living simply
1. Get warmed up. Take a moment to explore what you really want to gain from simplifying your life at home. Imagine, as vividly as you can, how your home and daily routines would be different once you have simplified. Is it a feeling of space or cleanliness? Is it more time that you crave? Less frustration? Make a few notes in your journal about your thoughts and feelings, along with any ideas sparked during this process.
. Display cherished belongings (and get rid of the rest). Begin with a small step. Do you have a box of old photos that give you warm fuzzies every time you see them? Choose your favorites and have them framed. Start spending 10 minutes clearing clutter every Saturday morning, and make a trip to Goodwill when you have a full box. Little by little, you can create a home that better reflects what's important to you.
Use the $100 rule. Preventing clutter from entering your house is at least as important as getting rid of the excessive belongings you already have. The $100 rule is simple: Whenever you're considering making a purchase, first ask yourself if you would still buy it if it cost $100. The idea is that no purchase, no matter how small, should be taken for granted. The dollar amount you use doesn't really matter — it should just be a number that feels expensive to you. For me, $100 is a good benchmark, but your number could be
4. Keep things visually simple. Opening a cupboard or closet filled with objects of many different colors, sizes and shapes often appears cluttered, even if the contents are well organized. Matched sets of glassware and dishes usually look splendid lined up on a shelf, but not everything can (or should) come in a matched set. In that case, look to containers to create that cohesive feel — boxes, baskets, trays and magazine files are all wonderful and easy to label. Just remember, if it looks simple, it probably is.
5. Use easy-access storage containers. Don't make things harder than they need to be! Open bins and baskets make it very simple to stay organized and grab what you need quickly and efficiently. Save the boxes with lids for deep storage (basement, attic, etc.) where keeping dust out is more important than accessibility.
6. Reconsider your space needs. We tend to accumulate belongings to fill whatever space we live in, no matter the size. Keep things simple by choosing to live in a home that fits you perfectly: large enough that each member of the household feels comfortable, but not so large that whole rooms often go unused.
7. Go digital — with several backups. Going paperless is a worthy goal, lessening our impact on the environment and reducing clutter at home at the same time. Just be sure to back up material properly — there is nothing simple about having to find replacements for lost data. Use an online "cloud" storage service, for instance, but also back up with an external hard drive
8. Create simple systems and stick with them. Routines are key to simplicity at home. You don't have to remind yourself to brush your teeth or your hair every day, right? If you have an area of frustration at home (e.g. laundry or weeknight dinners), think of what might make things work more smoothly (do one load of laundry each day, prep veggies on Sunday, etc.) and commit to following through for the next several weeks. After a month, you will have instilled a new habit.
9. Make a list of your favorite simple pleasures and indulge one every day. Too many times we try and push through to the weekend, as if that's the only time we deserve to relax. No more! Start by making a list of little things and moments you enjoy, and keep it in your pocket to refer to (and add to) often. The things on your list should be small and easily attainable or doable: a bouquet of flowers from the market, a special bar of soap, a new book, a walk after work.
10. Design your home around the way you live. If you have pets or children, choose easy-care fabrics and finishes, and sturdy rather than ultra-fragile decor. If you love to cook, take the time to organize your cookware in an intelligent way. The point is to make things as easy on yourself as possible. When your home is arranged around your lifestyle instead of the other way around, you will spend less time battling your stuff, and have more time for what's really important to you: the people, pets and experiences you love.
If there are rooms in your home that you seldom use, think about repurposing them. Increase the function of your formal dining room by making it do double duty as an office, a library or a homework area. It can still look great and serve your needs.
Do you have an extra-wide hallway? Maybe you could install bookcases or cabinetry to increase the function of a previously unused space. Books grouped artfully can be beautiful, especially when you remove the outer covers.
Even in small homes, there may be untapped storage potential that would add to the functionality of your space. Like under the stairwell, perhaps. Attention to the details of the millwork makes this both useful and lovely.
Even the bottom of a staircase can be more functional when shelving is installed. Cookbooks, along with baskets for holding crafts and supplies, can be stored here for easy access
. Make a connection. Moving, downsizing or combining households is a fact of life, and having a "forever home" just isn't practical for many of us. But even if you're not sure how long you'll stay in one place, you can still have a forever connection with your house by incorporating smaller-scale dreams, embracing childhood memories and even welcoming pets into your home
2. Appreciate. Letting go of the little things and considering the intangible parts of your home, like the feeling you get when you're sitting on the porch on a warm night, can help you love your home more. Learning to appreciate the small joys your house offers can be more effective and longer lasting than the satisfaction that comes with buying a new rug or sofa.
3. Declutter and organize. Plan for the storage of things you know you'll be accumulating, such as family photographs, your kids' best artwork and financial records. Craving storage space? You may be surprised by the storage areas you can find in unexpected places around your house. Try a few of these smart organizing tips and see what happens.
4. Get personal. Whether you live in a custom-built home, an older house or a rental, you can make it feel like you. Honoring your tastes — in color, art, heirlooms and accessories — will help you stay true to yourself and make your home beautiful, too.
5. Forget perfection. Sometimes looking at photos of beautiful houses can make you feel anxious about perceived shortcomings in your own home. Feeling like your house could never live up to your dream standard? Start with something small. Whipping that junk drawer into shape or diving into a home project can be very inspiring.
6. Create a calm place. What makes a home peaceful? We know as soon as we see or feel it, but creating it in our own homes can be difficult. Most peaceful spaces share certain things in common: serene color palettes, filtered light and plenty of easy-to-implement tidiness tricks. Try integrating some of these strategies into your own home for a simply calming space.
7. Feed your creativity. At the end of a long day, I'm more inclined to hole up on the couch with a glass of wine than to whip out my paintbrush and palette. When you feel the need to jump-start your artistic self, find a corner to call your own, eliminate distractions, make it easy to access your materials and add a dose of humor to keep your mind fresh and the ideas coming.
9. Follow your heart. When it comes to being happier in your home, sometimes it's the big decisions that matter most — like learning to follow your heart. But sometimes it's the little things — like putting new soap in your bathroom, painting your front door or simply setting the table — that make the biggest difference. We offer ideas for both.
10. Try an easy (and free) de-stresser. Leave work at the door when you come into your house. And before you pick up the remote, do something unplugged, such as tending to your houseplants. This ideabook provides ways your home can engage your senses and help you decompress.
Entry and Mudroom Try something low. A long, low table or bench in the entry invites you to come closer and investigate, rather than dump your keys and bag in a rush through to other rooms. It's a subtle difference, but it could be just enough change to slow your pace from the harried outside world to the peace and comfort of home. Enhance the peaceful effect by placing a single, beautiful orchid or vase of flowers and a pretty cloth on the table.
Living Spaces Establish a basic housekeeping rhythm. This may sound a bit old fashioned, but knowing you have a system in place for keeping the house neat and tidy can be a great source of comfort. Ask yourself what the hallmarks of "clean" are to you — for some, it may be a perfectly scrubbed kitchen; for me it's clean floors and fluffed cushions. Whatever says "clean" to you, make time for it in your weekly schedule
Stick with a serene color palette. This is not to say that homes done in pale neutrals are the only ones that feel calming (it may be that deep, moody colors are what invite you to sink in and relax), but generally speaking, the more colors and patterns there are in a room, the less restful it will feel. So if something feels off in a particular room, a good starting point is to simplify the color palette or try removing a pattern.
Workspace Go wireless. Cables and cords are an eyesore, but more than that, they can contribute to a general feeling of chaos and disorder in a home office. Choose wireless devices when possible to cut down on the cord tangle, and sort the rest with labeled clips to keep them out of the way. If you have the option, installing outlets exactly where you need them below your desk is a wise investment.
Minimize visual clutter. When it comes to paper storage, the easiest thing is to sort it all into matching containers. Woven baskets and bins along with simple white magazine files or kraft paper photo boxes are versatile pieces that can handle almost anything you have. Get a label maker if you don't like your handwriting, and stick on a fresh label each time you make a new bin or file.
Offset tech gadgets with living plants and handmade objects. Workspaces tend to be filled with plastics — and even if those plastics are sleek, they are still plastics. Bringing in something tactile and handmade, like rustic plant pots filled with succulents, an intricately woven textile or a hand-turned wooden bowl, will help bring much-needed balance to the space
Kitchen and Bathroom Keep counter space cleared. Stow all small kitchen appliances except those used daily, and you can free up a lot of counter space in the kitchen. And cleared counter space is like money in the bank: Use it to spread out ingredients for cooking or papers for a school project, or just enjoy the lovely feeling of having a clean, orderly counter.
If you need a big, open space, make it happen. If what you really need is an expansive surface to spread out on and you don't have a dedicated place with one, don't let that stop you. It's perfectly all right to call dibs on the dining room or kitchen table between meals, provided you can clear your work to the side relatively easily. Keeping a cabinet or drawers nearby will make it easy to sweep things off the table in a hurry.
Feeling stuck? Take a time-out for exercise. The next time a creative block hits, try taking a brisk walk, settling into a few yoga poses or lifting weights — anything to get your blood pumping. Exercise gives your mind a rest from actively thinking about your creative problem while improving circulation (and likely your mood). The best ideas can bubble up spontaneously during these time-outs, pulling you out of your rut in a much shorter time than if you had been trying to force an idea to come.
Let your entire space reflect your creative passions. There is something to be said for having an entire studio devoted to your art (of course), but for most of us, finding creative space within the rest of our home is just how it goes. But that doesn't mean you must confine your creativity to one zone — in fact, the more you can integrate mini creativity spots throughout your space, the more likely it is you'll be tempted to make something. Try displaying your guitar on a stand in the living room, keeping pretty fabrics or luscious yarns in open cubbies, and stashing a stack of fresh notebooks and nice pens near your favorite chair.
Artist Ros Matson loves the tones and textures of nature and handmade objects. She has also always loved the 1890s mud and straw cottage nestled in the Adelaide Hills on her in-laws' property in Australia. When managing the property and tending the slippery slopes became too much for her father-in-law, Ros and her husband, Terry Matson, purchased the beautiful pocket of land and its textured house. Using the surrounding environment and the cottage's original character as their guide, the Matsons worked with local builders to give the exterior a much-needed update and add a new kitchen, living space and painting studio. Nodding to the German family of eight who built the home, the house now serves as a refuge for all of their extended family. Houzz at a Glance Who lives here: Ros and Terry Maston Location: Uraidla, South Australia Size: 264 square meters (2,842 square feet); 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and art studio Remodel cost: $80,000 Australian (about U.S.$71,992), including materials, appliances and labor That's interesting: The dining table once belonged to shearers and includes their carved names. The Matsons carry on the tradition by asking visitors to add their own.
"Although we needed a bigger space, we were adamant that it did not detract from the smaller proportions of the original cottage,” Ros says. “We wanted to use local builders who felt a connection to the history behind the cottage." The couple found a British father-and-son team to design and forge exposed metal trusses to hold the huge gabled rafters in the new open kitchen and living room. The remodel increased the view across the valley with walls of windows facing east and north; a connection with the outdoors was a priority. The white sofas are reupholstered family favorites. Ceramic platters: Country Road The kitchen has been gradually simplified over time. "It did go through an open-dresser look, but that was some time ago," says Ros, pictured here. The kitchen now has a more streamlined functionality, with stained pine countertops and stainless steel cupboards. All the water for the house is collected in rainwater tanks on the property; wastewater is treated onsite. The mud-brick shell was advantageous to work with as it was easy cutting into, says Ros. But the consistency of the straw and mud meant the fine, powdery clay went everywhere when they strippe...
When the homeowners dug a dam at the bottom of the valley, they discovered an old garbage pile that held this rustic terra-cotta pot.
simplify the bedroom
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