Is decluttering enough? Challenges and projects for my italian apartment

Aug 02, 2024
A balcony decorated to make it a cozy living environment, with plants and pleasing drapery

Hello my wonderful human, I have a question for you...

Do you ever feel out of sink in your home? Let me explain.

There are times that my home explodes, it becomes messy and the only thing I want to do is clean up.

I’m in a rental and I haven’t found the right organization for what I have. Initially, when Iacopo, my husband, and I moved to Verona in 2020, this was meant to be a temporary place, just the basics for work and have a roof over our head in perspective to look for something “more suitable”.

 

 

At that time everything felt temporary in our life.

Don’t get me wrong, during every new home move I've always unpacked every box and made sure that a house became a home as soon as possible. Mind you, my main concern was that it had to smell like home too, not like someone else’s house.

I got this habit from when I used to tour as a ballerina and had to have all my smellies to make a hotel room feel like home. I’m derailing. I’ll tell you all about the tours and my way to make a house feel like a home in this blog here.

Until a couple of years later, I went off the handle (yes, I do that sometimes too, very Italian style too) and decided that something had to become stable once again in our life.

I was tired of feeling like I was on tour again, that everything I pulled out of the boxes had to, at some point, be packed again. That stress wasn’t the reason I moved back here in italy, I was looking for stability, sun, family connections and peace. We decided that this was going to be our place.

Imperfect, but now I could finally make it mine.  

 

 

The challenge in the apartment is that it's a home office. The biggest room that allows us to have enough space to accommodate both areas is the entrance-lounge. Next to it there is a small grey kitchen that leads to the balcony.

There is a gorgeous quiet balcony that needs some loving too. And I hope you'll be around to see  the evolution of this rental.



 

The whole place was designed to allow us to create youtube dance videos for our main business, Lazy Dancer Tips. But since I came to realize that we have created enough content hours to make someone dance for years, we decided to simplify, curate the existing content, and especially, stop creating new ballet videos.

Now we only chat on camera for Profitable Talents our second business, which means that we don’t need to have such an UNINVITING home.

That’s right! Last time our neighbor came to visit she sat on a chair, we were standing in front of her and she said: “I kind of feel like I'm being interrogated by the police!”

Now, how bad is that!? Shocking!

Since that day, Iacopo and I have been trying to make this place a home. I’m the one in charge really, he let’s me do what I like. I'm the interior designer after all, so I’m the one that has to make the final decision.

 

Challenge 1: Designing a Space for Ourselves

 

 

I never had to design a house for me. I like too many things, I would need at least 5 different houses to fulfil my desires.

It’s always easier to create a space for others, they tell you their requirements and I can suggest a few ideas based on their budgets. I did this for fun. Even if I have a diploma, I never did it as a profession. When I was dancing I thought it was a good idea to have a plan B, in case of injury. Plus it gave me a few directions if I wanted to work in theaters as a designer or something.

I always lived in rentals until 2015. As a dancer (we were never paid that well) I never had the luxury to own my place. A small shared apartment was all I could afford. The apartments were usually furnished and I didn’t have to think about what pieced I could put into the space.

Even the flat Iacopo and I bought in London in 2015,  a new built of 47 sq m. came with bathroom, kitchen, floors and fittings already in place and I had no say on any of it. Plus we had no more money to spend on it if we wanted to repaint it or make any changes. Everything went into deposit and whatever fees so we were left skinned. Welcome to the London property market!

This is our london flat. 👇

 

 

Challenge 2: Navigating a Kind-of-Furnished Rental 

The landlady of the place we live now is very attached to these flats. The whole building was her father’s so she likes when things are looked after.

The Verona apartment came with a few furniture included: kitchen (it’s not that common in Italy), wardrobes aaaand that’s it. The only few bits of furniture we took back with us from London were not enough to fill up the place.

The bathrooms don’t have any storage and the layout of the doors don’t allow me to have cabinets under the sink. They will abstract the doors.

In other words I have no storage apart from the Malm ottoman ikea bed and the two wardrobes.
Also the tile work in the bathrooms is hideous, and I'll have to find a way to make them look decent, without major works. Wish me luck!

 

 

Challenge 3: Finding the Right Colors and Wallpapers

I want to find the right color palette and wallpaper.

As a rental I want to find peel and stick wallpaper and tiles, both for floors and backsplash that won’t ruin anything I will have to re-buy and regret. As I mentioned earlier, I cannot make up my mind and keep postponing as I don't want to settle on something that- it's not quite what I wanted-.

 

Challenge 4: Budgeting for Home Improvements

Budget. As much as I love creating a space that is ours, we still have bills, mortgage, taxes and usually unexpected bills that come out of nowhere from the apartment in London that we have to account for, car bills, food, work travels etc. Plus I’m always a little scared to spend money on a place that is rented, even though Italy is very well known for their long term lets. When I say long term I mean you can have a contract of 5 consecutive years. 

 

Challenge 5: Wardrobe Overhaul and Personal Style

I’m also in the process of cleaning up my wardrobe… I have clothes that either my mother bought me and are really not my style (it’s her way to say I love you) or that I’ve had since I was 15-20. I still fit in them, but I’m a completely different person now and I don’t feel me in those clothes. Some budget has also to go towards clothes for me and Iacopo too. Mostly me.

 

My go to Rules for a Balanced Home. Creating Empowering and Confident Spaces

For now I’ll start with cleaning and tidying, but especially declutter. This is something that gives me an immense amount of joy and makes me feel lighter. Out-everything that doesn’t make me feel right. Either sell it or give it away to another nice home. Pass on the joy that that object or piece of clothing has given me.

In-only the right pieces that make you feel empowered and confident. Both in your life and on my skin. 

  • Rule 1: if something comes in, something else has to go.
  • Rule 2: they are just things. Llife, emotions and experiences with loved ones are more important.

This below is my guide on decluttering, my ballerina on tour method that has helped me figure out what is important and what is not around me. Create clean and tidy spaces to make me feel in control of my life even when everything around me was all over the place.I’m sure it will help you too. 


Love, 
Alessia 💕

PS.
Let me know in a comment what you think about these projects. I'm very excited about them, even if it'll take time to complete.

 

Photos copyright ©Iacopo Di Luigi & Alessia Lugoboni


 

DOWNLOAD MY DECLUTTERING GUIDE

Are you ready to create a sanctuary of peace, productivity, and joy?
Alessia’s Home Decluttering Guide is your ultimate roadmap to a clutter-free, inspiring living space.

selected

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE NOW

 

STAY IN WONDERLAND WITH ME

If you'd like to receive e-letters from me and never miss my latest blogs, you're welcome to join my email list.
Just let me know your wonderful name and your best email ❤️

We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.

Leave a comment below

You may also be interested in...

Embracing Summer Radiance with My Italian Skin Care Secrets

Jul 28, 2024