Decorate With Intention: Simplicity for Life's Sake
10 (easy and cheap) ways to create space and time for the life you want
Living simply at home doesn't have to mean giving up your Eames chairs, annual Ikea pilgrimage, or moving off-the-grid to a cabin in the woods. On the contrary, simple living means getting clear about what you really love so that your time, energy and money are spent on what matters to you. By clearing clutter, creating new habits and resetting your priorities, you can simplify your life no matter where you are. Read on for 10 ways to get started.
2. 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.
3. 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 higher or lower.
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.
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.
Tell us: How have you simplified your life at home?
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.
Tell us: How have you simplified your life at home?
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.
Clutter-Clearing 101