Lift: micro-decorating move #24

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They say moving is one of the most stressful events in a lifetime. As anyone who's ever helped manoeuvre a sofa up a staircase knows, the toll is at once physical and mental:

Maybe there's a small residue of that stress when it comes to rearranging the things in a room. Objects get so comfy in one spot that they can seem glued in place. The thought of relocating a well-positioned treasure can feel too much to contemplate.

Sedentary objects, however, can be a drag on your mental health. In a lively home, things are in motion, however slow that motion may be. Physical change makes for a fresh outlook. Don't let stagnation in your interior become a malaise that seeps into your soul.

When the shift from familiar to unfamiliar seems daunting, there's a one-word solution: Lift. Choose something that's been sitting in one spot too long and simply pick it up. You'll be surprised at how easily it relinquishes its home. The next step is just as important: Put it down somewhere else.

It's odd that we'll pay for the privilege of lifting that frustrates:

Meanwhile, lifting with no obstacles or limits – the kind we do at home – is underused as a means of finding moments of satisfaction.

If you're unconvinced, think about the lifting you do when dusting a shelf or tabletop. When you place items back onto the newly cleaned surface, everything is slightly different than before, the imperfect recreation at first seeming a bit off, and after a while just right. We've looked at this phenomenon a while back in Cleaning as therapy.

So free to pluck objects from surfaces with abandon. You may find that one lift and resettle is enough, or you may find a domino effect ensues, with a whole slew of things getting new places:

When it comes to those new places, feel free to be spontaneous and choose based on instinct. If you do want to put more thought into it, we have a whole library of micro moves for you to test-drive. You might try clustering, juxtaposing, or framing for starters. Or even purging. With a little practice, you'll be power lifting in no time!

Guy's buys

Occasional finds selected for you

Way back in May, we featured a brass-coloured tray from Ikea's Stockholm 2025 collection, with photos of how artfully it corrals small objects. At the time, I promised to feature another item I recommend from the collection, and I'm finally getting around to it now. It's a pair of candleholders, available in both a brass-coloured and black finish, that have a dual function: turned one way they're for tea lights, and the other way for tall candles.

They're surprisingly heavy. I enjoy the feel of them so much I ended up getting more than one set. Although I haven't used them for candles yet, I've discovered they're fun to arrange, lending themselves to totem-like stacks:

Don't try this with lit candles in them though! It's not surprising that Ikea's publicity photos only show them carefully spaced out, the thought of fire hazards likely a factor.

If you're still feeling timid about lifting, consider these items a form of basic training. Play with them for a while and you'll build strength for the larger opportunities in your home.

Thank you for reading.