simplify

Simple Linen Closet

~ Megan

It’s the beginning of Autumn here in Australia and I decided to do a linen closet declutter and organise. I usually go through clothing as the Seasons change but this time I decided to go through bedding and blankets to see what we may need and get rid of the rest.

To be honest this space has been bugging me for quite awhile and I have avoided it as I tend to find it hard to decide which linens to keep as they are all in good condition and I keep extra bedding and blankets as a ‘just in case’. Alot of throw blankets and quilt covers! This time I was ruthless!

Kon mari method

I decluttered the closet Kon mari style. I took everything out and only put back in what I really loved. Usually I would rummage around trying to decide what to get rid of, which obviously wasn’t working. Before I began, I had saved some gorgeous Pinterest pics for inspiration. I wanted my linen closet to be VERY minimal, functional and lovely to look at.

I wanted my linen closet to be VERY minimal, functional and lovely to look at.

A tip I had found was to place my linens front ways rather than across. (If that makes sense?) You can see how I have placed them in the pics below. My goal was to keep what we have on our beds with only a couple of extras stored. We really don’t use what has been sitting n there and I found that things weren’t smelling very fresh, which is a sure way to know that you are using things regularly. I washed everything, ready to sell, donate or keep. I even soaked some towels to bring them back to pure white. Yes I went all out!

The Essentials

There was also a lot of ‘extras’ such as seasonal decor, toiletries, fabric, cushions, even a photo album! It was really an added storage space which I was just tried of. I decided that this was going to be purely for linens only.

Note: Each be in the house has sheets, a quilt and blanket. Towels which are in use plus what’s stored here. There is a throw blanket on the sofa. I will continue to evaluate what’s no longer needed at the end of the season.

The Kon mari method was really helpful to me in this case as I really didn’t want to put any clutter and excess back in, once I had completely cleared out and cleaned the cupboard. I believe every space should be beautiful.

I feel relieved after finally simplifying my linen closet and getting rid of the excess. The final finishing touch is to add some pretty labels to the shelving. Let me know how you declutter and organise your linen closet:)

Housekeeping, the Old fashioned way

Old fashioned housekeeping
~ Megan

Today, I am taking out a leaf of an old-fashioned book that I have, titled ‘A Book for Every Woman’ from 1926! It has numerous ideas and tips for home-making that I feel like sharing with you all! In my blog, I have revised some paragraphs from the book’s chapter titled ‘Do you make work for yourself?’ I hope you enjoy reading the blog!

If you feel that you are overworked, look around your house and see how you can make things easier for yourself. Easier – without sacrificing the essentials of a wholesome living, namely, cleanliness and nutritious food.

Too much clutter

Maybe you do a lot of unnecessary work every day as your house is over-furnished. Is the mantel of your house loaded with ornaments? Is the top of the bureau filled with fripperies? Are the walls overloaded with pictures? Putting away some of these things can help! Now, notice how much more restful and neat your home looks and how much work this saves.

One morning, I suddenly woke up to the fact that I was doing a lot of unnecessary work. I can never forget the length of time it used to take me to dust and clean my bedroom. I always used to go to my writing desk first of all. It looked like a fancy table at some fair, I would rub my eyes in astonishment and would feel pity about the things that my little duster always passed over, but they were never used.

Order restored!

My room offered a great deal of elegance and cleanliness without those things. What mattered for me was that the things I want or use regularly are right in front of my eyes.  They could not show up when they were closely elbowed by the things I did not care about. I sorted out my stuff and it helped me in creating an atmosphere of accessibility and cleanliness in my room that I never had. I was proud of myself when I calculated the lesser time it would take me to set it to rights in the mornings.

Kitchen and Dining de-clutter

Then I diverted my attention to the sitting-room and the dining room and even the kitchen came in for its share of this weeding out process. I found out that one cupboard was full of utensils, both household and kitchen, that we never used. They were either too big or too small, which made them unserviceable. For example, there was an ice-chest that was too big for our family and then a preserving kettle that was not satisfactory in the functioning and many other utensils. The things were all good in themselves so I had kept them. I decided to sell the contents of this cupboard. This greatly helped me in managing the mess!

In short, this cleaning process ensured that I pay attention to everything, regardless of its size. The things I was saving with a view of being possible for use someday, weren’t used till date. I asked myself what will be useful in the near future. It turned out that no matter if you will be using these utensils in the future or not, this cleaning process will help you in managing your mess and time.

So you see, the woman of the past were decluttering their homes long before we were!

Simplify your home in the New Year

simplify your home
~ Megan

As the new year approaches, I have been pondering some of the changes that we as a family have gone through in 2019 and what my personal plans and goals will be for 2020. One of those goals will be to create a new home in the new year. A much more organized, paired down home. A simple home.

My minimalist journey began 9yrs ago however life changes and things accumulate, then before you know it your home is not so simple anymore. Maybe you feel the same way? If so, it’s time to hit the reset button and simplify your home in the New Year.

Re-evaluate where you are at and where you want to be

Wherever you are at in your simplifying journey, whether contemplating living more simply or an experienced declutterer?! It is always good to re-evaluate where you are at and where you want to be. For me, as a stay at home mum, home is the center of my world. It’s the hub for most other things in my life, where I homeschool, work on my buisness, eat my meals and of course sleep!

I know that when my home is in order I am less stressed, more energized, more productive.

Simplifying the home is life-changing

Whether you work outside of the home or work from home, home will affect how you function on a day to day basis. That is why it is life-changing when we simplify, organize and prioritize our home and schedule. It will have a ripple effect in whatever else we are doing. I know that when my home is in order I am less stressed, more energized, more productive. A better wife and mother! Just happier overall.

So if you have been feeling the desire to simplify the home, the New Year is the perfect time to start or to re-set. Start off small, one drawer, one bag, one shelf. Let’s get started!

3 ways to help you simplify your home in the New Year

  • 1.Choose a word, verse or phrase to help keep you motivated

It’s a good idea to have a simple word, verse or phrase to remind you of your goals in regards to simplifying. This could be a family motto or a personal one. Something that reflects what you would like your home to feel like such as ‘clean & minimal’ or ‘serene’. Or “I want my home to be ordered with everything having a place.” A relative of mine wanted her home to be “guest ready”. As per my blog, I’ve chosen the words calm and orderly for the year and I am aiming for more organized and less effort maintaining.

What is it that you wish your home would be but isn’t due to clutter?

What is it that you wish your home would be but isn’t due to clutter? Adding a picture of how you would like it to look is also helpful if you are more visual. The point is not to have a show home but a home that serves you and your family. It helps when you get stuck on an item to ask “does this item fit with my ideal home”? You can then refer back to your picutre or motto.

  • 2. Decide where to start and focus only on that first

Deciding to get your whole house in order can be overwhelming, even if you have been decluttering for some time. The best way is to chose one spot to focus on only and stick with that until it’s done. As above, just start off with one drawer, one bag or one shelf. If you are feeling braver or have less stuff to purge then you could start off with a room. The Kon mari method works on categories, books, clothing etc. Do what appeals to you.

Sell, donate, trash

 Once that is done you will likely have momentum to go to the next spot. The 3 box method seems to work well. Sell, donate, trash or something similar. Putting items in these marked boxes as you go means you will clearly know where everything is going. Some people find selling stuff and making some extra money is a great motivator and others love to give away items. Do what works best for you and don’t keep that stuff hanging around! Remember your goal.

  • 3. Celebrate your new home as you go

You won’t have a new home overnight but you can celebrate and enjoy your progress as you go along. So if you have simplified your living or dining room and your goal has been to entertain more this year, then start inviting people over now. Don’t wait until your whole house is done. If you have worked with your children to downsize the toys then reward them and yourself with a fun outing or family activity. This will reinforce the value of living with less stuff.

Once you start you will gain momentum and your New home will begin to shine through from all that clutter.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Need more help to get started? Check out this great post from ‘Apartment Therapy’

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/11-things-you-should-declutter-and-donate-after-christmas-238807

What makes a house a home?

What makes a house a home
~ Megan

As a home-maker who seeks to live a simple life, with less clutter and less distraction, I sometimes worry that my simple de-cluttered home, won’t be homely enough.

Growing up in an inexpensive, yet beautifully furnished home, I have grown to love and enjoy an interior design that fits my budget. (Hence, my side business of vintage furniture restoration.)

Our surroundings can nourish the soul, help us feel comfortable and at peace. A place to connect and relax with your loved ones and for numerous other purposes. So I wondered, is there a danger of over-simplifying within the home? What makes a house a home?

A home should reflect your style and values

I don’t believe that there is a simple answer to this question (Pun intended). What may be homely to one person, maybe over-crowded and cluttered to another? We all have our taste, values, and style. Although I love French homes and their classic vintage pieces, I enjoy minimalist spaces too. However, what I wanted, is a home that reflects us as a family, as well as what we value.

Impressive vs. functionality

At some point, I had to ask myself what am I striving for a home which will impress people? Or am I seeking a home that works for us? A simple and clean functional home. Did we need any extras? (Actually, the excess decoration pieces were annoying me!)

Going through the process of simplifying, you too may be wondering what others will think when they visit. Are we moving to? Have we fallen on tough times?

Honestly, there are chances that they will probably be impressed by how clean and tidy your home looks. Yes, they may also comment on the limited stuff, but most likely that won’t be their first thought.

What makes a house a home?

There is this saying, “home is where the heart is”. That seems to be true. What makes a house a home? If you think about some of your best memories with family and friends, home decor and color schemes most likely didn’t come into play. What truly nourishes us is Faith, Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, and Care. In short, Relationships. (Amongst other things). Not materialistic things!

We can make our home cozy and inviting with the help of blankets, pictures, flowers or candles. But we should be creating a home that is based upon our intentions and based upon our values. I want our family and visitors to feel welcomed, well-fed, heard and loved. Maybe share a few laughs…

https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/a21761238/makes-a-house-a-home-survey-homeowners/

Perhaps make a list of your values and intentions. Think of what’s close to your heart. Who knows, when it comes to creating a home, maybe your stuff is more of a hindrance!

Share your thoughts on your best ways to create a home.