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How to deal with a case of decorative accessory overload in your home

By Jen Bishop •

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If, like me, you love a vignette, are drawn to pretty shiny things like a magpie and believe in the power of a decorative accessory or 2 (okay, okay, 20!) to brighten up and add personality to your home, you may know where I’m coming from.

These decorative accessories are also known as:

  • objet d’art
  • ornaments
  • trinkets
  • knick knacks

In my case, in my living area alone, these objets include chunks of amethyst, a Georg Jensen brass bowl full of champagne corks, candles, stacks of coffee table books, a bone china owl (bloody owls!), bowls, mirrored trays, perspex trays, glass cloches (the aforementioned four all have more stuff on or underneath them), slices of agate, trinket boxes, a paper sculpture fashioned from a vintage book, vintage crystal, coral, not one but two decorative pineapples, and so it goes on. And on. And on.

You can imagine the dusting! I’m well aware I’m starting to sound like one of those cliches from F**k Your Noguchi Coffee Table (but without the replica furniture). Consequently this is so not a kid friendly zone, much to the amusement of my friends with kids (who I love, incidentally!).

Writing this blog means I’m lucky enough to get sent a lot of stuff too. Stuff I wouldn’t necessarily have added to my existing collection but which is lovely, so I feel compelled to put it somewhere.

I LOVE having all these things in my home and I could never do the minimalist thing, but every now and again, like today, I FREAK OUT. This is because I am both an everything-in-its-place neat freak and a lover of pretty STUFF (otherwise known as my crap). It’s time for my quarterly edit!

Here’s how I tackle it:

  • Remove ALL stuff from coffee table, shelves, side tables etc
  • Thoroughly dust and clean
  • Wash all glassware and ceramics to get them shiny again (remove hair pins, dead matches and coins from bowls and trinket boxes)
  • Chuck out almost-dead candles
  • Have a little rest
  • Put most of it back, but trying out different combinations of things in different places
  • Keep some of it back (remembering I probably freaked out in the first place because I’d caused a case of stuff overload)
  • Try those bits and pieces in another room or maybe think about giving them to Vinnie’s/friends
  • Buy fresh flowers, fill my vases, open the windows and let the fresh air in
  • Light a fresh candle
  • Sit back with a cup of tea and survey the new tidy, dust-free, edited, less cluttered, sparkling space
  • Enjoy the smug feeling. It probably won’t last long.

Do you suffer from decor overload too?

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May 27, 2013

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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 10 years. She is mum to two young boys and lives in Sydney.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarLeah says

    May 27, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    Love this post Jen!
    “Enjoy the smug feeling. It probably won’t last long” – love it!

    Leah x

    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      May 27, 2013 at 4:18 pm

      It doesn’t! But it feels really good for a week or two 😉 Glad you enjoyed this post!

  2. AvatarMel says

    May 27, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    Jen we are going through the de-clutter together! I just finished my own cull and it feels soooo good:)

    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      May 27, 2013 at 4:18 pm

      Declutterers unite!

  3. AvatarAnnette says

    May 27, 2013 at 2:22 pm

    Jen, love this post – am a big fan of lots of ‘texture’ in my living spaces – so there are stacks of books, trinkets, photos, framed prints, cushions, retro bags and more – all with their own memory value.
    If you want to expand the circle of giving when you edit next, I’m willing to chip in for postage!

    Annette x

    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      May 27, 2013 at 4:17 pm

      Hahaha, good idea! 😉

  4. AvatarLaura - Elsee Blog says

    May 27, 2013 at 3:03 pm

    Love this post!! Such great timing. I am mid declut over here!!
    I’ve tossed many a nearly dead candle! Thrown open the windows, de-dustified, had a trip or 2 to Vinniea. I don’t want to be a hoarder!!! Very much an ongoing edit.

    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      May 27, 2013 at 4:17 pm

      Feels good eh? And yes, it is a constant process! I find a big one once a quarter is sufficient!

  5. AvatarAggie Ryan says

    May 27, 2013 at 4:38 pm

    Hi … My name is Aggie … and I too am a magpie … and it has been 8 days since my last vintage or otherwise, buy-up! I think I need an intervention … or perhaps a declutter … WOT THE!! I used to declutter everytime we moved, but our last move was 2 & a half years ago … and my pile of goodies have slightly increased over that period … just slightly! Lol ;-D

  6. AvatarVlada says

    May 27, 2013 at 7:00 pm

    Every time new item gets in to my house another one has to go and there is no excuses,So I am picking what I don’t like any more and get rid of it. This is my way of avoiding Décor overload and refreshing the Interior.

    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      May 27, 2013 at 7:07 pm

      That is so disciplined! My friend is the same with her wardrobe. She has an Excel spreadsheet and everything!

  7. AvatarAlana Gray says

    May 27, 2013 at 10:01 pm

    The best my place has ever looked was when I was selling my apartment and half of my ‘stuff’ was in the garage! I know I should get rid of some decor but I can’t bring myself to do it. This blog has inspired me to review my collection!

  8. AvatarSue says

    May 31, 2013 at 9:46 am

    Omg, this was written for me wasnt it!
    Ive tried, I have filled boxes, and given alot away, Ive sold alot too, but it is like a virus,….
    I honestly cant see a difference, and I havent bought anything new…this week!
    Im waiting for that smug feeling to to lift the overwhelming feeling of defeat,lol.

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