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Home Makeover Clients That Gave Me A Psychology Lesson
Home makeovers were a big part of my business back in the day, long before HGTV was a household name. They were day-long transformations that hardly ever involved buying new things, but rather using things my clients already had. We would rearrange furnishings, properly hang artwork, get rid of clutter areas, add decorative pieces we would find in attics or basements, and even leave a design plan with recommendations of paint colors and decorative pieces. Clients were always thrilled and could not believe the transformation, many times not even recognizing their own things. We got a lot of rave reviews and heartfelt appreciation for creating a well-designed space they could be proud of. There have been a couple of times, however, when we received a reaction that not quite as glowing and with it an underlying psychology lesson. Here’s what we learned.
Lesson 1. Your Stuff Is Who You Are-For Some People
As some people acquire things throughout their lives, they form a special bond with the items, seeing them as an extension of themselves. It creates an uneasy feeling if those things are moved, much less removed. The reasons why are complicated, but studies have shown that the longer we keep things around, the more…
