There, I said it. My people know that I'm just not a big fan of lots of EXCESS. Everything in my life is as paired down as I can possibly make it while still enjoying life and living fabulous. I like things that serve more than one purpose and I am constantly re-inventing ways to use things. If I only use something one time a year for one thing- then most likely it's already been shipped off to donation by now.
But here's the thing- I didn't always use to be this way. As I've gotten older and the running of my home has become a passion of mine, I have made some major changes towards keeping things simple. Part of my battle in the early years was that I just couldn't afford to spend lots of money on organizational items. So while I may have wanted a certain look, style, aesthetic in my home- finances were tight for the husband and I and such frivolous things as baskets for blankets or a couch in my color scheme was simply NOT in our budget.
Today, I want to share with you all how I turned chaos into calm and hopefully inspire you to do the same!
Do Your Research.
I know this seems weird, "research"?!? Say what? But trust me on this one. Look at home decor magazines, books, Pinterest, window shop the stores and get a general idea of the style that you prefer.
For me- I like clean, simple lines and more of a modern look without being TOO modern. Confusing right? Ha! But I classify my style as comfy modern. Find out what appeals to you BEFORE you get started.
List It!
Oh Lord how I do love my lists!
Once you have a general idea of style, it's time to really get to work. Take inventory of what you already have in your home. What will work with this new concept? What do you NEED? Can you re-vamp existing items, like an old antique sideboard into a fabulous TV stand or a cracked water pitcher into a floral vase? Think outside the box! Then simply make a list FOR EACH ROOM.
PSST....I have an old radio cabinet that was hand crafted by someone's grandpa. The woman gave it to me for free because no one had use for an old radio cabinet and she wasn't able to sell it. The furniture is excellent quality and with a day's work sanding and staining, it now makes a wonderful sideboard for my fancy china and table linens. So yes- I highly recommend you think outside the box and consider reusing as much as you possibly can. If something isn't quite working in one room, perhaps it will be great in another.
Start Small.
Now that you have a general idea, I highly recommend you start with just one room. The living room is best because this is typically the one people see first when visiting your home. If you try to do everything at once, you will easily become overwhelmed and may falter in your task. Stay the course by keeping it to just one room at a time.
As time and budget allows- spread out into the other rooms of your house.
Everything In It's Place.
My super easy way to keep my home looking neat and tidy is by simply making sure that everything has a designated spot. Now if I could just get my husband and child to put things back in it's spot every time....but really, I cannot recommend this enough.
Going along with this idea is to give things a resting place that is OUT OF VIEW to the eye. So instead of buying one of those sweet blanket ladders to rest against your wall and display your coziest blankets, put them out of sight in a covered basket or nearby linen closest. When we SEE less stuff, it makes our home appear more clean.
Hooks work wonders for this too! In our downstairs coat closest, these hooks are where I store my purse. Ah yes- every ladies nemesis. Where to put your purse where it's easily accessible but not an eyesore? Hooks ladies. Hooks!
Upstairs in the bedrooms the kiddo's backpack hangs off one in his closest, the husband keeps his belts on his and they also work great for hanging up necklaces. Hooks are simply brilliant for a cheap, easy and effective storage solution!
I am also a fan of baskets. Let's be real- baskets are the unsung hero's of home storage and organization! They can look great and become part of the decor but are so damn functional that you'd be crazy not to buy a few.
Color Chromatic.
Stick to one or two MAIN colors throughout your entire home. This is your BASE or foundation and then anything you add into this basic color scheme will really pop.
My home is brown and black. I know...I know...seems boring right? But when I add splashes of orange for the fall or bright reds in Christmas, these colors really stand out. The result is an intentional look that really pulls my home all together.
It is also very easy to mix and match within a simple color scheme. And of course this is a simple way to create some DRAMA or a focal point to your space when you start with a basic canvas.
Throw It Away.
For Heaven's sakes! Throw away your stuff! Do not allow things to pile up but rather take 5 minutes to go through the mail and automatically recycle, open bills and file. When something breaks, automatically toss it. If you are no longer using an item, donate it. Do not hold on to the stuff! It will weigh you down and make your home look cluttered.
Pull an Elsa and just LET IT GO.
I am constantly donating items and selling on Ebay. Mainly clothes and shoes since my child is still growing but really- as soon as something is no longer useful to you, LET IT GO.
Do Not Fill The Space.
For some reason, people feel the need to fill up every spot/corner/wall etc in their home. Not all people, but still...I just don't get this one. Less decor will have a bigger impact than tchotchke's stuffed in every nook and cranny of your home. Trust me on this one.
I once went to someone's house and y'all- the house itself was a showstopper! So gorgeous and the homeowners had done some amazing updgrades. But this poor woman had decorated every single available spot and my eyes just didn't know where to look! It made the house feel smaller and I found myself wondering how she had time to CLEAN all of it!
Less is always more. Believe me.
Decorate With Intention.
When you do start to decorate, keep in mind a few things. Beyond the less is more concept, do not forget that the items you do choose to display are literally the finishing touch on your home. So for this reason, I suggest you make these items PERSONAL. Yes, metal balls from Crate and Barrel might look fancy but are they really YOU? Display family photos, monograms are your new BFF and be sparing with artwork. Now is also the time to intentionally place one or two sentimental items in prominent places in your home.
While the jade green antique bulldog does NOT go with a single thing in my home, it proudly sits on my entry table. Why? Because it's important and SPECIAL to my husband and therefore it has it's place of honor within our home. When we remove the excess, we can then make room for the special.
Rethink Your Space.
You guys- my office and kitchen pantry is now in what would normally be the dining room of my home. Do not be afraid to switch up the floor plan!
If I had kept to the original layout- each room would have been overcrowded and this would have made my small home appear even smaller. What space I do have can NOT be wasted! In addition, I would have had to purchase more furniture for a family room (out of the initial budget) and would have lost out on a larger dining room. By simply mixing it up and rethinking my floor plan, I was able to save myself money, have a more open layout, gain a designated office space (which is much needed since we homeschool & I work from home!) and I have an actual "formal" dining room. Win win!
Make Room For Clutter.
Say what?!? I know that this may seem counter productive but the truth is that we all have it. Clutter exists! We all need a spot for the random bits and pieces of life so allow yourself a junk drawer or other easily accessible spot to place all this random clutter that you can't seem to find a home for but insist upon keeping.
But y'all- just ONE spot. And don't forget to routinely go through it and clean it out.
Train Your People.
All of this effort will be in vain if you do not teach your family these rules. Show your children where things belong, help them to remember to put those tennis shoes in the shoe basket, remind them to pick up after themselves and at some point, it will just become second nature. Hopefully!
It is everyone's job to keep things picked up and looking tidy. If we all make a few small changes, it's easy to keep your house looking nice. Sometimes we have to start with training ourselves in a new way of doing things (just like I did) but I can promise you that the payoff is BIG! It is wonderful to know where everything is at any given moment, what items I have in my home that can serve double duty and it makes holiday decorating that much easier! Plus- it really turns your house into a home. We aren't looking for a showpiece here but rather a place that is comfortable, inviting and reflective of the people who live here. Too much clutter makes this impossible.
Best of luck to you as you go about the process of simplifying your home.
No comments:
Post a Comment