The holidays and New Year are coming up quickly and that means it’s time for reinvigorating your life, getting rid of the things that don’t serve you, and thinking about your resolutions for the New Year. We chatted with Kristin Vaselacopoulos, an interior designer who specializes in intentional space organization. For my fellow New Yorkers, you know with our limited space we can use some of her tips! In addition to her work in interior design, she is also a passionate advocate for sustainability. Read on to hear what she has to say about recharging your home!
“When we think about decorating or organizing our homes, we use a “set it and forget it” mentality. “Oh, this diffuser is on sale at Marshalls, buying.” You never use it. Deny it all you want, but we have all been there! What we should really think is that our home is a living and evolving reflection of who we are at any given time. As an interior designer, I work with a diverse clientele. I want to look at what you have and celebrate these pieces that mean something to you,” Vaselacopoulos tells us.
“Part of my organizational philosophy is to make your home intentional. This means celebrating the meaning behind things you keep, use, and see on a daily basis. USE WHAT YOU HAVE TO ELEVATE YOURSELF and YOUR HOME! You do not always need to spend more money to decorate your space. Take a look at what items you own and make you feel proud. This is what I mean by intentionally decorating. Let’s dive into this and discuss easy tips to creating spaces that evolve with you,” she continues.
Now on to business:
Products: Let’s get clean by thinking dirty! Go through your beauty and home care products. Most people don’t do this enough. Ready to replace your products and see if they are safe and sustainable? Download the “Think Dirty” App, which provides free ratings of your purchases to make sure they are clean and good for the planet. If you are going through your skincare and make-up, try using brands like Beautycounter that have an oath of transparency when it comes to their ingredients. If you are going through home products, try Hauswitch Lighthaus Cleaning products. They are made simply and naturally to be intentionally good for you and good for the planet.
Wardrobe Edit: Similar to what I want you to do with the products above, if you haven’t worn a piece of clothing in two years, donate it or sell it through Poshmark or any local consignment store. There’s no better time than the holidays to give back and give up the “I’ll wear it one day” mentality, and as Elsa would say – LET IT GO! Want to feel good this holiday season? Donate any professional clothing to this girl boss charity- Dress for Success, and help women around the country get on their way to gaining financial independence.
Good Books: Fall and Winter keeping you in? Let’s kill two birds with one stone. Purchase new books or break out your favorites to get your mind right, and even better, let’s make it art. If you can’t sneak away to the Caribbean, a book might be your one way ticket to paradise. Stocking up on good books can lead to color-coordinating and displaying your books as art in your home. Knowledge is power; make your home a resource to you. I always like to have a variety of genres that touch upon these values: one to be helpful (Real Life Organizing: Clean & Clutter Free in 15 Minutes a Day), one that is pretty inside and out (Radical Self Love), one that keeps you thinking (Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World), and one that is funny (Primates of Park Avenue)!
Entertaining: There are plenty of apps I know and love, like Polaroid Zip App, which allows you to print pictures of loved ones. Hang them up in your entertaining spaces with twinkle lights! Entertaining spaces can be anywhere that has meaning and brings light into your life. You like to cook? Add pictures of loved ones and add a touch of elegance with the twinkle lights in your kitchen. Are you Seamless’s #1 customer? Let’s shift the focus to the living room and add these features to your special space. Sound too dorm roomy to you? Think again! They automatically become talking pieces with your guests and reminders of those who love you even after the holidays are over!
Living: Bring out the cozy EVERYTHING! Fleece and faux-fur blankets are always in and velour pillows are hot right now, so let’s find new pillow covers and break out that old Juicy Couture sweatsuit we all know you couldn’t throw out! Make your life seasonally appropriate, get your dog in a cute sweater and light a couple of candles while you cuddle up on your sofa to get your mind right.
