Home Trends from Maria Senajova

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MARIA SENAJOVA

THE ART OF SLOW DECORATING Some homeowners are turning to a new, more intentional method of decorating called slow decorating. Instead of moving in and filling the entire home with new, mass produced pieces purchased on a whim, slow decorating refers to a more sustainable and purposeful way of decorating a home. Done over time, slow decorating not only uses pieces that will stay in a home for a longer period but it also focuses on quality over quantity, antiques and purchasing or upcycling pieces that are timeless and not trendy. To incorporate slow decorating into your home, start with the big pieces of furniture you will need. A high quality, neutral, well-built statement piece like a couch or dining room table will be an investment rather than a quick purchase. From there, and over time as you live in the space, add in antiques, upcycled pieces and other items that you will actually use and love. A room or home decorated this way will not necessarily look like it's from a magazine, but will instead be a sustainable space that focuses on the practical and purposeful. It's not to say you can't add a trendy blanket or lamp here and there, but the overall intention of slow decorating is to include items that will stay in the space long-term. It also allows you

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MARIA SENAJOVA

INDOOR PLANT MAINTENANCE Houseplants, just like outdoor plants, go dormant during the winter months and then start to thrive again in the spring. Because of this cycle, now is a great time to give your indoor plants a little TLC. If you haven't already, start by checking them for signs of stress and disease (dead foliage, holes in the leaves, fungus, mildew, etc.) and pests. If nothing too severe is present, a simple cleaning and refresh of the soil can work wonders to helping your plants thrive over the next season. Remove fallen leaves, flowers and debris from the soil and top up the pot if required. Next, check for root rot (common after overwatering) which shows up as black mushy roots. Prune those away if they exist and let the soil dry out before repotting. Water the plant again once new foliage starts to grow. Next, use pruning shears to trim away dead stalks or leaves that are unhealthy or dead. A good pruning can help the plant bounce back so don't be shy when trimming. Finally, give the leaves a good cleaning by either wiping them down with a cloth and water or rinsing in the sink or shower to remove dust and pests. Plants like succulents and violets don't tolerate water on their leaves so a brush or soft cloth will work to clean them instead.

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MARIA SENAJOVA

CLOSET ORGANIZATION TIPS Small closets overflowing with clothes, linens and things that just don't belong can cause stress and make your room less than peaceful. Take a few hours to organize your closets and maximize the space. First, remove anything that doesn't belong like important papers, linens, old home decor, etc. so only clothes remain. Next, remove anything that doesn't fit or you haven't worn in the last year. Donate those items to free up some closet space. If possible use a closet system to organize everything. The shelves, hanging racks, drawers or other accessories will make it easy for you to see what is where and keep like items together. If you’re not keen to purchase a closet organization system, an old dresser paired with tension rods for hanging clothes and bins or baskets for loose items like shoes and socks can be a more affordable option. If using the dresser, try a vertical fold for your clothes (like shirts) that go in the drawers as this fold will allow you to quickly find pieces. Sorting and sectioning clothes by type (short sleeves, long sleeves, dress pants, jeans) is also suggested by professional closet organizers. Feel free to utilize wall space to hang scarves, hats, belts and bags/purses. Depending on the type of closet door you have, you can also hang or store items on the back of the door. Picking things up off the closet floor will make it feel less cluttered as well. Once your clothes are all put away, leftover closet space can be used to organize those items you removed at the beginning and haven’t found a home for yet. Finally, after all that hard work, sit back and enjoy the refreshing feeling of your newly organized and peaceful space.

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MARIA SENAJOVA

GETTING RID OF SUMMER PESTS As fresh fruit becomes more abundant through the summer, so does the threat of fruit flies invading your home. The best way to keep those pests at bay is to remove the food sources that let fruit flies thrive. Fruit flies love acetic acid – this is found in very ripe to rotting fruits and vegetables and things like wine or vinegar. The little pests will feast off of scraps of food, empty bottles and cans and can easily find their way into your compost, garbage and recycle bins. Because they reproduce at an alarming rate (adult fruit flies can lay 500 eggs over their lifespan and those eggs can hatch within hours), you'll want to get rid of scraps as soon as possible and rinse out your bottles and containers before recycling. If you’re still seeing fruit flies around your home, you can trap them. A common way to trap these flies is with a vinegar and dish soap mixture in a bowl in the kitchen or near where you see them most often. The vinegar attracts the flies and the dish soap helps drown them. A paper cone fly trap is another option. Put vinegar or an overripe piece of fruit in a glass and then use a piece of paper rolled into a cone with just a slight opening as a funnel and place it on top of the glass. Flies will easily enter the trap but won't be able to escape. For flies that are gathering in garbage cans and drains, you can spray 91% isopropyl alcohol on them which kills live bugs, eggs and larvae. Do not use isopropyl alcohol on fruit. If flies are making a home in your outdoor spaces, citronella candles as well as scents like rosemary, basil, mint and lemongrass will keep these pests at bay.

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