minimalism Archives - Arrow Hill Cottage

Minimalist Master Bathroom + simple storage solutions

Take a tour of our minimalist master bathroom! Although not large in size, it holds everything we need.

As a result of our friends becoming more aware of our family’s minimalist lifestyle, we receive plenty of questions. Mostly, people want to know where we keep our things. Specifically, they are curious what we do with all of the items that are needed on a day to day basis.

To help answer that question, I thought it might be fun to give a little tour of our master bathroom. This hardworking room contains everything we need, in a small footprint.

Minimalist Master Bathroom Basics

This room is by no means large. At 5′-0″ x 5′-0″, with an additional couple of feet for the shower, some may consider it small. But, for us, it is a luxury to even have a master bathroom at all. Previously, we lived in homes that had only hall accessed bathrooms. When designing our cottage, this is one upgrade we were really looking forward to.

Technically our master bathroom is a a 3/4 bath, since it includes a total of three fixtures: toilet, sink, and shower. We opted out of a bathtub for this room, because we felt that a shower would be more accommodating to us as we age and mobility becomes a potential issue.

The faucet, shower curtain, towel hooks and toilet paper holder are all classic chrome.

For the light fixtures, we continued the theme from the rest of the house by going with black + glass fixtures. Above the mirror is a simple wall pendant. You can find a source link for this light and all the other light fixtures throughout our home HERE.

DIY features

In order to save money during the build of our home, we tackled some of the finish work ourselves. In our master bathroom that included all of the tile work. Because this was our first ever time working with tile, we weren’t sure what to expect. Overall though, we think that our first tiling attempt was a success. We are happy with how it tuned out!

The floor tile was a bit more difficult to install, because they came in sheets that needed to be lined up perfectly. In the shower, we decided to add a simple subway tile. This was an easy installation, since we did not include any niches for products in the design of our shower.

In addition to the tile, we also completed a custom vanity build. Or, should I say that my husband completed it. After seeing a beautiful vanity on the pottery barn website, I knew I wanted something similar for our small master bathroom. However, the price tag made it a bit unattainable. Thankfully, Craig came to the rescue and, with a little design guidance from me, was able to create the perfect piece! You can watch the building process in this video.

Storage in our minimalist master bathroom

Many people who know of our family’s minimalist lifestyle ask us the question, “Where do you keep all the things you NEED?” It’s a well meaning question that I think deserves an answer. Surely, even as minimalists, we have items that we use on a day to day basis.

In a bathroom alone, there are quite a few products and self care accessories that need a home. Here in our minimal master bathroom we have two main spots where we keep these items. In the shower, and in the vanity.

I mentioned that we did not include a niche or shelf for products in the shower. Instead, we have opted for a small metal shower caddy, which sits on the floor of our shower. It does take up a bit of standing space, but we enjoy how convenient it is to have all of our shower products in one spot. We also like how the shower curtain hides the basket from view. It is a simple, low cost solution that works well.

For the most part, the bulk of storage in our bathroom is within the vanity itself. Though it appears to have two drawers, in reality the top is just a false front. The bottom, however, is a functional drawer with plenty of storage.

Within the drawer, we have the space organized in a sort of ‘his and her’ fashion. We were able to find metal bins that fit perfectly in the drawer. Having the removable bins makes it easy to clean the drawer when needed. They also help define boundaries for how many products we keep.

Minimizing Products

Overall, quite possibly the most important tip when it comes to minimalist living is to be intentional about inventory.Paring down to just the necessary items means that organization is easier and more manageable.

As a lady especially, there are so many products that are pushed in our direction. Promises of cleaner skin and healthier hair tempt us into buying items we don’t need. And, if the products enter our home, they are difficult to get rid of. Even if they didn’t work the way we anticipated, we feel guilty throwing them out because of the money that was spent.

After trial and error, and letting go of products that didn’t work, I have a handful of tried and true staples. My makeup bag is small, and my morning routine is simple.

In addition to the drawer, the bottom shelf of our vanity holds two baskets. One is our laundry hamper, and the other holds clothing items that we will be wearing again – such as pajamas. These baskets completely eliminate the practice of throwing clothes on the bathroom floor, and keep our master bathroom looking tidy at all times.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of our minimalist master bathroom. It is a refreshing space that we love to spend time in. If you would like a closer look at any of the features I mentioned in this post, be sure to watch this video!

Pin this image, and visit me over on pinterest for more tips about minimalist living and simple home tips!

Shared Girls Room | Bedroom Tour

Today I am excited to give you a tour of the shared girls room at the cottage. Though far from fully decorated, we have done quite a bit in the space already and would love to show you around!

Our newly built cottage has a total of three bedrooms (technically four if you count the basement bonus space). The master suite is on the main level, and there are two additional bedroom upstairs. One for the boys and one for the girls. Our entire family appreciates the simplicity of this arrangement. Truthfully, our kids do not mind one bit that they share with their siblings. In fact, they prefer it!

Shared Girls Room | Basics

We covered the entire upper level ceiling of the cottage with pine tongue and groove boards, which were then painted white. My husband recently created a video which documents the long process of installing them.

As a result of our hard work, we are extremely happy with how the ceilings look. Because they are vaulted, the natural daylight that comes in through the single window bounces around and really brightens up the entire room.

Oak flooring creates a beautiful, neutral backdrop for furnishings and decor. In addition, the all white walls and trim have the same effect.

When I designed the girls room, I was careful to create a space that would serve the girls for years to come. For example, although the girls currently enjoy having their beds close together at night, they might not always prefer this set up. The dimensions of the room were worked out so that each girl could eventually claim their own ‘half’. There are two closets in the room as well.

Sleeping Space

One side of the bedroom is designated for sleeping and quiet time. The two antique metal beds found on this side were an absolute labor of love for my husband. He painstakingly restored the beds over the course of several months. Although the beds spent many years in a friend’s barn, you would never know it now!

My husband documented the process of restoring the beds through a series of videos. I am so impressed with how they turned out. Most importantly though, the girls love them.

A small table is positioned between the beds. It is the perfect size for a reading lamp, and a few books.

I chose white comforters for the beds. They are easy to clean and provide a neutral base that can be changed up easily with accent bedding and pillows. For now, the accents of pink, aqua, and yellow are fun and girly, while not being age specific. One thing I am still on the hunt for are matching quilts or duvet covers for the ends of each bed.

Play Space

The opposite side of the room is set up as a kind of pseudo mini house – every little girl’s dream! It is complete with a small play kitchen, table, and two pink chairs. In addition, a sweet doll crib – made by the girls’ great grandpa – holds special sentiment.

The girls have literally spent hours creating make believe scenarios with their stuffed animals and dolls.

Their play kitchen is something I posted about a couple of years ago. It was made using a vintage dresser as the primary structure. More information about the process of building the play kitchen, and links for many of the accessories, can be found in THIS POST.

You may recognize the small red table from this past year’s Christmas decorating. I recently found an enamel top table at a local antique shop. This new table is a bit larger and more useful for our annual winter puzzle endeavors. For this reason, we moved the little red table up to the girl’s space – and kept the enamel topped one on the main level. These two tables will definitely be moved around the house throughout the years, depending on the needs of our family and my seasonal decorating desires.

Other Furniture + Decor

The only other piece of furniture the girls have in their bedroom is a dresser. It is, yet again, another special hand me down item. Purchased by my grandparents, the dresser was mine as a little girl. The perfect size, it has four drawers – two for each daughter. We have it organized so that each girl has one drawer for their shirts, and one for their pants/shorts/skirts.

Atop the dresser are a few special and sentimental items. A beautiful watercolor print, which was purchased on Etsy, provides a bit more color to the room. The small wooden box holds the some of the girls’ cherished special items. Lastly, the pink bunny was hand sewn by the nannies at our older daughter’s orphanage. They gave it to her as a gift on her adoption day.

Though I have more decor ideas for the room, there is no rush on getting everything implemented at once. Kid spaces have a tendency to evolve and change as the occupants grow. The girls bedroom will be no different, I’m sure.

Girls Shared Room Video Walkthrough

Sometimes, it is easier to see a space in video format. I’ve created a video tour of the room for just that reason.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour! Stay tuned for more space reveals, as we continue to decorate at the cottage!

Minimalism Game | Over 500 Items Decluttered

During the month of January, my family played the Minimalism game! Today, I want to share with you how this challenge works, and the results of our month long effort.

January seems to be the month that many people feel the urge to declutter and reset their homes. My family is no different. The calendar turned, and yet we found ourselves very much in the same spot. With quarantine restrictions, and not many entertainment venues open, we are spending a good portion of our time at home.

Don’t get me wrong. We absolutely love our home. But, even the most beautiful four walls can become mundane when they are all you see most of the time. We are ready for some changes!

I mentioned in my last post that we have big plans for this cottage. So many DIY projects are waiting to be completed! There is no better way, in my opinion, to gain a clear perspective on things than a good old fashioned declutter! That’s exactly what we did, in the form of a game.

What Is The Minimalism Game?

Near the end of December, my mom mentioned to me that she was planning to take on a decluttering challenge in January. After talking through it with her, I discovered the challenge is technically called ‘The Minimalism Game’. It was developed by none other than the Minimalists themselves, and is quite a simple concept.

Essentially, it works this way: Each day of the month you find one item per day to donate, sell or throw away. One item on the first day of the month. Eight on the eighth day, and so on. When all is said and done, at the end of the month, there will be 500+ fewer items of clutter in your home!

The idea is that the first few days of the month should be pretty easy to tackle. It seems like basically anyone can find one to five items of clutter in their home on any given day. These ‘easy’ days will give you the confidence to take on more difficult decisions. By the end of the month, you may be considering items that were off limits on day one.

Before + During Our Game

Going into the challenge, I was skeptical. Five hundred seemed like an awfully large number. After all, we have only been living in our home for one year. We did a major amount of decluttering before our move, and even hosted a huge garage sale.

In addition to that, we tend to keep a rather close eye on the items we allow into our cottage. We have been diligent about keeping only the possessions we use and love the most. Would I be able to find enough clutter to finish?

Yet, even with this question, the game seemed like an appealing way to take on the new year. My mom and I began the challenge together on January 1st. We vowed to be cheerleaders and accountability partners for each other throughout the month.

Games are always more fun when they aren’t played in isolation. There are other benefits too.

Having someone take on a challenge at the same time as you really does help keep a person honest! My mom and I sent each other messages and pictures nearly every day, discussing the items we had found.

Bouncing decluttering ideas off of each other was also a great benefit. For example, my mom mentioned she had cleaned out her spice cabinet and consolidated her spices into fewer jars. She was able to toss out quite a few small containers. Though I hadn’t considered checking in my own spice cabinet, you can bet I did just that after my mom told me about her success!

Watch Us Play The Minimalism Game

As an additional measure of accountability, I decided to capture my family’s experience on video. Although I didn’t pick up the camera every single day, I feel like the film compilation portrays our process quite well.

Minimalism Game Results

After an entire month of decluttering, the results are in. Much to my surprise, it was not difficult at all to find the 500 items! Mind you, there were probably only a handful of pieces that were visibly taking up space. Most everything else was packed away in tidy little spots throughout my home. Things looked neat and organized, but there was clutter lurking behind closed doors!

The biggest culprit for us? The garage!

Looking back, it makes perfect sense why so many items were found there. When we were packing to move, we put off the garage until last, thinking we would be able to throw out a bunch of things. In reality though, we ran out of time to sort. The contents of our old garage were thrown into boxes and moved to the new garage. A year passed, and organizing the garage just never seemed to become a priority project.

I’m guessing there may be a similar spot in your home. Perhaps the basement? A child’s playroom? Maybe even a closet. Go take a look! Ridding yourself of the clutter will be so freeing, I promise you!

The variety of items that were found during the game was also a surprise to me. I knew there would be some broken toys, ripped clothes, and paper clutter that could be thrown. However, I didn’t realize how many good, quality items we would decide to donate or sell. The kids were especially eager to go through their things. I’m so proud of them!

Overall, I would definitely recommend this game. It is a great way to rid your home of un-needed items quickly. It’s not a difficult concept, and the pride you feel when those 500 items are out the door is worth all the effort!

More Decluttering Challenges

If the month long Minimalism Game seems like too much of a commitment, consider one of these other challenges. They can help you get into the groove of decluttering, by taking it on one bit at a time.

Create a Capsule Wardrobe

Control Magazine + Paper Clutter

Speed Clean: 60 in 60 Challenge

One Room Challenge: Deep Cleaning

SIMPLE LIGHT FIXTURES | Minimalist Home Lighting

In today’s post, I share the simple light fixtures we have chosen for our new home. The clean lines and basic color palette of these selections make them the perfect compliments for the minimalist home.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here

This has been a very exciting week at Arrow Hill Cottage. The interior framing is just about complete, the house wrap is on, the windows are going in, and the mechanical duct work has started! Now is the time to begin ordering the light fixtures for each room.

Over the past few months, I have been searching various websites and stores for simple light fixtures that would complement the overall feeling we are trying to achieve with our home. Classic, clean, and minimal, with a bit of a vintage industrial vibe.

INTERIOR LIGHT FIXTURES

We will be using quite a few canned light fixtures, especially in the open spaces – such as the dining/ living room and basement family room. However, in many of the other rooms there will be a need for various types of task lighting.

If you are interested in any of the light fixtures we have chosen for our home, be sure to click on the links below each picture!

Flush Mount Ceiling Fixture

This ceiling hugging fixture has sleek lines, and gives off a good amount of light. We will likely install in the downstairs office and possibly in the upstairs mudroom/ back entry space.

Lanros Round Modern Flush Mount Fixture

Semi-Flush Mount

In rooms where we want a bit of an upgraded look, we will be placing these semi-flush mount fixtures. The master bedroom will have one, as will the main floor powder room.

vintage style semi-flush mount

Dining Chandelier

We searched for a special light fixture to be used above our dining room table. This eight light pendant fixture is the perfect fit for what we were looking for. The linear design will mirror the long farmhouse style table we will be building custom, from trees felled on our property.

Savoy House – Burgess – 42″ Eight light pendant

Vanity lighting

In the master, basement and upstairs bathrooms, this simple wall pendant will give just enough character. Using the same light fixtures in multiple rooms will help keep the continuity throughout the house.

Above Vanity Light

We are also considering this fixture in a few locations around the house, perhaps in one of the bathrooms.

Vintage Black Wall Sconce

Accent Pendant

This pendant will be perfect, hanging above our large cast iron sink in the kitchen. In such a clean and minimalist space, this accent will really shine.

Stone & Beam Vintage Ceiling Pendant

Large Room Pendant

With the vaulted ceilings upstairs, we will be using larger pendants. These farmhouse style industrial pendants have long cords, which will bring the light lower into the room – allowing for better coverage.

Three identical pendants will be set upstairs. One for each bedroom, and one for the hallway space.

Millenium Lighting Farmhouse Pendant (17 inch)

Master Bedroom Side Lamps

On either side of our master bed, we will be placing these swing arm lamps. Perfect while reading in bed!

Globe Electric Swing Arm Lamp

Boys Sleeping Nook Lamps

In each of the boys sleeping nooks, they will have small reading lights as well. The multi-directional quality of these trumpet style lamps is really nice.

Trumpet Flare Wall Sconce

Closet lights

In the closets, we will be using smaller wall mounted fixtures. This is a bit of a splurge perhaps, as some of the closets really don’t need any lighting. However, the larger closets in the kid’s rooms will benefit from the extra illumination – especially in the dark storage space behind their hanging rods!

Wall Bar Light

EXTERIOR LIGHT FIXTURES

The light fixtures for the exterior of the house will follow the same style as the interior of the house. There are two different styles we are going to incorporate. Barn lights, which will be placed in feature positions – above the front door and above the garage doors.

Industrial Barn Light

These other simple flood lights will be placed on the side garage doors and near the walkout door.

Black Flood Light

MINIMALIST HOME LIGHT FIXTURES

Feel free to pin these light fixture ideas for reference!

Kids Clothing Declutter | How much to keep

We are just weeks away from our mega garage sale in preparation for our move. I have been finishing up going through the last bit of items in our house, and the focus this week was on decluttering kids clothing.

You know the saying about how socks seem to be eaten by the washing machine? I feel that they magically reappear in the form of extra pants and shirts, in the drawers of children. And for someone who is attempting to become more minimal, this multiplication can be extremely upsetting.

This past winter, I took the leap to create a capsule wardrobe for myself. I ended up paring my entire collection down to fifty total items, excluding a few items such as outerwear and jewelry. I found it so freeing, in fact, that I eventually convinced my husband to declutter his clothing as well. Neither of us have missed a single item and we both find it super easy to make our outfit selections.

WHY KIDS CLOTHING ACCUMULATES

For a variety of reasons, it seems that kids clothing accumulates faster than adults. By understanding the reasons it is easier for these items to enter our houses, we can be more mindful in the future to stop it from happening.

Kids clothing is cheap

For a small amount of money, you can build your child’s wardrobe. A dress here, a pair of pants there. And don’t forget all those cute shoes! There are also plenty of garage sales that feature extremely inexpensive kids clothing. At fifty cents per piece, it isn’t easy to pass up those closet filling bargains!

They take up little space

Unlike large toys or furniture pieces that might get in our way and remind us we need to pare down, clothing is relatively small. We know that we can usually fit ‘one more’ shirt in a dresser or one more coat in a closet. It’s when all of these little pieces are added together that we really start to notice a problem at all.

There are never ending hand-me-downs

If you have multiple children, or generous friends and family, the accumulation game becomes even more dynamic. You may be suddenly faced with multiple storage totes full of prospective outfits, whether your child is ready to fit into them or not.

STORING KIDS CLOTHING

It’s easy enough to get rid of the items that have been outgrown or those that are riddled with holes and stains. But, what if the seasons are shifting and your child has a number of perfectly good clothing items that still fit? Or older brother has grown out of a favorite sweatshirt, and there is another brother just a couple years younger?

I am definitely guilty of keeping clothes around with the thought that ‘someday’ one of the other kids might need it. Though, through my nearly thirteen years of parenting, there have been only a handful of times when that has truly been the case. Styles change, body shapes are different, kid’s preferences might be particular.

Because of the sheer amount of items that can accumulate, dealing with stored clothes can be downright overwhelming.

HOW MUCH DO THEY REALLY NEED?

In the end, I am left with this very question. How much clothing do the kids really need? Probably every family’s scenario is a bit different. I can only speak for our family. And I know that our kids have way more clothing than they actually need.

I will admit that this is probably going to take me a series of edits before we get to the magic amount. And yes, it will most likely be left up to me to decide, since not one of my kids care much at all about clothing.

There are a variety of guides online that discuss how to create a capsule wardrobe for kids. They even go so far to indicate the number of each type of item (shirts, pants, etc) that it should include. This blog post, for example, gives some great tips on how to pare down.

Generally speaking, the rule of thumb has to do with how many days you want to go without needing to do laundry. Ideally, for our family, the kids clothing supply would last, at a bare minimum, a week to week and a half.

Potentially, our kids clothing capsule might look a little something like this:

BOYS

16 short sleeved shirts (shared)

18 long sleeved shirts (our youngest would need 6 of his own, and his brothers could share the remaining 12)

4 sweatshirts/hoodies (each)

5 pairs of shorts (each)

5 pairs of comfortable pants (each)

2 pairs of dress pants/jeans (each)

GIRLS

8 dresses (shared)

16 short sleeved shirts (shared)

16 long sleeved shirts (shared)

2 sweatshirts/hoodies (each)

2 pairs of shorts/capris (each)

7 pairs of pants (each)

After the move, I will plan to go through my kids closets and dressers again. At that time, I think I will attempt this capsule scenario. Perhaps keeping a few additional ‘backup’ items, in case the inventory seems too low.

The great thing about having a minimal wardrobe is that if something becomes stained or worn you can replace it with something new, guilt free. Another benefit to a smaller wardrobe is being able to customize it for each child’s comfort and style preferences, without breaking the bank.

And dealing with an item or two, here or there, would definitely be favored over the four hour decluttering session I just went through in their closets! If I look exhausted at the end of the video, it’s because I was!

WATCH ME DECLUTTER

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STORAGE CLOSET DECLUTTER

We are in the final stage of decluttering our rental farmhouse. Only a few areas and categories remain to be sorted through before our big move! This week I took on the storage closet declutter, and am happy to have it behind me!

Embarrassing as it is, all of these items were stuffed in our hall storage closet

STORAGE CLOSET DECLUTTER – OUR WHY

My husband and I have lived in three houses during our marriage. The first, for only a year. The second, for ten years. And our current rental farmhouse for the past four and a half years. Each time we have moved we were shocked to find the amount of boxes that were transported from house to house, without being opened. Because of this, we were determined to really SEE what we own before our next (and hopefully final) move.

The goal when sorting through this storage closet was to determine which items we plan to keep. There is no sense in moving the weight of extra items that we don’t need or want anymore. By doing the sorting before the move, we are more likely to be critical. In contrast, if the boxes were to come with us to the new house without being looked through, they likely would have found a spot in a closet there. And sat, again unopened, for who knows how long!

We actually designed our custom cottage home to have relatively little storage. Some people may be shocked to learn that our master bedroom has no walk in closet, and our kitchen doesn’t feature a pantry. This conscious decision was made because my husband and I both recognize that we have a tendency to fill large storage spaces with unnecessary items.

TIPS ON DECLUTTERING A CLOSET

Decluttering a storage closet is a big undertaking. From my own experience, I am offering tips to help you achieve the best results, without too much stress.

CLEAR OUT THE SPACE

The very first step when decluttering a closet is to remove everything. It will seem daunting, to be sure; But it is very important to see the closet completely emptied. Seeing open shelves and space on the floor will give you a better sense of just how much room you have to work with. It can also help you recognize the dark, tricky corners where items can easily be lost and forgotten.

SORT ONE BOX AT A TIME

Tackling the clutter in bite sized pieces allows you to focus your mental energy without feeling overwhelmed. It can also help prevent decision fatigue. I suggest moving one or two bins/boxes into a separate room for sorting.

PUTTING ITEMS BACK IN

Think carefully about which items make their way back into your storage closet. Generally, it is best to store like-purposed items in the same space. If you must store many random types of things together in one closet, as we do, consider giving the closet ‘zones’. One shelf for camping gear, another as a spot to keep decorations, for example.

THE RESULT OF OUR STORAGE CLOSET DECLUTTER

I am happy to report that less than half of the items originally stuffed into our hall closet made their way back in. There is still a bit of randomness in there though. Camping gear, holiday decorations, DIY supplies. Quite a mix. We are hopeful that at Arrow Hill Cottage we will be able to be more intentional about where these items are stored. Camping gear will likely find a place in the garage, where it can be easily accessible, for example.

While sorting through the stored items, I found some real gems that we had completely forgotten about.

These adorable little shoes were worn by our oldest son, when he took his first steps.

And these chess pieces were hand painted by Craig’s mom, many years ago. Now that a couple of our kids have learned how to play, we plan to keep this set up and available for a game at any time.

As I was sorting, I made it a point to really think about these items. If they were things we wanted to keep, I needed to commit to finding a place for them at the new house – to give them prominence. Otherwise, we will be left with unopened storage boxes once again.

WATCH ME DECLUTTER

Need a little extra motivation to get started on your storage closet? Take a peek at what our closet looked like before. It was insanely stuffed. And watch me tackle it head-on. It took a lot of effort, but I am very happy with the result!

BONUS STORAGE CLOSET DECLUTTER TIPS

More great posts from other websites, offering you even more insight on how to approach these tricky spaces!

Declutter Storage Area |Home Storage Solutions

How To Declutter Your Storage Area Without Feeling Overwhelmed | Simple Lionheart Life

8 Surprising Decluttering Benefits | Lady Decluttered

PIN THIS POST

Keep this motivation and inspiration close by and add it to your relevant Pinterest board! Happy decluttering!

JEWELRY DECLUTTER | HOW ORGANIZING SMALL THINGS CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT

This week I spent some time doing a jewelry declutter. I thought that it would be a quick process, and in a lot of ways it was. But, it also got me thinking – even the small things can make a big impact when it comes to decluttering and organizing.

I’ve never been much of a jewelry wearer. Though I like the idea of wearing jewelry, and I think that it looks nice on other people, wearing it myself is uncomfortable. It might be because I have sensitive skin and the metals make me itch. Or it might have more to do with the fact that for many years any necklaces or earrings I wore ended up being tugged on by my kids. These days, I tend to only wear my wedding ring on a regular basis.

While going through all of our belongings in an effort to only bring our favorites to Arrow Hill Cottage, I knew I wanted to leave no stone un-turned. And that meant I would need to take a close look at everything we owned. Even the smallest of items that seemingly take up little space.

STARTING THE JEWELRY DECLUTTER

And so, I opened up my little cabinet and started my jewelry declutter. Funny story about this little jewelry cabinet. It was one of the first gifts my husband gave me when we were married nearly seventeen years ago. I’ll admit that I was less than thrilled when I opened it. Why? Well, because what I had suggested to him as a ‘gift hint’ when he asked was a stand up furniture piece jewelry cabinet, not some small little table top storage piece.

I remember thinking that there was no way all of my jewelry would fit inside it. I wanted bigger, I wanted better. But was it necessary? Not even close. Looking back, I think my husband knew me better than I knew myself. He had seen that I didn’t wear jewelry often. He had noticed that when I did wear something, I always grabbed for the same one or two items.

This cabinet has moved with us into each home we have shared together. And, if I’m being completely honest, I don’t think I have opened it once since we moved into our current rental farmhouse four years ago. Are the items it contains precious and useful to me? I think we all know the answer to that question.

LAYING THE JEWELRY OUT

Opening up the cabinet and laying every piece of jewelry out on the table was like a blast from the past. Necklaces from junior high. Sparkly hair combs from high school prom.

A handful of keys that unlock… who knows what!

There were also a few sweet surprises. My wedding jewelry that, although I don’t intend to wear ever again, I could never part with. And, my husband’s high school class ring, which I distinctly remember him wearing the first time we met. When we started dating he put it on a chain and I wore it around my neck.

WATCH MY JEWELRY DECLUTTER

THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS PROCESS

As I was sorting through everything, I realized that, on a very small scale, jewelry can serve as a metaphor for all types of clutter.

Stop and think about it. A bracelet is a small item. So small, in fact, that we find no harm in holding onto it, even if it isn’t something we use or really love. Add to it a few more bracelets, a necklace or two, and a pack of earrings. Suddenly we are finding ourselves needing a place to store these items. It’s like a snowball that keeps getting bigger.

Compare jewelry to other item types in your home. Those dresses you are holding onto, hoping that the next time you slip them on they will fit perfectly. The camping gear your family used once, then stored away. The space that these unused items are taking up is more valuable than you may currently realize. And the more items that are accumulated, the more space that is needed to store them.

This is why it is important to be honest with yourself regarding each and every item in your home. There is no reason to keep anything that is not special or useful.

NEW JEWELRY STORAGE SOLUTION

After my jewelry declutter, I was left with a handful of special items. Will they go back into my jewelry box? In a word, no. Just as you a person doesn’t need an entire walk in closet for a few pairs of jeans, I do not need a storage box for my favorite jewelry.

Instead, I will be storing my special items in a set of silk and velvet bags. These small bags have special meaning to me. They were given to me when I purchased a set of pearls during our adoption trips to China. Twice we watched skilled women string the pearls of my choosing, add the clasp, and delicately place them into a bag. Two adoptions, two bags.

The bags will be placed in my sock drawer, where they will be kept safe and easily accessible. And you can bet that every time I look at them I will have a smile on my face.

I also will be keeping a small, velvet lined, silver jewelry box that was my grandma’s. It will surely find a place of importance in the new house decor.

Don’t worry though. My husband has given me his full blessing to donate or sell the jewelry box he gifted me all those years ago. I hope it falls into the hands of someone who will cherish it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m extremely happy to admit, once and for all, that I’m not a jewelry wearer. And that is okay! The pieces I have kept reflect my personality and style, and have strong memories attached to them. That is what is more important to me. If you are considering a jewelry declutter, I definitely recommend it! Don’t let the little things get in the way of the big picture you envision for your life!

PIN FOR INSPIRATION

SCREEN FREE FAMILY DAY | DAY IN THE LIFE

As part of our journey to simplify life, my husband and I have been trying very hard to be intentional about the time we spend with our family. In this post, I share how we have been implementing screen free family day as part of our transition to a more peaceful household.

At the beginning of the year, we had the idea to dedicate one day each month as intentional family time. In order to be fully present, we also decided that we would be turning off all screens for that day. This includes watching television, visiting social media channels, or checking our phones.

Now that we have successfully completed screen free family day three months in a row, I want to share with you the insights that we have noticed.

OUR FAMILY DYNAMIC

First, if you are new here, a little background on our family. We would be considered a large family by today’s standard, with five children. Our oldest son is 12, and our youngest, a daughter, is 5. All of our children are exposed to technology on a regular basis, and have been taught to use it safely.

We have been careful to teach them that technology should be used as a tool and not a crutch. They also have been told that though it can be enjoyable, it is also an easy thing to abuse and consume too much of. As such, we are careful to monitor their activity and limit their time in front of screens. By doing so, we hope to help them become responsible technology users.

WHY SCREEN FREE?

Craig and I had begun to notice that we were being more and more lenient with screen time, and found some negative side effects. Our youngest son, for example, was beginning to exhibit poor behavior and attitude. Our girls would argue about which tv show to watch together. We felt these changes were directly related to the amount of time spent in front of the screen.

Knowing that it was our job, as their parents, to do some redirecting – we had an idea. We would start a screen free family day. Our first goal for this is to have a screen free day once per month. Ultimately, it would be wonderful to have one day per week as a reset day.

INCORPORATING A SCREEN FREE FAMILY DAY

When we first brought up the idea to the kids, they were skeptical. They saw it as a punishment instead of something that could be beneficial. But once we insisted that the entire family would be involved, including us as parents, they were excited.

As a family, we sat down and wrote out ideas of things to do together. We decided that family day, though different each time, would include the following categories:

CHORE

Knowing the value of hard work, we wanted to incorporate a chore that we could all do together. We try to find a chore that will benefit us as a family. On the list are ideas such as raking leaves, chopping firewood, deep cleaning a room inside, and planting a garden.

MEAL PREPARATION

Our kids all enjoy spending time in the kitchen. I will admit though, that at times when they ask to help I turn them down. Mainly, I justify that cooking the meals will be faster and less of a hassle if I do it on my own. However, as part of screen free family day, we are opening up the kitchen and getting everyone involved. We have been rotating through the kids, asking them for meal suggestions each month.

We have seen some interesting suggestions already, such as a chili hamburger meal.

DEVOTION

As a Christian family, we find that it is very important to stay in God’s word. We try to tailor our devotion to topics we are dealing with as a family. This is a great time for us to all discuss, and maybe resolve some pressing issues. We find that even our youngest children are capable expressing their feelings and emotions in a group setting.

QUIET TIME

On screen free family day, we make it a point to reserve a bit of time for the house to be still. This is a great opportunity to take a nap, write a letter to a friend, or read a book. I have really come to look forward to quiet time and the peace it brings. It feels wonderful to allow our brains to rest from any chaos or commotion we may be facing.

FUN ACTIVITY

Of all the categories, this has been the most fun for the kids to sink their teeth into. We have quite the list of activities they want us to do together. Hiking, water fights, bowling, playing at a park, and going out for ice cream are a few examples.

WHAT DOES A SCREEN FREE FAMILY DAY LOOK LIKE?

During a recent family day, we made a screen exception so that I could film with my camera. Take a glimpse at a ‘day in the life’ of our family on a screen free family day.

THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED SO FAR

Through our first three months of implementing screen free family day, we have learned so much. We are quickly finding out what works best for us, and what we need to avoid.

KIDS ARE HAPPIER IN OUR PRESENCE

We have definitely noticed that our kids enjoy the company of their parents. Of course, we have always known that, but the fact that they have our full attention, without distractions, has been really special.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED

We think it is very important to make sure everyone is involved in all aspects of family day. Though some of the kids may moan a bit about having to take out the garbage or help with a meal, we make sure that they participate. By making sure everyone is involved, we are instilling in our children that as a family we can work through the good times, as well as the bad. The easy, as well as the difficult. We are in this together.

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE FANCY

Knowing that we can just lounge around in our PJ’s all day is just exciting for the kids as telling them we are going out for dinner. Sometimes the most simple moments are the cherished ones.

LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF SCHEDULING

Though it is good to have a general idea of how the day will play out, we are acknowledging that we also need to leave room for spontaneity. The element of ‘anything can happen’ is very exciting for kids. One of the best memories we have made so far during screen free family day was an impromptu sledding trip. The kids asked if we could go, and we had no reason to say no – so we did! It was a blast!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR A SCREEN FREE FAMILY DAY

Check out these additional blog posts for tips on how to effectively go screen free.

10 Screen Free Alternatives For Night Time Winding Down | the pragmatic parent

Getting Through The Day Screen Free | peaceful parents, confident kids

100+ Screen Free Activities For Teens | thinking kids

How To Unplug A Plugged In Kid | andrea’s notebook

PIN THESE IDEAS

I hope that this information has been helpful for you, especially if you are considering a screen free family day of your own. Pin these ideas for future reference!

HOW MINIMALISM BENEFITS KIDS

As my husband and I move in a conscious direction toward minimalism and a more simple lifestyle, our entire family is being impacted. We have seen huge positive changes in our children. Today I will discuss the top ways I have observed that minimalism benefits kids.

Many think of minimalism as a trend for adults wanting to take a breather from the fast paced, over-cluttered life they had been stuck in. In actuality, however, it is a lifestyle that benefits all generations. The youngest members of a family, the children, may in fact be the most impacted by minimalism. The habits they form early in life will set them up for success in a variety of ways.

HOW MINIMALISM BENEFITS KIDS

One of my resolutions for this year is to look for inspiration from those who have gone on this journey before us. By reading about other families experiences, and observing our own children through this transition, I have found the following to be the top ways that minimalism benefits kids.

FEWER DISTRACTIONS

We all know that spending time in a clean space can lead us, as adults, to be productive. When children live in a clean home they are also better able to better focus on tasks. Homework, for example, is much easier to tackle when the child isn’t tempted by a mountain of toys or variety of video games.

Distractions can present in a variety of ways. Though we think most often of physical distractions, other obstacles such as worrying can divert just as much attention. The stress that is relieved by not having to deal with, clean, and keep track of un-necessary items or events is important to note as well.

Fewer distractions also means that there is room for focused attention. Your child may find that they have a knack for sewing, a love for reading, or a passion for acting. By eliminating the unwanted distractions in life, they can better focus their energy on the things they love.

LESS LIKELY TO LOSE THINGS

How many times have you been ready to leave the house when your child complains that he or she can’t find a shoe or backpack? The sudden scramble to find the missing item quickly escalates into hard feelings between parent and child. Feelings that can easily be avoided.

It’s no secret that items are easier to find when they are given a ‘home’ and are returned there after each use. This is a technique that parents can set up and encourage their children to follow. Of course, there will be some trial and error, but the benefits of this habit are worth the effort.

A child is more likely to take better care of, and track of, their personal belongings when they see them as being important. One shoe missing of fifteen pairs owned probably won’t seem like a big deal to them. Grabbing a different pair out of the pile is easy. But if the child owns only two or three pairs, the loss of a shoe will make a much larger impact.

MORE CONFIDENT DECISION MAKERS

It is easy to become overwhelmed when faced with a lot of choices. As adults, we are faced with many decisions each and every day. What should we wear? What should we eat? Is this event something I want to attend? When children are given too many options they can become mentally paralyzed, worrying about making the right choice.

In this way, fewer choices can actually help children become more confident in their decision making. Choosing one shirt to wear from four options is much easier than choosing from a pile of forty. Each successful decision made will add to the child’s confidence. This confidence will then spill over into more important life decisions, such as choosing relationships that are healthy and behaviors that are productive.

BLOSSOMING CREATIVITY

One of the most frequently listed minimalist benefit for kids is their ability to be creative with the things they have. Children have the amazing gift of imagination. Surrounding them with too many play things that ‘entertain’ them actually hinders and stunts their ability to be imaginative.

Some of the best toys that you can have on hand for your children include those that promote open ended play. Wooden blocks that can become roads, towers, or dining plates. Art supplies that can be manipulated into endless creations.

Many minimalists also note that with fewer toys their children spend much more time outdoors. Outdoor play has many benefits, including the access to fresh air and natural vitamin D. Creativity also blossoms in nature, especially in the use of large motor skills. Fort building, scavenger hunts, or an exciting game of hide and seek in the woods are just a few examples.

IMPROVED SHARING ABILITY

Minimalist children tend to be less possessive and have a lowered sense of entitlement. That’s not to say that they won’t still admire items when walking through a store, for example. The difference is that though they may voice their pleasure of an item, they don’t long for it in an unhealthy way.

Because they understand that things are just things, it isn’t as difficult for them to share with their siblings, for example. They know that even if the item breaks or gets damaged in some way, it won’t be the end of the world. Kids who grow up in a minimalist environment learn early on that happiness doesn’t come from what you own.

STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS

When it comes right down to it, I firmly believe that the main goal of minimalism for most people has less to do with belongings and more to do with relationships. And so, it is wonderful to note that one of the greatest benefits that minimalism affords children is a stronger bond to those they are close to.

That age old sibling rivalry of making sure everything is ‘fair’ begins to break down. No longer are they concerned about having more, because they realize that more doesn’t always mean better.

The time commitment that parents may have been spending handling all their belongings is lessened through minimalism. Those hours are re-allocated as quality time with their spouse and children.

These stronger bonds create a more open dialogue between all family members. Since it is no longer the norm to hide junk behind cabinet doors or under the bed, the hiding of secrets or emotions isn’t commonplace either.

FAMILY MINIMALISM MOVEMENT

There are many families who are shifting their focus to live a more minimal lifestyle, in an effort to regain time with each other. These families realize the importance of their relationships over belongings. I have teamed up with a group of blogging moms who are on this journey and have seen how minimalism benefits kids. Check out their blogs and social media accounts for additional tips and encouragement!

Not Your Average Fox | Minimalist Hospital Bag Essentials

Little Me + Family | Minimalist Baby Play Area

Faith and Family Farmhouse | Becoming Intentional With Toys

This Corbett Life | Embracing Minimalism Through Motherhood

HOW MINIMALISM HAS BENEFITED (OUR) KIDS

In this video I discuss examples of some of the ways our own five children have benefited from a more minimal and simple lifestyle.

We are excited to continue on this path, especially as we move into our new home, Arrow Hill Cottage. This home has been designed to meet our basic needs in an efficient way. Any luxuries that it includes have been well thought out and deemed beneficial for individual family members as well as the family as a whole. Moving into this new home will mark a major, pivotal shift for our family. I would love it if you could follow along with us on this journey. We should be breaking ground and begin construction in just a couple of months!

WHERE TO START FOR KID MINIMALISM

It all starts with you. Behavior modeling is so important and impactful for children. They will see your mood change as you clear the clutter. They will realize how much more time you have for them. When mom and dad are no longer arguing about all the junk laying around, they kids will notice.

And at some point along the journey, the kids will realize that this isn’t just something that parents do. It is something that families do. Families that care more about each other than material items. And they will ask what they can do to pitch-in on the effort.

Then, help them go through the toys. You will likely be blown away by how easily your children are able to choose which items to keep and which to part with. The truth is that, for most kids, many of the items they claim as theirs came by way of your pocketbook. Their attachment to them is only surface deep. Either they play with it, or they don’t. Let them make these choices and you will see a snowball effect when it comes to other categories, such as clothing.

PIN THESE INSIGHTS

Thinking about a more minimal life for yourself and your family? Use these insights about how minimalism benefits kids as motivation to take the leap! In the end, you will end up with fewer things, yet so much more overall.

NO SPEND MONTH | UPDATE + TIPS

In this post, I discuss important tips for a successful no spend month. Our family just finished one and, although there were some big challenges, it was a great learning experience.

I spent the month of January, along with my friend and fellow blogger Shannon Torrens, focusing on not buying anything new. It was a logical step to take, while we work on decluttering our rental house – in preparation for our big move. Later in this article, I will give an update on how our month went. First though, I want to encourage you if you are thinking of doing a no spend month for yourself.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL NO SPEND MONTH

Before you embark on your own no spend month, I recommend that you take into account the following tips.

CHART YOUR TYPICAL EXPENSES

Whether you budget or not, it is going to be important to have an idea about how much you spend in a typical month. This information will be especially helpful at the end of the month, to see how much you saved. Knowing that you are saving money might give you a boost of motivation.

In a future post, I will discuss how our family does budgeting using the free app Everydollar. Most of our budget categories don’t change, dollar wise, from month to month. The four categories that are the most variable for our family include: auto/gas, groceries, restaurant, and miscellaneous. Because of this, we chose to chart the expenses for these four categories before going into our no spend month – with the hope that we would see some savings.

SET THE RULES

It is unlikely that anyone’s ‘no spend month’ actually means not spending a single cent. That would be basically impossible. Rent needs to be paid, utilities have to be kept up to date. And, of course, you and your family are going to need to eat. The great news is that you can make up your own rules for a no spend month.

Our rules were pretty simple. You can read about them in this post. Essentially, our main goal was to bring nothing NEW into our home. That meant that we were free to spend money on food and restaurants, if we chose. It also meant that consumable items, such as shampoo and toilet paper, could be purchased.

START WITH AN OPEN MIND

Knowing that you COULD be purchasing something, yet holding back, can be a difficult thing to do. For that reason, I recommend that you think about this month as a learning experience above anything else. An experience that will help you understand your buying patterns.

If you start the month simply thinking about all the restrictions that lay ahead, you may find yourself more frustrated than you need to be.

Likewise, it is important to note that things won’t go perfectly as planned. If unexpected purchases arise that you simply can’t avoid, or if you slip up and buy something that you weren’t supposed to, don’t despair. Know that one false move shouldn’t derail the entire plan. In those instances, be prepared to pick yourself up and start again. This is where having an accountability partner is key. They can help you stay on the path to success. Shannon was mine, and it was great to take on the challenge together.

OUR NO SPEND MONTH

As I mentioned earlier, during the month of January, our family worked hard to not spend any money – specifically on any new THING. There were a few hiccups along the way, but ultimately we learned a lot of useful information about our spending habits.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Starting this challenge on the first of January seemed to be a logical choice. With Christmas over, we knew that our expenses would probably be down. In addition, the start of the new year gave us an extra boost of motivation.

Unfortunately, the month of January also brought with it severely cold weather to Minnesota, where we live. And it just so happens that only two days into the challenge, the battery in one of our vans was found dead when we went to start it. Ironically, two weeks later our other van’s battery also needed replacing. In total, we ended up spending over three hundred dollars on replacements.

Though it wasn’t fun dealing with those unexpected expenses, the batteries were indeed necessary. And delaying the purchase of them was not an option.

I also had a minor purchase slip up. A friend of mine started selling handmade watercolor paintings, and I purchased one for the girl’s bedroom. It wasn’t until after I sent her the money that I remembered that this would be considered a breech of the rules. Thankfully, she was kind and told me she would hold onto the art piece until the challenge was over – as not to add an extra item to the house.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

From the start of the month, we kept a record of any item that was a potential purchase. It was our intent that we would keep the list, to make the purchases in February. Interestingly though, quite a few of those items ended up getting crossed out. We either realized we didn’t actually need them, or found something similar that could be used in it’s place!

We were very careful to stay out of the stores. I actually think that is one of the biggest keys to success during a no spend month. I typically have a habit of going into one of the big box stores for one of two consumable products, and then becoming distracted. Suddenly, I find myself leaving the store with quite a few unnecessary items. During the month of January, I am happy to report that I did not enter Target a single time – and Walmart only once!

Even the kids got in on the action. They had received gift cards from family at Christmas. While normally they would be begging us to take them to the stores, this time they were much more patient. They recognized that we were holding off on making purchases and figured they could too.

In fact, when the month was up we went into the stores to do a little window shopping. Only one of our five kids ended up making a purchase. The rest decided to save the money for something they really want. It made us happy to know that the no spend month was a great learning experience for them as well.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you have read this far you may be asking yourself one question. How much money did you save? Because we tracked all of our expenses, I am able to break that all down for you!

Essentially, we were looking at our four most variable categories: auto, groceries, restaurants, and miscellaneous. Here are the details on how the month of January compared to an average of the three previous months (December, November and October).

AUTO

As mentioned earlier, this budget item was most affected. Those two car batteries were large ticket items we definitely weren’t looking at spending money on.

Auto budget average over past 3 months: $202. Amount spent in auto budget during January: $468

That means that we overspent in this category by about $266. A bummer, yes. But like I mentioned, they were necessary purchases. The good news is that the batteries are high quality, and should last for quite a while.

GROCERIES

Our grocery amount stayed pretty consistent throughout the no spend month. One thing I did try to do was use up pantry items and canned goods. In the end, we were ahead in this category only slightly.

Grocery budget average over past 3 months: $815. Amount spent on groceries during January: $790.

A tiny savings of $25 in this category.

RESTAURANTS

Because we have a large family, we tend not to eat out very often. It is just too expensive. One meal out can be over one hundred dollars easily. That being said, we do enjoy the occasional treat night out and do keep a line item in our budget for restaurant expenses.

Restaurant budget average over past 3 months: $146. Amount spent on restaurant food in January: $130

Another tiny savings of $16.

MISCELLANEOUS

This is the meat and potatoes portion of this challenge. Where the other categories do not typically involve ITEMS to purchase, this category has a lot of wiggle room. The miscellaneous budget includes toiletries, clothing, kid field trips, and a whole slew of other things. It is the category that has the most grey area, and the budget item that gets the most abuse each month if we aren’t careful. It is easy to overspend in miscellaneous.

I was happy to see that making more intentional purchases really made a difference in this category during our no spend month.

Miscellaneous budget average over past 3 months: $890. Amount spent on miscellaneous items in January: $330.

That is a HUGE savings of $560!

With all the categories added together, we ended up saving $335 during January, simply be being more mindful of our purchases. In our household, that is a big chunk of change!

GOING FORWARD

We had friends who wondered if taking on a no spend month would simply result in a spending binge directly afterwards. In effect, erasing any progress that was made.

At fifteen days post challenge, I have definitely seen a more relaxed feeling around spending. However, our resolve to be more intentional is still going strong. We were never looking at this experiment as being a one and done event. Rather, we felt that the no spend month could be a jump start to a life long habit. As with any new habit, it will take a while to figure out what works best for us.

We will continue to keep a list of potential purchases, and waiting a few days or even a few weeks before committing to them. I also plan to be careful about sticking to the shopping list when entering those big box stores!

PIN THESE NO SPEND MONTH TIPS

If trying out a no spend month is something you are interested in, be sure to save these tips! I definitely encourage you to give it a try!