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Decluttering and styling with budget queen Michelle from House Rules

October 21, 2013

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By Michelle Ball

I’ve loved decluttering and styling since I can remember, so I thought I’d share my top tips on these 2 topics. I hope they help you!

House Rules contestants Michelle and Steve
House Rules contestants Michelle and Steve

Decluttering

I am not, and have never been a hoarder. I believe in the principal of letting go of excess, and as you do, even more beautiful things come into your home. In saying this, when we had to let go of all our belongings as part of the competition on House Rules and give them all to the Salvation Army, it was difficult for me. We boxed up all our photo albums and personal belongings, then any furniture in the house, including rugs, went.

I remember telling Grace Removals to keep so much; the lounge we had just been given, replica Eames chairs I had bid for on eBay and loved. Then the producer called me, saying Michelle you have to let go, trust me. So I did, not knowing if I would come home to anything I liked with 5 teams replacing all my belongings with new things.

I can honestly say letting go is the best thing I did. So when you decide to declutter, although not as radically as me, there are 3 things I want you to consider:

1. Does the item mean something to you, is ot a family heirloom, like your grandma’s bed, which was the only item I kept in our house. Or did your son make it or is it a gift from your husband for you anniversary? If you say no to any of these things, get rid of it.

2. Is the clutter that bad you won’t have people over? Time to let it go.

3. Do you really need it, have you used it or worn it in the last 12 months? If not, then get rid of it.

If you can’t do it alone, do you have a friend who can help? Or hire a professional like myself. It’s worth the money and time. Don’t be overwhelmed either. As I said to my daughter when she was doing her HSC, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Start in one room. I would do your bedroom as it’s your sanctuary. Got shoes and clothes that don’t fit or are dated? Pack in a bag and donate it to charity. If you need the money, sell things. It feels great getting a little bit of cash, then go spoil yourself and have dinner with the family. If things are old or not good enough for the Salvation Army or to sell, throw them out. You will have a ball, and will feel so much better in your mind too.

Cluttered house, cluttered mind. Clear the clutter I say.

Styling

When styling, you can make a room look like a magazine shoot as long as you keep the kids away for a while! On the show I was called the budget queen. We have had to learn as a family to make ends meet and make our home lovely without buying very expensive things. Ikea and the Salvos have been a great source for us as family to make things beautiful. A lick of paint is a great cheap way to make a room amazing as well. So is Pickawall. We used it in Perth and in our dining area. It’s a canvas product that comes on and off the walls, you can transport it to anywhere if you rent or own your home or unit, and it looks amazing.

Cushions are also a great way to style a room. Also remember that different types of cushions look amazing together, spots and stripes, plain or bold, all look amazing. Gone are the days of matchy-matchy boring.

So now you have decluttered your home, get in there and style it. Another great idea I live by is to shop from one room to the next. Just because a rug or picture has been in you bedroom forever, does not mean it won’t work in your lounge room too. If you have the same theme throughout your home, of course it will match.

Caroline Burns-Mcrave, our interior designer on House Rules, would say do a Coco Chanel. Put everything in the space, take a step back, and take things away. If we had the time we did it, and it worked.

Michelle Ball and her husband Steve were finalists on Channel 7 makeover show House Rules. They have a styling business, Styled by Michelle and Steve.

Jen is currently on honeymoon in Tokyo, Venice and the UK, and has opened up the blog to a series of fabulous guest posters to share their interiors-related expertise in her absence. She hopes you’ll enjoy them and look out for the odd honeymoon post from overseas! The new Mrs Francis (who will still be known as Bishop for work purposes) will be back at her desk on 11 November.

 

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A glass shower screen is not the only option! In A glass shower screen is not the only option!

In this 80s villa reno, @trentinidesign took inspiration from an archway typical of the era and used it throughout the home.

The bathroom was transformed from a classic three-piece set up that included a shower, bath and vanity. Kathryn removed the bath and split the room in half and designed an arch to sit between the two zones. 

“I wanted something spectacular. Rather than having a vanity with a piece of glass like you would typically see, I was really trying to push myself as a designer. It was costly but it worked out well and the feedback has been great."

Swipe for the before and follow the link in bio to see the rest of this home.

#bathroomdesignideas #bathroomtrends2023 #showerscreen #showerscreens #archways #apartmentrenovation #interiorsblogger #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno
One half of popular parenting podcast @wedonthavet One half of popular parenting podcast @wedonthavetimeforthis, turns out former Neighbours actor @gemma_peanut is even more multi-talented than we thought! Will you check out the joyful and colourful reno of her holiday home (and airbnb) @yo_caba_caba?!

Head over to the blog via link in bio to read all about why she went bold and full of pattern in this project, which is a stark contrast to her zen and neutral Northern Beaches abode.

There's also plenty of details about where things are from etc.

"I’m not an interior designer so I just chose what I liked and followed my gut. Ultimately this home has been an opportunity to explore my alter ego – it allowed me to do things that I wouldn’t normally do.”

📷 @tanikablair_photography 

#interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #gemmapeanut #wedonthavetimeforthis #parentingpodcast #parentingpodcasts #holidayhousesofinstagram #cabaritabeach #airbnbstyle #airbnbstyling #colourandpattern #wallpapergoals #patternedtiles #featuretiles #poolgoals #sparkjoy #yocabacaba #boldinteriors #funinteriors #colourfulkitchen
Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial family category and they're a special gift. So ends three weeks with @danisteve81 who left her husband and son in the UK (I'm forever grateful they lent her to me!) to come and cheer me up and help me in the most practical ways after I spent Christmas and New Year in hospital. There were tears and I miss her so much already but how amazing to have had all that time together as adults. Such a rare treat and would never have happened without having been through something so challenging. Silver linings and all that. So many other friends have also been incredibly thoughtful and kind. There aren't many times I'd say this without cringing but I am 100% blessed!

I still cannot believe we have been friends since we were 12! 12! Are you still close with your childhood besties?
The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys 💗 Me and my boys 💗
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner 💓😁
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack 🥰 @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack 🥰 @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting 🤣 Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help ❤️
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
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