Four Steps to HANGer Management

While my divorce was underway and my house was on the market I had only 2 weeks to leave the place I had lived in for the past 19 years.

As if moving OUT wasn’t hideous enough, I realized that moving IN was equally challenging. Settling into a new place required addressing walls, floors and ceilings. I soon realized that one of the most important surfaces to address first were my walls.

Walls are the first thing people notice because your eyes have a natural line of vision which takes you directly to what’s in front of you. You don’t walk into a room and look down at the floors or up at the ceiling. You look at the walls first.  They can create the feeling you get from a big, warm hug of happiness if done correctly.

Here are the Four Essential Steps to BIG transformation in your home and your state of mind:

1. Start by picking a fabulous color that stirs your soul. How do you do that? Take something you like. Perhaps a favorite scarf, piece of clothing or picture that you love. Whatever toots your horn. Don’t be afraid of what it will look like. This is just the beginning of the process. People are afraid to play with color and tend to go toward the neutral beige or off white. Color evokes feeling and you want it to make you feel secure, peaceful and happy. When you work with a color stylist like me, I can help you find your empowerment color.
2. Create the illusion of a window, which makes a room seem bigger, by HANGing a mirror. Yes, it’s as easy as that. Of course, not just any mirror. You must consider shape, frame and placement. Mirrors give the suggestion of a window without the high cost, mess or hassle of getting a permit and busting through a wall. Mirrors can also reflect the outside in if placed opposite a real window. Reflecting a nice view from your actual window lifts the spirits and connects us to something visually pleasing. It also brings in more natural light, which is a mood enhancer, especially during the winter months.
3. Photographs uplift you and create a storyboard of you life to look at and inspire you. Whether you hang photos of your children, family members, places you’ve been or, better yet, places you’d like to go in the future, photos will remind you of all that you have to be grateful for. Your wall holds your past, present and future ~ it’s your vision board.
4. HANGing pieces of your favorite art will boost your state of mind and create a space that says you are “home.” Our possessions evoke an emotion either a positive or negative one. By choosing things that uplift your spirit you instantly create an environment of positivity. Surrounding yourself with beauty will lift you up; mind, body and spirit.

Michele’s Story

Several years after my client’s divorce she was ready for a “space lift.” Her home did not reflect her personal style or vision. It evolved into a cluttered hodge podge of photographs with mismatched frames and way too many blank expressionless walls. She had a lot of beautiful paintings that were stored in her attic that came from her happy childhood days. All she needed was a little inspiration from me.

We matched frames and artfully placed those heirloom paintings tastefully throughout her house. By creating a wall of photos and art we gave it the importance and respect it deserves. Having mismatched frames on her mantel, side tables, and coffee table added to the feeling of clutter and chaos. When we start to remove the clutter from our home something amazing happens. The clutter in our mind starts to clear as well. HANGing her favorite items on her walls freed up space and gave them a gallery like status.

This was the perfect way to surround her with memories that made her smile. Lastly, we purchased a large mirror and hung it directly across from her living room window. Three things were achieved by doing this: 1) It reflected the serenity of nature outside her home and thus created a more fluid and organic space. 2) It brought in more natural light. 3) It created the illusion of a larger space.

HANGer Management, creating a wall of visual beauty, is one of the secrets to creating a warm and personalized space. Now the only thing left for Michele to do is to HANG out in her new homey space.

Click here to view Wall of Fame 2

Identity Magazine is all about empowering women to get all A’s in the game of life — Accept. Appreciate. Achieve.^TM Every contributor and expert answer the Identity 5 questions in keeping with our theme. As a team, we hope to inspire and motivate ourselves and inspire you to get all A’s.

What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally? What are you still working on accepting?

I’ve learned that no matter how much a  loved one is suffering, there is nothing you can do except be there for them and support them, you can’t physically remove their mental or physical pain.

What have you learn to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally? What are you still working on to appreciate?

I have learned  to appreciate  what a strong woman I am and how I can go from lemons to lemonade no matter what life throws at me. I’m still working on not letting other people’s opinions negatively impact me.

What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? What makes YOU most proud? What goals and dreams do you still have?

Creating we2me, my business, at the lowest point of my life and making it into something successful and rewarding.  

My goal and dream is to have my own HGTV show.

We all have imperfections, so we think. The truth–we are all perfectly imperfect. What are your not-so-perfect ways? What imperfections and quirks create who you are–your Identity?

I always act from my heart and sometimes it breaks and at other times it’s soars with happiness.

I am very spontaneous and sometimes I don’t think things through.

I am very sensitive and get hurt easily.

I’m horrible with finances.

I own too many pairs of shoes but I don’t regret one single purchase

“I Love My…” is an outlet for you to express and appreciate all the positive traits that make you…well… YOU! Sharing what you love about yourself will make you smile, feel empowered, and uplift your spirit and soul. (we assure you!)

Identity challenges you to complete the phrase “I Love My…?

I love my smile and how it affects other people in a positive way.

I love my twisted sense of humor.

I love how great I am at dancing.

I love how horrible I am at singing.

I love and appreciate that I am a talented artist.