How to Tackle the Room You’ve Been Dreading (and Make It Beautiful!)
Confession: the number of times I’ve said something along the lines of “just throw it in the office!” over the past few months is too many to count.
Throw it in. Close the door. No one will ever know!
You see, my husband and I built a new home and moved in last summer and, well, there had to be somewhere dedicated to collecting all of the “we’re really not sure what to do with that right now” kinds of things. You know the place – it’s like a junk drawer’s older sibling 😅and if you don’t have one of these in your house, well, props to you.
Anyway, this place in our new home somehow became our office. I’m not sure it happened…it just…did. Before we knew it, this space that was intended to be a place of productivity, peace, and inspiration became the place I cringed every time I walked past. Ugh.
When we designed our new house, I imagined the office space being full of perfectly organized books, a comfy chair, and a tidy desk that was perfect for reading my favorite blogs, drawing my weekly sketches, and getting things DONE!
This is also the year when we’re doing BIG things at Lucy’s Inspired (like shopping retreats in Paris and Round Top!), which means I really do need a devoted “focus place”.
Earlier this month, I decided on a whim to do something about it. Do you ever find yourself in a mood like that?
I was ready to crank up the latest audiobook I’m listening to (The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield), put on some comfy clothes, and get down to business! I even thought about what I’d treat myself to when I got done – because a good treat is a solid motivator, no matter how old we are! Don’t you agree?
As I weeded through stacks of random things, it was meticulous, fulfilling, and even a little emotional. Old photos have a way of evoking memories I didn’t even realize I was holding…not to mention discovering the highschool yearbooks my Mom dropped off the other day. Talk about a throwback!
I’m so excited to report that my office is getting to be a place I really do want to be! And because I know you proooobably also have a room you’ve been dreading in your home, I thought I’d share the process I followed for not only tackling this cluttered room, but also making it a beautiful place of inspiration!
PART 1: Deciding what to keep and what to toss
Arguably the most challenging part of this endeavor was the process of deciding what items I had somehow collected in this room were worth keeping, and which ones I needed to let go of. Like I mentioned before, so much of what got thrown into the office were things like photos and memorabilia! But honestly, there were a lot of random things, too.
If you know me at all, you know I love collecting things. So yes, this step was especially challenging! I knew if I put too much thought into any one thing, I’d end up either giving up on the project or just relocating everything to a different space I’d have to tackle later.
In an effort to keep things as straightforward and CLEAR as possible, I decided to use these 3 questions to help me choose what to keep and what to toss (or donate):
Does this item add value or bring joy to my life right now?
Will this item still serve a purpose or inspire me in the next 6 months to a year?
Does this item have long-term value, either practically or emotionally, for me or my family? In other words, will my kids want this one day or will they think it's junk? This is where the old family photos come into play, too.
If I couldn’t HONESTLY answer “yes” to at least one of these 3 questions, adios! That item was off to its’ new home (which admittedly might be the trash).
Again – I know firsthand how difficult this can be. Especially when items feel super sentimental! I encourage you to not rush through this process, but also to be ridiculously honest with yourself. Remember the end goal: you’ll feel SO much better in the space after this is done!
One FUN part of thinking through these was when I did find something I thought had the potential to serve a purpose and/or inspire me, I got to think about HOW I could make sure it would do just that. For example, there were a few photos I found that I knew I would LOVE to pop into vintage frames and have displayed on my shelf. There were also TONS of books (of course there were. I am who I am!) I came across…and I got to decide how I wanted to organize them. I even did an IG poll to get your opinion…so helpful!
This leads me to part 2 of this “tackling process”...
Part 2: Deciding how to organize what you’re keeping
This was definitely the most fun for me, which you already got a little taste of above! A REASON to go on a hunt for some great storage boxes to organize all of these old family photos in? Twist my arm 😍
Once I decided what was being kept, the biggest question I urged myself to answer was “how can I make X item feel good in this space?”
The goal was for this to be an organized and beautiful place of productivity and inspiration.
Now obviously decorating is a deep passion of mine and something I’ve spent years helping others with, too…but I understand that it might not be your strong suit! Here are a few quick things to think through while answering this question for your own space:
What types of containers would help this space feel more organized?
How can I use decorative bowls, trays, or vases to corral loose items and reduce visual clutter?
What types of shelves or hooks could I add to create more vertical storage space?
Would adding a statement piece, like a decorative storage chest or a stylish cabinet, help maintain order while also elevating the room’s look?
Would frames and/or tasteful photo albums work best for preserving and displaying my photos?
I’ll be honest – even typing these questions out for you has me daydreaming about all of the swoon-worthy treasures we’re going to find when I go to Round Top in just a few weeks. I’m going to scope out even more of “the good stuff” (the best vendors, etc) so that we’ll know exactly where to go during my Lucy’s Inspired Retreat this Fall (jump on the waitlist HERE)!
As you dive into tackling “that” room in your own home, I hope you’ll remember that the process is about more than just decluttering—it's about creating a space that feels purposeful and inspiring. Whether you're refreshing an office like me, a child’s bedroom, or even your kitchen pantry, the key is to think about how each item can contribute to the flow and energy of the room. By selecting thoughtful storage solutions, personal touches, and meaningful items, you’re not only creating order, but a space that reflects who you are. So take your time, enjoy the process, and design a room that feels functional and most importantly…inspired! 💫