the couch? Baskets are wonderful! Keep your eyes open while browsing thrift stores, often you can come across really cute baskets.

4) Lets talk about those bookshelves. Bookshelves are hard. My tip: keep only the books that you love and will read over and over again. I have a whole chapter about bookshelves in my eBook (which is coming to amazon soon by the way. :) I also color coordinate. Some might find it silly but I use the books as art. One shelf houses all the blues and greens, strategically placed. I had fun doing it, and switch them around on a regular basis because it feels like painting to me.

5) Open your windows! Let the natural light inside. This changes the atmosphere more than you would think. Watch how attitudes in your family change when birds can be heard singing outside the window, the glow from natural light verses artificial shining through. Its a little thing, but it brings such big change.

6) Instead of using air fresheners, make your own. It's super easy! Fill a spray bottle with water and add a few drops of essential oils. This way, you know exactly what you are spraying into the air. No harmful chemicals.

7) Bring in items from the earth. Natural items make a room feel brighter. One of my favorite pieces of furniture that we have is the wood stump that I made. It continues to remind me of the Great Artist.

8) Don't forget to check and replace your air filters. I don't like to do this because seeing all the crud freaks me out a little bit. This is what we are breathing folks. Make sure that you are changing the filters regularly.

9) Become a minimalist. When there are less things in your living room, you will feel more peaceful. Less things = less work for you. If you are unsure how to simplify and are in need of a coach, I would love to be of assistance.

10) Welcome others. Be sure that you give fill your home with lots of laughter, friendship, and stories. This will make your home feel more like Home.

Do you have other tips for detoxing/de-cluttering tips?