#housegoals

# housegoals

We've all got 'em. Whether it's Dwell, Architectural Digest or This Old House, there's some publication out there with the home of your dreams.

In those pictures it's pristine - tidy, gleaming, with fresh flowers in every room.

And don't even get me started on the Instagram fantasies masquerading as somebody's real life. They're dreamy, but seriously,?only?in your dreams is your house going to look like that for more than about seven minutes.

Excuse me for pouring cold water all over this particular pipe dream, but having the home you want has as much to do with accepting your reality as it does with tiling, reupholstering or digging a fire pit.

If you're feeling overwhelmed with clutter and disorganization, I encourage you to think about what you'd like to experience in the house you live in right now. A house that holds your current furniture, your muddy dog, your rambunctious children, your messy partner, your mismatched dinnerware, your dog-eared paperbacks.?

If you're unhappy with your current situation, it's tempting to envision a brand new life. But are you really going to make everyone move out so you can roll around on cream-colored carpets and drink oolong from paper-thin porcelain cups?

Compromises must be made. And you're far more likely to reach your goals if they're, well, achievable.

Here are three questions to ask yourself:

• What’s the biggest challenge you face in feeling happy in your home?
• On a scale from 1-10, how important is it to you to overcome that challenge?
• How would solving this issue impact your life?

When you're clear about what's causing you distress, you can tackle the problem. And while a showplace in white might be your ultimate goal, getting the living room you have into better shape will improve the life you're actually living.

I admit I've been guilty of thinking I'd rather burn my house down than clean and reorganize it. But clearing out the clutter and tightening up the organization has been a much better solution. :) And a whole lot easier than I'd feared.

Once you've gotten your home into a state that no longer inspires angst, you'll have a lot more energy for upgrading and redecorating. I'm not saying you won't continue to drool over those glossy magazines, but wouldn't it be nicer to do that from a space you don't hate?

Here's a tool to get you started: 100 Things to Toss . Give it a try! You have nothing to lose but your excess.