A Chunk of Glorious Minimalism in My Home

[catherine]

So, as I've posted, DS and DIL (and eventually DGS) moved in and lived with us for a few months. It worked out just fine--but they did bring a ton of stuff. They occupied the two other bedrooms that my kids had all previously occupied--using one as a bedroom/nursery, and one as a TV/lounge room.

They moved out last month, and when I went in to restore the the rooms to their previous status, and after just reshuffling furniture and emptying waste baskets and sweeping, I was blown away by how uncluttered the rooms were. Then I realized that in preparation for them living there we had cleaned out closets and drawers previously filled with things that my kids had left behind LONG ago (like before college) and we had also repainted one room.

So, now that they're gone, the rooms are emptier than they've EVER been since I've lived here (29 years). Plus, my DIL is a clean freak so when the rooms were empty you could see the floors and windows shine.

From time to time my dog wakes me up and I escape by fleeing to the "guest room" and this morning I opened my eyes to this completely decluttered space and just joyfully took it all in. In the room there are probably less than a dozen items--a bed, two nightstands, a dresser, a grouping of 6 pictures on a wall, and curtains (oh, and also a fan--we haven't started the AC yet). Nothing in the closet. Nothing in the drawers. It was SO peaceful!!

And very motivating.. Let's see if I can start some "minimilism-creep" going throughout the rest of the house!!

[razz]

After the stager came through my home and followed her advice, I fell in love with the minimalist look as well. It really is peaceful, isn't it?

[awakenedsoul]

I love it, too. I've been doing the same thing. Going through what I have and just keeping what I use and need. I spent the morning yesterday cleaning my cottage. When I came home from teaching, I felt so at peace. I breathed a sigh of relief when I walked in the door. I think mess and clutter really create stress.

I went to a session with my vocal coach the other day. Her house is becoming like a hoarder's....it's sad. It seemed like she was really negative and critical in the session. She also is very sick. It made me see how important it is to care for your space. Something about doing it yourself, (if you can,) and keeping that discipline makes a difference, too.

[Lainey]

I agree with all this and yet ... I enjoy having a room to use as office and sometime craft space where I can leave things out to work on them or not as I'd like. That means papers, art supplies, notes to myself, and other various detritus. I have the luxury of doing that because I have an empty nest, and so there's no one to complain or ask me to move my stuff back into the closet or off to the side.

Basically the other rooms in the house are average (not minimalist, but not overstuffed), but this one room is where I'm willing to let it all hang out, as it were, and I'm okay with having one space that will never be company-ready.

[Spartana]

Welcome to Spartana-ville Catherine! A clutter free zone of peace and tranquility. As a minimalist of the most Spartan kind (who is often surrounded by other peoples clutter and stuff which irks me and makes me agitated) I really do find peace and calm in a nearly empty and lightly decorated space.

[catherine]

Lainey, I agree with you.. the rest of my house varies as far as the clutter factor. My living room is also pretty minimal in that I keep the tones extremely neutral--off-white walls and brown and black furnishings--even the things I've hung on the wall are variations of black and white with no color. I find it very, very calming. Sometimes I'll do a sage green table cloth just for a spot of color, but I don't feel it needs it. It draws color from the view of the outside and also from the spines on the books in the bookcases.

My family room and kitchen have more of a lived-in look but I wouldn't say they're cluttered. When DDIL was here, she's a) a foodie and b) a gadget person, so the kitchen counter was always cluttered up--which I hate. Kind of counter-intuitive, too, because as I've said, she's a cleaning and germ nut, so having a cluttered kitchen just makes life more difficult for her, I'd imagine.

Then I have my home office, which my DD calls the "mom version of a man-cave." I love this room, and it's the litmus test for me realizing that I could actually live in a Tumbleweed House because it's about the same size as one--about 10 x 12, and I practically live in here. I have my desk for work, an IKEA white armoire where I keep office supplies and I can also hang sweaters in it. There's also a twin bed in a little nook that almost makes it looks built-in, and it's the coziest place for me to snuggle in and read. Now, in this room I've gone a little nuts in the wall art department, and I've hung a couple of paintings my brother made me, and some daVinci prints, and some Stephen Huneck dog prints, and family pics, and I have my "inspiration doors" on the armoire where I've taped my favorite quotes.

Only drawback is it's the hardest room to keep uncluttered looking, because of both its size and functions.

Thanks for your replies, razz, awakened, and Spartana--looks like you've already "seen the light."

[Lainey]

I like that - Mom cave. I think I'm using that term.

btw, I remember that was one of my big issues with the book "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus." there was something in there about how when men come home from work they want to just "go into their cave." My first thought was, "Me, too!" but then someone has to deal with the kids, get dinner started, etc. so who does that fall to if both working parents are relaxing in their cave ??

[catherine]

My first thought was, "Me, too!" but then someone has to deal with the kids, get dinner started, etc. so who does that fall to if both working parents are relaxing in their cave ??

Yeah, that's true. DH often is the cook, and my "mom-cave" is right off the kitchen and to be honest, if he's rattling around too loudly, I'm getting irritated, thinking, quiet down! Even though he's making me MY dinner! My kids have all flown the coop, so it's just me and him.

So you may have a point. We do wind up eating, though, so it does work out one way or the other. He is a better cook, and more of a foodie, and I pull in more or the income--so we have settled on an agreeable division of labor.

[happystuff]

I'm still striving to reach the point that so many of you seemed to have already reached! Thanks for the inspiration!