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MINIMALIST SHARED BOYS BEDROOM

Ever wonder what it might look like to have three boys share a bedroom? In this post I give a quick tour of our minimalist shared boys bedroom. I also discuss some of the reasons why are not concerned that the three boys will continue to share a bedroom in our new home.

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

When we first moved into the rental farmhouse, we checked out all three of the available bedrooms to see where the boys would fit best. No room had enough floor space for three beds, and so we knew that we would be bunking them. The room they ended up with is the only one that had the ceiling height to accommodate the bunks.

MINIMALIST SHARED BOYS BEDROOM

Bedrooms, in our home, are considered calming and relaxing spaces. Because of this, we are careful not to fill them with too many things. Having an uncluttered space, we believe, helps our children to settle their minds when it is time for sleeping. While our family is on a journey to become more minimal, the bedrooms are possibly the only spaces that don’t need a lot of decluttering. They have always been kept that way.

THE BEDS

Two of our boys share the bunk beds. Our youngest son sleeps on the bottom bed, and our middle son sleeps on the top. I think that bunk beds are great for younger, smaller kids. To be honest though, they aren’t as comfortable for our boys now that they are heavier and taller. And, I’ll admit that bunk beds are a bit of a pain to make up in the morning. For these reasons, we are all very much looking forward to all the beds being on the floor at the new house.

Our oldest son’s bed is actually positioned in the room’s closet. When we first moved into the rental house, I spotted the closet and thought it would make a perfect little ‘sleeping nook’. You can see the location of the closet/ sleeping nook in the photo below. Because we re-purposed the closet, the boys clothes are instead stored in a small built-in cabinet, in the bathroom.

It has been great for him, as the oldest, to have his own space that has a bit more privacy. For a more in depth look at his space, and how we have it decorated, please read this post.

STORAGE

We think it is very important, especially in a shared bedroom space, for each child to have a spot that is all their own. Because of this, we gave each boy a place to store their own personal belongings.

Our youngest son has this little side table next to his bed. It is half of a vintage vanity that my husband’s grandmother owned. Someday, we hope to refinish or paint this piece – but for now we are loving the patina! It keeps his football cards, special craft projects and photos safely tucked away.

Our middle son has a a shelf at the head of his bed, which holds two small baskets. He is a lover of stuffed animals, which he keeps in one. The other is filled with books and mementos.

‘LITTLE ROOM’ STORAGE

In his little side room, our oldest son also has plenty of storage. Because his space is larger and more private, he has more storage than the other two boys. The side table next to his bed is the other half of the vintage vanity. On it, he keeps a lamp and an alarm clock, as well as his new five year journal. If you are a parent of teens or preteens, I would definitely recommend this Q&A journal. It is filled with great, thought provoking questions. Through the five years, it will be very interesting to see how his answers change as he ages. They make one for moms that I am considering purchasing for myself!

A floating shelf near his bed showcases his love of aviation, with a collection of airplane books and models.

He also has a small desk and shelf on the other side of the space. The desk holds a few Legos and drawing/writing supplies. The shelf has fabric bins that store airplane figurines, football gear, and other miscellaneous items. As we continue our decluttering and simplifying, we are aware that his need for the desk and shelf are not likely a priority. He rarely uses either.

His bed has built-in storage underneath also. Primarily, the drawers are used to house our collection of VHS kid’s movies. Old technology, I know. But the boys do have a TV/VCR combo in their room that they use on occasion.

ACCESSORIES/ DECOR

This TV was given to me as a Christmas present nearly 25 years ago. It has sort of become a novelty at this point. I’m not really sure what will happen to it or the VHS collection when we move. The truth is, we don’t use either often enough to justify keeping them – but our middle son in particular seems to be very fond of it.

The nightlight is a little Christmas village fire station that we purchased when my husband first joined the fire department. It gives off just enough glow for our youngest to feel comfortable in the room. I’m not sure it will hold a place at the new house either, except maybe as a Christmas decoration.

Their room has a small bookcase in the corner which holds almost all of our family’s collection of children’s books – including our vintage golden books. The bottom three shelves are books that we own, and the top shelf is where we keep the books we pick up at the library.

There are a couple places the boys can sit while reading their books. The reclining chair is a comfortable choice, as is the blue and white striped ‘pouf’. Though it was originally filled with Styrofoam beads, it began to sag through time. We eventually removed all of the beads and now use it as a place to store the boy’s sleeping bags. This has been a very useful and functional storage option for us. This product is similar, and is designed to store stuffed animals. Genius!

You might notice that the wood flooring in the room is painted. When we first moved into the rental, all of the upstairs flooring was covered in wall to wall carpet. It was very old and dusty, and thankfully we were able to talk our landlords into letting us tear it out. Because we didn’t want to put the time and money into refinishing the floors, we decided to instead apply a chocolate brown colored porch paint. In the four years we have lived in the house, we have been very happy with how the painted floors have held up. Only a few areas, where furniture has scraped, are showing wear.

A vintage globe serves as the only real decor item in the main room. It sits atop a closed off laundry chute. Red curtains add a bit of color to the room, and also block the light quite well when it is time for sleeping.

Our minimalist shared boys bedroom is quit simple and efficient, and is a great space for our sons to relax and settle into sleep at the end of a busy day.

MINIMALIST SHARED BOYS BEDROOM DESIGN

Our boys will once again be sharing a bedroom at Arrow Hill Cottage. We aren’t concerned about this, for a variety of reasons.

One, our sons have always shared a room. It is what they are used to and what they actually prefer. They enjoy knowing that their brothers are nearby at night.

The second reason we aren’t concerned is because they will each have their own little space within the larger room itself. Because they are approaching their teen years, I was very careful to design the room in such a way that they will each have a sleeping nook. This will give them a bit more privacy, and also allow them to add their own personal touches.

Lastly, we actually believe that sharing a room is a good life lesson for kids. Learning to compromise at times and to cope with each other regardless of differences is very important. Better for them to learn these things now than when they are sharing with a college roommate or spouse!

Visit this post for more details about the design for the boy’s bedroom at the new house.

MINIMALIST SHARED BOYS BEDROOM VIDEO TOUR

I hope you enjoyed the photos of our minimalist shared boys bedroom. It is always easier for me to understand the layout of a room by seeing the space in person though, and so I created this video tour as well. Enjoy!

ADDITIONAL MINIMALIST SHARED BOYS BEDROOMS

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NEW MINIMALISM | BOOK REVIEW

Looking for an inspirational book to read? I might have just found the perfect one! This review of the book New Minimalism discusses the overarching topics and tips presented by the authors. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way.

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

As part of my recent New Years goals, I am looking for inspiration. In particular, in regards to our family’s journey toward minimalism. I know it will be helpful to learn from others who have gone before us. By seeking out people who have been successful in a similar situation, we can be encouraged to continue on.

Right before Christmas break from school, I took our five children to the city library. It was my intention stock up a good supply of reading material to use during the cold days indoors. As we walked in, I noticed a small table set up with books about goal setting, organizing and intentional living. Within that grouping, I spotted the book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. This book has been on my reading wish list for a while now. I quickly grabbed it and put it in the library bag.

Then, I saw another book. One I hadn’t heard of. The book was New Minimalism, written by a pair of friends – Cary Telander Fortin and Kyle Louise Quilici. The subtitle of the book drew me in. ‘Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living.’ Yes please! Into the bag it went.

AUTHOR BACKGROUND

Cary and Kyle met through carpooling. Both ladies were beginning their journeys toward a more simple lifestyle, and spent their drive time comparing notes. Through the following months, their friendship began to blossom. So too did their commitment to providing others with this newfound information they had regarding minimalism. Ultimately, the pair began a home organization business that grew into an online presence.

Their website newMinimalism has helped countless clients declutter and organize their lives. Simply put, these gals know what they are writing about. More important than that, they have a passion for their mission.

THE PREMISE OF THE BOOK NEW MINIMALISM

Right from the start of the book, the authors make it clear that they wish to dispel a common misconception about minimalism. That SIMPLICITY was synonymous with SACRIFICE and DISCOMFORT. Through their many years of experience working with people from all walks of life, they have found quite the opposite to be true.

By removing unused items from their lives, their clients have experienced peace and saved money. They have felt liberated and more joyful, and developed more meaningful relationships. I’d say those are all great reasons to embark on a more minimal life!

Throughout the book, the authors are encouraging their readers to look at the aspects of new minimalism as a way to understand your personal values. And, in turn, observing how those values are reflected in your physical space. They offer their clients a simple statement and question.

Your external space reflects your internal state. What does your home say about you?

THE FOUR ARCHETYPES

While working with a variety of personalities through their years as home organizers, Cary and Kyle have recognized four distinct patterns of behavior, or archetypes.

They are careful to note that these archetypes are not mutually exclusive. Rather, they are what people tend toward, depending on the situation. However, you are likely to find that one behavioral pattern is your personal default most of the time.

I found this section of the book particularly insightful and helpful. Understanding the habits that you tend toward will make it easier for you to more effectively minimize clutter in your life.

ARCHETYPE 1: CONNECTED

This person generally has a hard time letting go of personal items that have memories tied to them. They tend to be great listeners, reliable friends, and compassionate. The connected individual is highly sentimental.

Connected people have a hard time letting go of : gifts, handwritten cards, and souvenirs.

ARCHETYPE 2: PRACTICAL

Practical people are logical, data-driven, and methodical. They have a factual way of looking at the world. They find joy in finding creative ways to improve a scenario or solve a problem.

Practical people have a hard time letting go of: art + craft supplies, scrap materials, and anything that might be useful for a future situation.

ARCHETYPE 3: ENERGETIC

This person is creative and in a constant state of learning. A go-getter who has a hard time saying ‘no’ to a anyone who needs help. New projects are irresistible to them.

Energetic people have a hard time letting go of: projects, personal and social commitments.

ARCHETYPE 4: FRUGAL

This person tends to plan for the future, while rooted in the present moment. Frugal people tend to be very intentional about not only how they spend their money, but also their time.

Frugal people have a hard time letting go of: anything with monetary worth or perceived rarity.

This particular part of the book was very eye opening for me. I immediately knew that I fit the Energetic Archetype perfectly. I am often eager to start a new project, but will admit that following through is sometimes difficult. There is just something in me that loves the thrill of the creative beginning of a project. The finishing of the project isn’t as exciting. To be honest, often times by that point in the process, I am already looking toward the next new thing that can be started.

The second archetype that I align with is Practical. Because I love starting up new projects, I like to have supplies readily available. This is why my craft room is a giant mess, and in need of a major declutter.

I read the above descriptions to my husband, and he claims to most relate to both the Practical and Frugal archetypes. Absolutley, I agree.

The authors do a wonderful job of providing questions you can ask yourself while you are decluttering and minimizing, based on what behaviors you tend toward. By knowing your archetype, I truly believe you will understand how better to simplify your life.

THE DECLUTTERING PROCESS

The authors of New Minimalism offer a process of decluttering your spaces. Similar to the KonMari method of decluttering, this book recommends that items be dealt with by category. Seven specific categories are outlined. In addition, they recommend that items be dealt with in a specific order. They always start client decluttering sessions with clothing and end with furniture and home decor.

Their reason for the particular order is outlined in the book. Each category is given a section of the book, full of tips and best practices.

The authors also discuss how to be successful in the overall decluttering process. They offer encouragement on preparing, both mentally and physically, for the task at hand and include tips on how to enlist help.

CLEANING PRODUCT SOLUTIONS

Through their years in the industry, Cary and Kyle have encountered a wide variety of cleaning products. What they have come to find is that simple products are often the best. As a result, they have developed their very own formulas. Recipes for homemade wood polish, shower + toilet scrub, and an all purpose cleaner are all available in the book.

I definitely want to make the switch to a more natural way of cleaning, and will be giving these recipes a try! It would be amazing if I could make my cleaning routine at Arrow Hill Cottage toxic free!

NEW MINIMALISM DESIGN PRINCIPLES

This book offers up twelve design principles to think about when putting your new decluttered space back together. I won’t be writing them all here, but I do want to share the two that I love most.

The first is that we should redefine our definition of ‘full’. New Minimalism defines ‘full’ as a state when the confines of a drawer, cabinet, or closet have ample space to be seen and can be accessed with ease. Be mindful that when you overfill your spaces, items will be easily forgotten and, therefore, not useful. For example, I witnessed this firsthand when decluttering our linen closet. It was shocking to me that a very personal and special item was hidden below piles of unused towels and blankets. Never again.

The second principle that I plan to practice is to ‘allow one to stand for many.’ In a nutshell, this principle is addressing meaningful keepsakes from our past. The authors challenge their readers to seek out pieces that represent special memories, instead of trying to save everything.

There is a wonderful quote in the book by decluttering expert Karen Kingston. She stated: “When you are surrounded by more than 50 percent of belongings that remind you of something from your past, you will continue to live in the past.” That’s a powerful statement!

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE BOOK NEW MINIMALISM

This book is a thorough approach to decluttering and simplifying your life. It is not your average organizing book. The fact that it offers holistic insights to the WHY behind the clutter makes it so much more. The authors are insightful and clear on their thoughts. However, they also recognize the dynamics of human nature.

I very much appreciate that the book isn’t laid out as a ‘one size fits all’ formula for each and every situation. We are all unique and, as such, our journeys toward minimalism will look different.

In conclusion, I most definitely recommend this book. It is one of the best I have read in this genre!

VIDEO BOOK REVIEW OF NEW MINIMALISM

Watch me talk about my thoughts on this book. I am planning on implementing what I have learned in my own life, and go into that more deeply in this video.

PIN THIS BOOK REVIEW

If you are considering a minimalism journey of your own, I highly recommend this book. Pin this image as a reminder to buy this book, or borrow it from the library. It will be worth your efforts, I promise!

Again, the book is New Minimalism, and can be purchased HERE.

HUSBAND’S CLOSET | DECLUTTER + ORGANIZE

Like many men, my husband was reluctant to declutter his closet. And so, I teamed up with him to get the job done. Find out what I learned that helped him get organized and complete the process.

My husband watched as I decluttered my clothing, creating a 50 piece year round capsule wardrobe. Seeing how freeing it has been for me to have a smaller wardrobe, he became interested in tackling his own side of the closet. Though interested, he had no idea where to start or what to do. In fact, he told me that I could go ahead and get rid of anything I wanted and he would just wear whatever I decided to keep.

While decluttering other people’s belongings isn’t generally recommended, it may work for some items. Things such as dishes, toys, and books might be easy for an outsider to sort through without too many problems. Clothing though? I think it’s much too personal. And though he hates to admit it, I know that my husband has an opinion about how he looks and what he feels comfortable wearing.

And so, after some negotiation, we came to the decision that we would work together on his closet declutter. After everything was sorted, I would then be in charge of organizing the remaining items in a thoughtful way that he could easily maintain.

MY HUSBAND’S STYLE

Before we began the closet declutter, we sat down and talked about which clothing items he tends to gravitate toward. His response was that he likes to be comfortable, and that jeans, t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts were among his favorites. I would agree that it seems to be what he wears most often – though he does need to dress up slightly more for his office job. In that respect, he prefers polo shirts and nice sweaters to button downs and ties.

With this information in mind, we set to work on the process.

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

EMPTYING THE CLOSET AND DRAWERS

Following the KonMari method of decluttering, we gathered all of his clothing and laid it on the bed. We share a small closet, where he hangs up his nicer shirts. He also has a couple of drawers where he keeps t-shirts, shorts, and undergarments.

Seeing the mound of clothing on the bed seemed to surprise him. In fact, he commented that he probably had more clothes than I did! Now that I have my capsule wardrobe, perhaps. But during my own closet declutter, the pile I had on the bed was nearly twice the size of his. He just didn’t witness it.

SORTING THROUGH THE CLOTHING

My husband felt more comfortable going through his items while I was standing in the room. He knew from the start that he wasn’t planning on creating a capsule wardrobe. Instead, he wished to eliminate items that he didn’t like to wear or those that were damaged.

If he questioned any of the clothing choices, he would ask for my input. Ultimately though, every decision was his to make. There were definitely a few pieces that he decided to keep that I might have thrown directly into the rag pile!

Take this shirt, for example. It is literally see through – but Craig insists that it is the most comfortable shirt he has ever worn. He loves to wear it when he chops wood or is working outside.

There were also a pair of shorts that I think are too baggy, that he loves to wear. I encouraged him to keep them. This is his wardrobe after all, and I continued to reassure him of that fact as we went through this process.

BENEFITS OF DECLUTTERING TOGETHER

Decluttering can many times be thought of as a personal process. Going through my husband’s clothing with him though, I realized some important benefits.

BONDING

He might not agree, but I actually had a lot of fun helping him tackle the closet declutter. Not only did I get a better sense of what his style is, it helped to cement the unity of this moment as a couple. Minimalism and simplicity is something that we are constantly discussing as a couple, though I am the one who has taken on the bulk of the decluttering. It was nice to share this responsibility. Though I know that he doesn’t plan to help me declutter each and every room or category, this exercise at least gave him a better idea of the process that I am going through.

FINDING DUPLICATES

It was obvious during this closet declutter, that Craig had amassed quite the collection of T-shirts. Ironically, he doesn’t often wear them. After realizing that an entire drawer was stuffed with clothes he doesn’t use, he was willing to choose his favorites and let go of the rest.

In the large pile of t-shirts, we found two identical workout tank tops. Craig was unaware that he had both of them, and even questioned where one of them came from. He was able to look them both over, compare, and decide which to keep.

NOTING WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

As the person who does the majority of shopping for our family (including clothing), it is important that I know when things need to be replaced. I will admit, however, that I hadn’t been paying close attention to Craig’s wardrobe. During this particular declutter process, it became pretty obvious that Craig is in dire need of a new pair of nice summer shorts, and also a couple new pairs of work Kaki’s.

Since we are currently halfway through a no spend month, these purchases will need to wait a bit, which shouldn’t be a problem. They are noted, and will be taken care of.

ORGANIZING THE CLOSET AND DRAWERS

Holding up my end of the bargain, I went to work getting everything put back in it’s place. The hanging items were neatly arranged in our small shared closet. Short sleeved tops are currently hung on the left side, since they are out of season. The long sleeved shirts are more easily accessible, on the right – closer to the door opening.

I decided since hooded sweatshirts were important to Craig, that I would hang them up as well. This makes them more easily visible. Pants and shorts were also hung, using a special type of hanger.

I folded his t-shirts using the KonMari method, and was pleasantly surprised to easily fit them all into the drawer along with workout shorts and running pants.

While decluttering together, we discussed that the bins we had been using on the floor of our closet were not a great solution. It seemed to us that when items went into the bins, they were easily forgotten about. We decided to fit all of our items either on the hanging rod, or in the dresser drawers. This will not only make the clothing more accessible, it should also hopefully cut down on items being forgotten.

The bins, and also over 60 hangers, are now relieved of their service.

WATCH US TACKLE CRAIG’S CLOTHING

There is something entertaining about watching other people take on a closet declutter. It might even be motivating for you to try the same thing!

If you are looking for more inspiration, check out the husband closet declutter videos from Katie on the Flip Side and Old World Home.

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Organized Linen Closet | Quick Declutter

Today I am going to share how I tackled a seriously stuffed hall closet and turned it into a simple and organized linen closet – in less than 30 minutes!

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

In this decluttering journey, I have to admit that this space was one I was not looking forward to. Our linen closet had become one of those places in our house that was just out of sight, and out of mind. I knew what was lurking behind those doors – and knew it wasn’t pretty. But I didn’t really want to acknowledge the task at hand.

Faced with the lofty New Year’s goal of finishing our rental house declutter before we break ground on Arrow Hill Cottage in the spring, I knew that there was no more holding back. It was time.

LINEN CLOSET BEFORE

We moved into this rental house four years ago. In our previous home we did not have a linen closet, and so we saw this as a bit of a luxury upgrade. We piled all of our bedding, towels, and extra pillows into the closet and called it good. Except, it wasn’t good.

Here’s the situation. I wash laundry only once per week. I like this system, especially since it gives me a sense of finalization, at least for one day. The towels we use daily are stored in our bathrooms. They make their way into the laundry baskets throughout the week, and on Sunday get a thorough washing. That means that every towel behind this closed linen closet door are ‘extras’, and are rarely used. They are brought out primarily when we have guests stay in our home.

Bedding is similar. After I wash the sheets, they go right back on the beds. Again, as the above photo illustrates, we had saved plenty of extras.

DECLUTTERING THE LINEN CLOSET

Starting this declutter was by far the most difficult part. I think I was a bit overcome by just how MUCH we had stored away in this small closet. Once I began to take it all out though, a weight started to lift.

Our linen closet is located at the end of a long hallway upstairs. As I removed the items from the closet, I grouped like category items together. This made it easy to see the quantity of each type of item. Noticing the amount of duplicates made it easier to make decisions regarding what should stay and what should go.

Sorting through the piles, I placed items that I thought we should keep on the right side of the hallway, and those that we could donate or sell on the left.

FINDING TREASURES

One of the biggest surprises during this declutter project was finding a special quilt I had made years ago. It was presented to my husband at the groom’s supper, the night before our wedding. I clearly remember the months leading up to our marriage. Craig was doing a mechanical engineering internship near Chicago, and I was in North Dakota, at college. Those months apart were long and difficult, and I spent many hours working on the quilt and dreaming about married life.

Honestly, this quilt means more to me than my wedding dress. So why was it stuffed in the bottom of the closet, completely forgotten? When I first saw it, I felt really sad that it had been so neglected. Now I am ever more committed to this process, and discovering which items bring us joy.

This quilt will serve as a reminder of how easily items you cherish can be crowded out by other, less important, belongings. It will be going to the dry cleaners, and a more prominent spot will be found for it in our new home.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

When decluttering and creating an organized linen closet, there are a few important questions you should ask yourself:

Is this a convenient location for these items? Linen closets were very popular in older homes, but have fallen out of favor somewhat in recent years. I believe the reason is that more people now place items closer to where they will be used, instead of grouped together in a central location. For example, the bed sheets may be stored in the bedroom closets, and the extra toilet paper in the bathroom.

Really think about what works best for you and your family. Where some might find a central linen closet the prime location to store towels and bedding, others may find that a hall linen closet in their home is better suited to store cleaning supplies, small appliances, or even toys.

How many of _____ do we need? In our household, whenever a new set of towels was purchased we continued to hold onto the old set. Just in case, we said. If we have company, we thought. The truth of the matter is that if we chose to buy new towels, our old ones had more than likely finished their purposeful life for our family.

I encourage you to determine how many towels, bed linens, etc. your family really needs. Any more than those items used on a weekly basis will likely be stored. Don’t let them multiply behind closed doors like we did!

ORGANIZED LINEN CLOSET

Like a lot of people, I have been watching ‘Tidying up’ on Netflix. One of the tips I have learned from watching the show is the idea of placing like items into smaller baskets for storage. I have mentioned before that I have a love for baskets. In fact, I have a stash of them in our storage closet, just waiting to be used.

These chrome wire baskets were the perfect size to hold the items I had chosen to keep.

Though I don’t have quite the ‘magic’ of Marie Kondo, I did try her method of folding into thirds and storing them upright. I have to say that it really did save space! An entire set of towels (two bath towels, one hand towel and one wash cloth), was able to fit into a single basket, for example.

When putting the linens back into the closet, I made sure to put the items that will be used more frequently on the eye level shelves. The large blankets were placed on the highest shelf, since it is likely they will be accessed by the adults only. The extra pillows are now within reach for the kids to use for camp-outs and movie nights.

It is important to note that we are living in a rental house. Because of this, we aren’t able to modify the spacing between shelves. If you have a closet with adjustable shelves, customizing your storage should be much more efficient!

BENEFITS OF AN ORGANIZED LINEN CLOSET

Now that our linen closet is organized, I definitely want it to stay that way! The following benefits will help me keep the clutter from coming back.

Items are easily found. One glance in, and you can see how things are organized, by category. This makes it much faster to find that towel when you need to clean up a spill, or retrieve a clean set of bedsheets for a child who had a middle of the night accident.

Linens have room to breathe. With the linen closet stuffed to the max, there was little air circulation. Stored in this way for too long, and you could be dealing with musty towels and bedding. That’s just not pleasant. In your organized linen closet, you may consider adding an open box of baking soda. It will help cut down on moisture and will keep things smelling fresh and clean.

WATCH ME ORGANIZE MY LINEN CLOSET

See the process of of decluttering my personal linen closet. I am still shocked to see the drastic change!

ORGANIZED LINEN CLOSET INSPIRATION

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Control magazine clutter | Simple organizing tip

Do you love getting a new glossy magazine filled with inspiration in the mail, but are not sure what to do with them after you’re finished reading? Today, I will be offering a quick organizing tip on how to control magazine clutter.

Long before the steady reliable stream of digital images, print inspiration was king. Magazine subscriptions were sold door to door as a form of entertainment and inspiration, and it was big business. I too have had a few longstanding subscriptions. And I can genuinely say that I look forward to each month’s new copy.

However, there is a major downside to this seemingly harmless consumption. Clutter.

HOW MAGAZINE CLUTTER HAPPENS

Perhaps you already have a system in place to stay on top of paper pile up. Many businesses now offer a paperless billing option that you might be taking advantage of. Or maybe you are great about sending junk promotions directly to the recycle bin as soon as they exit your mailbox.

However, there is something a bit more special about that shiny new magazine that shows up once a month. Whether because they arrive with less frequency or the fact that they are full of colorful images and inspiring information, magazines are hard to let go of.

One thin magazine laid on the coffee table turns into five, and then into a stack in the corner of the room. Before you know it, magazines are taking up more of your precious space than you would like. If this has become a problem for you, I have a tip that can help you control magazine clutter.

SIMPLE STORAGE TIP

Because I work in the home design industry, I find home decor and building magazines very inspiring. For years I held onto stacks of my favorite issues. Eventually they got overwhelming, and I had to come up with a solution. I realized that of an entire magazine, I was interested in about 5% of the articles and images.

Because of this, I determined that it didn’t make much sense to keep the entire magazine. Instead, I opt to rip out only the pages that are most inspiring. I then curate them in plastic sheet covers, in white three ring binders. This is an ultra simple and inexpensive way to control magazine clutter, and it has been working well for me.

One important word of advice. This method will work best when you get in the habit of practicing the ‘tear out’ method immediately after reading through a magazine. Not only will your favorite ideas and images be fresh in your mind, you will also be more likely to get the job done. If a magazine is allowed to stay whole for too long, it becomes a more permanent house resident that sadly won’t be noticed until a few of it’s buddies join.

My binders are stored on a shelf in my home office. The contents are used as inspiration not only for the decorating of my own home, but also also but when designing homes and spaces for clients. They are plump full of images I love. And they certainly were helpful to look back on during the design process of our family’s home, Arrow Hill Cottage.

WATCH ME DECLUTTER MY MAGAZINE STASH

With this storage system, it is important to go through the binders on a regular basis. Doing so will allow you to be sure they contain contain content you wish to save.

Recently, when looking through my collection, I noticed that there were articles and images that were outdated or no longer my style. Trending home products from 2006? Probably not relevant any longer. Just this week I decided to further pare down my collection by eliminating the pages that no longer inspired me.

The beauty of the binder system is that you can easily switch out items that are no longer giving you inspiration for those that are.

Before this most recent declutter, I had a total of six binders filled with plastic sleeves. Through the declutter process, I was able to reduce my binders from six down to three. It feels good to know that inspiration on each and every page awaits me, whenever I choose to open the binders up.

IS STORING MAGAZINES MINIMAL?

You might be wondering – wouldn’t it just be easier, and more minimal, to throw out all the magazines? Is keeping magazine clippings even necessary when there is Pinerest?

There is no short answer to either of those questions. The truth is that the more we walk down this minimalism path, the more realize that it is a highly personal journey. There are no hard and fast rules about what can be deemed appropriate to save, and what for sure needs to be tossed. Those decisions lie solely with the person who owns the possession, and nobody else.

Minimalism does not mean we need to rid our lives of all the things we love. Instead, it asks us to be mindful of the intentions behind each of our belongings. To decide, for ourselves, what things and quantity of things are appropriate for this moment in time.

The beauty of this mindset is that I don’t need to justify my decision to save three binders full of magazine clippings any more than someone else needs to justify their personal collection. Whatever that may be. My magazine binders bring me joy, and serve a purpose at this point in my life. So they stay. In the future, if I decide to scan all of the pages and keep only a digital copy, that is fine too.

I would encourage you to follow the same process of thinking while you declutter or attempt to simplify.

PIN THIS SIMPLE WAY TO CONTROL MAGAZINE CLUTTER

If you are a magazine lover like I am, I encourage you to try out this method. It’s inexpensive – maybe $3 per binder and $5 for a large pack of plastic sheets. It is also simple enough to be maintained as a long term solution to control magazine clutter.

OTHER MAGAZINE ORGANIZING TIPS

These articles offer additional ways to control magazine clutter:

Simple Magazine Filing System

Determine what magazines mean to you

CAPSULE WARDROBE | DECLUTTER CHALLENGE

Clothes have a way of sticking around and cluttering closets and drawers. This week I attempted to build my very first capsule wardrobe, as the fourth challenge in the December Declutter!

Welcome back to the fourth and final week of the December Declutter Challenge! This month I have already completed a Konmari declutter of our Christmas Decor, a speed declutter, and a deep cleaning of one room, top to bottom. Today I am sharing how I decluttered my clothing in an attempt to create my first capsule wardrobe.

CAPSULE WARDROBE PRINCIPLES

The main idea behind the capsule wardrobe is to fill your closet with clothing items you like and that you like on your body. Though the term was coined in the 1970’s by Susie Faux, the concept has become even more popular in recent years. With people busier than ever, overwhelmed by their lives and jobs, minimalism has gained recognition as a way to slow down and simplify. Capsule wardrobes are in line with minimalism techniques.

A typical capsule wardrobe includes between 25 and 50 pieces. Some include enough pieces for year round wear, while others offer a seasonal selection only. The great thing about a capsule wardrobe is that it is personalized to fit each individual. As such, the rules can vary from person to person.

MY CAPSULE WARDROBE RULES

Because we live in the Midwest, we experience dramatic temperature changes with each season. My wardrobe has to incorporate shorts as well as sweaters. For this reason, I opted to allow my capsule to include the maximum number of fifty pieces.

This will be a full year capsule wardrobe. I chose not include jewlery/scarves, pjs, or outerwear (coats, snow boots, etc.) Even so, I attempted to minimize the number of items in these categories to a combined twenty. Undergarments were not included in any item totals.

My long term goal for this challenge is to actually use the clothing I have. To create different outfit combinations with a minimal amount of items. I want to get to the point that I love everything in my closet.

CLOTHING CLUTTER (BEFORE)

My husband and I share a teeny tiny closet that is built into the eaves at our rental farmhouse. It was pretty well stuffed to the brim on the hanging bar.

We also had some bins on the closet floor that held bulkier items such as pants and sweatshirts. And I had one dresser drawer plump full of workout and lounging clothes.

SORT THROUGH THE CLOTHING

I used a method outlined on the website The Penny Hoarder when sorting through my clothing. The first step involved gathering all clothing items and footwear in one area, similar to what is done in the KonMari method.

Taking every item out of the closet, drawer and bins and laying them all on the bed was a huge eye opener to me. It was a massive pile of clothing. Considering that I can only wear one outfit at a time, I would say it’s obvious that I had far too many clothes.

The next step in the process is to sort all of the clothing items into three separate piles. One pile for items that you love, your favorites. Another pile for items that you like, and a final pile of items that you are certain you no longer need. Clothing that doesn’t fit properly or has stains/tears should go into the third pile.

Even if at one time the pieces were your favorites, if they don’t fit or are damaged do you really want to include them in your minimal wardrobe?

After my sorting was complete I was left with quite a few items that were destined to be sold or donated. I went ahead and bagged them up straight away. In this way, I wasn’t tempted to go back through those items searching for something to keep.

FINE TUNE THE SELECTIONS

The two remaining piles including clothing pieces that I love, and those that I like. At this point I needed to do some more critical thinking. I thought about which items could be used in multiple ways to form various outfits. I thought about how many seasons each piece would be useful in. Further sorting through these two piles back and forth, I was able to narrow down my capsule wardrobe to the pre-set 50 pieces.

HANG UP FAVORITES

My favorites were then hung back into the closet. I tend to arrange my clothing in color categories and by sleeve length.

Because this is my first capsule wardrobe, I decided to keep a ‘back up’ of 16 items that were from my maybe pile. These clothing pieces were placed into a bin and are stored in the back of my closet for the moment. If, after 365 days none have been needed, they will be moved into the donation bags.

While I am learning the ins and outs of my particular capsule wardrobe, I am giving myself lots of flexibility and the freedom to make fine tuning decisions. For example, I may find that I need fewer long sleeve/ winter items but more short sleeve options.

Each time a new item is added, either from my back up pile or purchased new from a store, one of the items in my capsule must be set aside. This will allow me to keep the item count consistent throughout the year.

I am hopeful that after a full year using these fifty items that I will have a good handle on what I need and use most often.

WATCH ME CREATE A CAPSULE WARDROBE

Take a virtual tour of my clothing before, and watch me declutter my clothing to create my very first capsule wardrobe!

MY CAPSULE WARDROBE SELECTIONS

I will admit that this was probably the most difficult of all the challenges I was faced with this month. Perhaps it has something to do with the intimate nature of clothing, which causes a person to become attached more easily.

Even still, it was an exciting exercise. I personally am really looking forward to knowing that everything in my closet fits and is useful. My final capsule wardrobe includes the following 50 items:

FOOTWEAR

7 pairs total: 2 flats, 2 boots, 1 casual canvas, 1 nicer pair of sneakers, 1 pair of running shoes.

BOTTOMS

8 total: 4 pants/jeans, 1 Capri, 2 shorts, 1 yoga pant

TOPS

27 total: 6 tanks, 3 short sleeve, 1 vest, 1 cover/wrap, 4 cardigan/pull over, 6 long sleeve, 5 sweaters, 1 dress

WORKOUT

8 total pieces: 3 bottoms (1 short, 1 Capri, 1 pant), 1 long sleeve shirt, 1 short sleeve shirt, 3 tank tops

ADDITIONAL ITEMS (not included in the capsule wardrobe total)

20 total items: 1 swimsuit, 1 pair of snow boots, 2 winter coats, 1 spring/summer jacket, 1 poncho, 4 PJ pieces, 5 scarves, 3 necklaces, 1 pair earings, 1 ring.

OUTFIT OPTIONS

Probably my favorite part of the entire challenge was coming up with different outfit ideas with the smaller number of pieces. These are just a few of the options that I am excited to wear!

I love how most of the items can be either dressed up or down depending on how they are paired and with different accessories. For example, a basic t-shirt can be worn with a pair of shorts or yoga pants for a comfortable casual look. The same shirt can also be dressed up with a scarf and nicer shoes.

I plan to print off index card sized pictures of outfit options. These cards can then be placed on a binder ring and stored in my dresser. That way, if at any time I feel that I have ‘nothing to wear’, I will have visual outfit inspiration!

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS CHALLENGE

This challenge was eye opening for sure. If you had asked me before how many total clothing items I had, I doubt I would have thought I owned even fifty total. The truth is that I had nearly two hundred. Essentially, this exercise cut my wardrobe in less than half.

While having a final item count might seem restrictive to some people, I actually found it useful. Knowing that I couldn’t go over my predetermined number caused me to really think about which pieces I wanted to hang onto.

I also found it surprising that the items I chose to keep in my capsule wardrobe shared a lot of similarities. Apparently, I enjoy wearing comfortable pieces that are generally plain or have small patterns/prints. There are also quite a few striped items that made the cut. Color wise, there is a definite palette of favorites – something I never realized before!

My side of the closet is in order and looking awesome. Perhaps for this reason, my husband has given me the green light to tackle his wardrobe next. I call that a declutter win!

PIN THESE IDEAS FOR LATER

Are you ready to tackle a clothing declutter and create a capsule wardrobe of your own?

SPEED DECLUTTER: 60 IN 60 CHALLENGE

It’s Week TWO of my December Declutter Challenge! Follow along as I attempt to speed declutter my house using the 60 in 60 technique!

Last week, I decluttered our entire Christmas decoration collection, using the KonMari method. That was an effective technique, and we were left with only our favorites, which made decorating a breeze! This week I am trying a brand new method of decluttering, one that involves quick decisions. It is called the 60 in 60 challenge.

60 IN 60 BASIC PRINCIPLE

Essentially, this is a speed declutter challenge. The idea is to set a timer for 60 minutes, then use that time to find 60 (or more) items to donate or sell. While doing this challenge, do not look for items that could be thrown. That would be too easy! Instead, find items that you are no longer using, but might have value to somebody else.

WHAT YOU NEED

There are only two things you will need to complete this speed declutter challenge. A timer, or a clock, and a basket or box to put your found items in. I personally chose an egg timer to count down my minutes. This allowed me to pause the task if I was interrupted, which I was. Several times.

SPEED DECLUTTER TECHNIQUE

While the KonMari method suggests that you pull similar items out of their storage spots before you begin sorting, this challenge is almost the opposite. Drawers are to be opened, closets rummaged through. Honestly, it feels like a bit of a scavenger hunt! Decisions are to be made quickly and on the spot.

My speed declutter challenge found me digging through bins in our storage closet, drawers in my kitchen, and our shoe rack, among other spots.

WATCH ME SPEED DECLUTTER

It’s amazing how quickly a person can make decluttering decisions when a time limit is involved! Check out all the items that made it into my basket!

ITEMS THAT WILL BE DONATED

The basket filled up pretty quickly. As a result, I eventually needed to start setting items on my bed. Though I didn’t count as I went through the process, I was surprised to find that I had set aside exactly 60 items! That could not have been planned any better if I tried! Here are a few of the items that will be sold or donated.

This high quality Pottery Barn bedding has been taking up space in our linen closet since we moved into the rental farmhouse. Because we do not currently have a guest bedroom, and do not have plans for one at Arrow Hill Cottage, it is time this bedding becomes useful for someone else.

We are a large family of seven, and this smaller crock pot just doesn’t get much use. To make meals for our crew, we need the jumbo sized version, which we already own.

As our youngest child grows, I am steadily going through the clothing that no longer fits her. These shoes, for example, still have a lot of life in them. For another little girl.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS CHALLENGE

I will admit that I was a bit nervous starting this challenge. We have been decluttering our home over the past few months. We even have an entire storage closet dedicated to items for our upcoming summer garage sale. Because of this, I was worried that it would be difficult to find 60 items that we could easily part with.

I was wrong! Once I started to open cabinet doors and drawers, I was finding items that I didn’t even remember existed. If they had been hiding for months, or in some cases even years, it was obvious that they were not necessary to keep. Into the basket they went!

Perhaps the greatest obstacle to this challenge was that I couldn’t finish what I started. Because this is a speed declutter, there was not time for me to thoroughly sort through each space I looked. In some ways, that aspect was hard on my brain. For example, it is a bit of mental burden knowing that my kitchen is still filled with many items that we don’t need.

Certainly though, this feeling will help me remember to go back and finish, which is a good thing!

In conclusion, I feel that this speed declutter challenge was a quick win toward my overall simplifying goals. I would definitely recommend that you give it a try!

Join me next week, when I take on a new challenge for the December Declutter!

PIN THIS CHALLENGE FOR LATER

Try it for yourself!

KONMARI DECLUTTER – CHRISTMAS DECOR

Join me as I begin a four week decluttering challenge for the month of December. My first challenge is a KonMari declutter of our Christmas decorations.

It’s no secret that this time of year gets busy. Extra busy. In years past, we have been right in on the action. Buying all the gifts. Attending all the parties. Hanging all the twinkle lights. This year though, we are attempting to slow down and be truly mindful of the special nature of this season.

Our family is on a journey toward simplicity in all aspects of life. Because of this, we are also attempting to be more mindful of the things that surround us. We want to be faced with less stuff, so that we can enjoy more life.

For the month of December, I will be attempting one declutter challenge each week. It is my hope that by the end of the month, and the start of the new year, we will have cleared our spaces and our minds a bit.

I am starting in week number one with a pretty obvious first step, the Christmas decorations.

DECORATING IN YEARS PAST

Each year, our typical first step to decorating for Christmas is pulling all of the items out of storage. Multiple bins are hauled into the room where the tree will be set up. Then, we proceed to dig through each one, in an effort to determine which items will brighten up the room and the tree.

Ironically, but maybe not so coincidentally, we almost always go for the same things. Year after year, our favorites make it out of the bins. The rest is put back into storage.

NEW TECHNIQUE TO TRY

This year, I decided to go through all of the items BEFORE the decorating session begins. Once again, I pulled the items out of storage, but did so while the kids were at school. Without all of their little hands rummaging through the bins, I was able to slow down the pace a bit. This allowed me to hold each and every piece and give it consideration.

I used the Konmari declutter method. This organizing technique was developed by Marie Kondo and is quite popular among minimalists.

Ms. Kondo recommends that all items of a similar type be grouped together and laid out on a flat surface. This allows you to see the large amount of items that all serve essentially the same purpose. In my case, with the Christmas decorations, it was a pretty obvious visual that we had accumulated far more than was necessary for the job of decorating for the season.

Most organizing methods have you asking yourself which items can be thrown/ given away. A KonMari declutter is different in that you are supposed to focus instead on which items to keep. The end goal is that you will choose the items that bring you the most joy.

OUR JOYFUL CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

With everything laid out in front of me, my focus was immediately drawn to my favorites. These items bring me the most joy or have the strongest memories.

I knew for sure that our Willow Tree Nativity Set would be kept. It is usually the first of the decorations to be put up each year. We love the simple details of each piece. And, it is the perfect visual reminder for our family of the true meaning of Christmas.

Another favorite item that I found is this antique angel Christmas tree topper, which was my absolute favorite as a little girl. I have plans to remove her wiring, and turn her into an ‘Advent Angel’ – the Christian alternative to Elf on the Shelf – as a new family tradition.

SORTING THROUGH THE ORNAMENTS

We had an entire box full of ornaments, most of which haven’t made it up on the tree for many years. Using the KonMari declutter method, I picked up each and every ornament. A quick decision was then made whether it would find it’s place in the keep pile, or the donation box.

While sorting, I found many precious ornaments that hadn’t been used for years because they were hidden. For example, this collection of fire department related ornaments.

My husband was on the fire department in our city for ten years. The department gifted him a special ornament each Christmas. We have always said that we would like to have a small tree to display the collection. Unfortunately, we have never actually done it. They will be saved, to be used at our new house.

WHAT TO DO WITH WHAT’S LEFT

After the KonMari declutter was complete, two large boxes of decorations were ready to be donated. In turn, we were left with only a handful of Christmas decor items, and a small bin of ornaments.

I decided to keep two vintage suitcases, one of which was my grandparent’s, to store the decorations in. Because they are hard-cased suitcases, I was able to discard most of the protective packaging for the breakable items. I opted instead to wrap them in light-weight bubble wrap. All of our decorations, minus one large basket and the Christmas tree, fit in these two suitcases.

They will be easy to store, and bring out each year when we are ready to decorate. Another benefit to having fewer items is that we will not be digging through multiple bins anymore.

DECORATING WITH LESS

A very interesting thing happened when the kids got home from school and were ready to decorate. Though the items that remained were far less, they were not at all upset. Instead, rather than rushing through the task in an effort to be the one who put the most ornaments on the tree, they slowed down. They took the time to observe each individual piece before finding it’s perfect place.

This alone made the KonMari declutter worth it to me. They truly seemed to enjoy the decorating even more than in years past. In turn, I did too.

WATCH ME KONMARI DECLUTTER

I documented myself sorting through all the Christmas decorations, to share the process with all of you. I’m still pretty amazed at all I was able to get rid of, without regret!

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS CHALLENGE

This was my first time using the KonMari declutter method. I have to say that although laying everything out was a bit more work upfront, it was beneficial. Seeing all those like-items together made it easier for me to spot our favorites.

I could see this method being used for all types of items – from clothing to kitchen gadgets. It is likely I will try to declutter this way in the future.

Above all, I learned from this challenge that the intentions behind your actions mean more than the action itself. Decorating with 200 items doesn’t mean that you enjoy or love Christmas more than someone who decorates with 20 items. And so, with that in mind, going forward, I plan to focus on the right number of decorations for OUR family. Because we know our intentions at Christmastime, and they may not always match up with what society says.

Join me next week, when I take on a new challenge for the December Declutter!

PIN THIS FOR LATER

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9 CREATIVE CLOSET ALTERNATIVES

Is your home lacking closet space? Find ways to store your belongings practically with the creative closet alternatives outlined in this post.

It is the time of year when most people are feeling the urge to purge. The cold weather has driven us indoors and we find ourselves surrounded by all of our belongings. It doesn’t take long for it to feel like the walls are closing in with too much.

Too many toys, too many books, too many pairs of shoes. In addition to the ‘stuff’ we had – we just brought more into our homes in the form of Christmas gifts or extra decorations for the season. It can be overwhelming.

My family is no exception. Although neither my husband or myself tend to be collectors of things – the accumulation just happens over time. The amount of clutter that naturally enters our lives is one of the main reasons our family is on a journey toward minimalism. The New Year is the perfect time to get a clean slate, to look at things from a new perspective.

I strive to keep only items that we use on a regular basis and/or truly cherish. And I’ve noticed that I am better at accomplishing this goal if I have FEWER closets. In fact, when we moved into our rental home one of the first things we tackled was the removal of most of the closet doors. One of the closets even became a bedroom for our oldest son!

I can almost hear you asking the question: ‘If you don’t have closets, where do you put all of your things?’ I’m going to answer that today with a list of 9 creative closet alternatives for your home.

HANGING RODS

I’m going to be honest in saying that the storage of clothes is something which I personally prefer to happen behind closed doors. I have designed for each of the bedrooms in Arrow Hill Cottage to have a small closet for clothes, and the mudroom to have a small closet as well, to store seasonal items such as winter coats and boots.

If you don’t mind having your clothes on display, there are plenty of creative alternative ways to hang them.

simple hanging rod with shelf above

ladder wardrobe

branch wardrobe

BASKETS

It’s no secret that I love baskets. Of all the closet alternatives in this post, this is possibly the one I utilize the most in my own home. I showed you some of my favorite baskets in this post about organization containers. They are so versatile and come in a wide variety of sizes, styles and colors. You can utilize freestanding baskets to store items such as blankets and towels, or use a series of baskets to organize smaller items on shelves.

blanket storage

kitchen storage

basket storage for toys

OPEN SHELVES

Whether a freestanding shelf or a wall hung shelving unit, there’s no doubt that shelves are considered a powerhouse of home organization. Basically, anything that can be set flat can be stored on a shelf. One of my favorite spaces to see open shelving in is a kitchen. The display of beautiful (and useful) dishes and other items adds much interest to a room that would otherwise be full of closed cabinetry.

open kitchen shelving

shelving in a playroom

living room shelving

UNDER BED STORAGE

There may be some items you own that are only used during one season of the year. You may not want to have them stored in a prominent place. Under bed storage is one of the most versatile closet alternatives. The space is perfect for items such as winter gear, holiday decor, and kid clothing that you may be saving as hand-me-downs for a younger sibling. If you build a platform bed, you can create even more customized storage underneath.

elevated bed with storage underneath

re-purposed dresser drawers

platform bed with basket storage

LOCKERS/CUBBIES

The divided spaces of lockers really help to keep things organized. They are perfect for kids, making it easy for them to remember where to place their backpacks, coats and shoes instead of throwing them in any random spot.

lockers with shoe storage below

vintage metal lockers

large open lockers

FURNITURE

This is another of my favorite storage options. A coffee table that blends with the room’s home decor can hide (ahem… store) obnoxiously colored toys when not in use. An ottoman with a storage compartment can house books or extra bedding.

coffee table storage

stacked trunk end table

DIY storage ottoman

HOOKS + BENCH

Similar to the locker set-up, a simple bench with a series of hooks above can accomplish the hard-working job of keeping everyone’s outdoor gear in line at a minimal cost. The bench may have an interior compartment, or perhaps space below for basket storage.

simple built in bench with hooks and shelf above

bench with baskets below

simple DIY entry bench

ARMOIRE

One major downside of closets is that they eat up valuable square footage. The framing itself takes up space, and the door swing creates it’s own series of issues. If you really want to keep items behind closed doors, consider an armoire instead. Made of cabinetry materials, the construction is more slim. They can also be moved – meaning you can experiment with it’s best placement.

freestanding pantry

bathroom toiletry storage

storage for linens

DRAWERS

Drawers are another way to keep items organized and a bit more hidden. Of course, cabinetry is one option – but it can get expensive to create custom built in pieces. A simple stand-alone dresser can many times do the job just as well. A desk with side drawers may be the perfect solution for smaller items, such as office supplies.

dinner plate storage

coffee bar

desk made from two drawer units

The bonus of utilizing these closet alternatives is that your items are bound to stay more organized and you will be less likely to add extra, unnecessary items into your home!

ALTERNATE USES FOR CLOSET SPACE

Another giant plus? By removing closet doors (or the entire closet itself!) you will free up a ton of floor space! Just think of the possibilities this extra square footage could become!

READING NOOK

This reading nook is so completely cozy! Can’t you imagine getting lost in a good book here?

SMALL OFFICE SPACE

The detail of this small office would really make working enjoyable. It provides plenty of storage and looks beautiful at the same time.

NURSERY NOOK

This bright and colorful nook is just the right size for a crib- freeing up space in the rest of the room.

ARTS & CRAFTS CENTER

I can imagine a lot of creativity happens here! Click here to see a photo of the closet before!

I hope this post will inspire you to clear out the clutter and possibly reclaim the space that the closet occupies! New Year, new possibilities!

PIN THESE CLOSET ALTERNATIVES

Save these ideas for your home, and get organized for the New Year!

NEW YEAR | NEW GOALS

Happy New Year everyone!

The kids are back to school after Christmas break, and the house is very quiet. The frigid temperatures over the last couple of weeks kept them indoors, and it is safe to say that we were all going a little bit stir crazy. You would think that having this stay-at-home mom gig for 11+ years would mean that I could handle the chaos better. While it’s true that some things have gotten easier over time – the kids are much more independent and also are able to entertain each other well – there are other aspects that have gotten more difficult with the addition of each child… like the noise. So much noise when we are all together.

Looking around right now, I see a peaceful, simple and calm space. The Christmas decorations are put away and everything just looks so clean. I am realizing more and more that my soul really craves order and simplicity. As I am designing Arrow Hill Cottage, that thought is definitely in the forefront of my mind.

Though we are only a few days into the new year, I am happy to say that I have already reached one of my goals! For a very long time I have been wanting to open up an Etsy shop that reflects my love for simplicity, order, and design – and I’ve finally done it!

As I have mentioned before, I have a degree in architecture. I have been designing and drafting buildings for well over 12 years now. And while I love the profession, there are often restrictions that limit full creative potential. And I LOVE being creative. My absolute favorite aspects of architecture include 1. determining spatial relationships and 2. building architectural models. These are two things that I could do basically all day/ every day without getting bored.

And so, I have decided to combine these enjoyable aspects and apply them to an art form – my newest creative endeavor – Arrow Hill Studio

I see a world of possibilities ahead for this little shop. For the moment, my medium of choice is bright white card stock. I create patterns using geometry, then cut them into the card stock. When the individual pieces are layered they form a unique, three dimensional textured look.

I love the simple, minimalist vibe of the pieces I have created so far, and also the fact that when the designs are rotated they present a completely different look.

You can visit the ETSY SHOP for details on each piece, and follow my behind the scenes design process on INSTAGRAM.

I’m excited to see this dream grow a bit more in 2018!