Home DecorMake Room For What You Love May 2, 2016 Since we moved into this house back in the fall, I’ve been craving simple. I can’t really describe it. Maybe it’s becoming a mom. Maybe it’s moving and being made aware of how much excess we have. But I’ve been battling the hustle and the stuff with the idea of living with less, slowing down. Working as a design blogger calls for some stuff and I realize that I’ve often confused creating beauty in our home with excess. I think there’s a way to do it that is excessive, but there is also a way to cultivate a gorgeous, style-filled home that is packed with meaning, full, and yes….simple. I’m still fighting this balance. I’m still craving and seeking the simple and an uncovering what that means for our family here at our Buffalo Bungalow. There are several ladies that I’ve read in this blogging world long before my blog existed and I think they do this balance so well. Melissa from The Inspired Room is one of them and I’ve always loved how she shares her home and heart. Her new book, Make Room For What You Love, is all about simplifying and organizing your home and life. Literally clean out the excess and make room for what you love. Maybe that’s stuff, maybe that’s just space to see the light stream in the window. Either way, I’m trying to make room. I absolutely love this quote and think it’s so true! I’m determined to change this in our home so that our life really does “breathe happiness into our family’s story.” When it comes to stuff and excess, I’ve adopted a new rule that I’m trying to use when organizing this house. I am a HOARDER. Anytime I go to get rid of something, I immediately picture where that could go in our home, where I might wear that at some point in the non-existent future. I’ve realized that mentality has to go and our life needs order so that we can thrive and live with intention. So here’s what I’m trying to implement: 1.) Set a Designated Spot 2.) No Overflow…PERIOD. First, I set a designated spot for a certain thing or group of items. Then, however much will fit there is all that stays. This rule helps me choose and prioritize. Most of all, it helps me to do exactly what this book says, make room for what I love. When only a portion can be kept, it makes you choose the favorites, the items that absolutely speak to you or is absolutely necessary. Finishing the playroom a few weeks ago gave me some great storage and those cubbies are a perfect example of this. Whatever books and toys will fit here is what gets to stay out. While Rosie does have a small basket of toys in her room, her bookshelf is the main storage in there. I know her collection will continue to grow and grow, but my plan is to stick to these designated areas, pack up toys and books, and rotate every so often. Several very wise moms gave me this advice and we’ll definitely be trying it out! That way, toys and books feel fresh to her and there’s a good sampling at a time for her to enjoy, but we aren’t completely overrun. Rosie’s spaces are the main ones that have gotten organized this way so far, though there’s a major hidden space of mine that has gotten this treatment a couple of times since we moved in: THE DECORATING CLOSET. My husband has named one of the office closets this because its sole purpose is to house all of my ever-changing decor. Here comes the hoarder nature. I change out decor, art, accessories, and pillows so much that I just can’t bear to get rid of any! And more continually come in through my line of work. But when we moved, we realized it was a major problem. So the rule became, “Whatever fits in the closet, gets to stay.” So far it’s worked, though you can see it needs straightening again so I can actually see what I have. That’s the idea behind the shelves and grouping of like things. It makes it easier to see my treasures and change things out. I’ve gone through and cleaned out pieces from here twice since we moved in and I really need to do it again. There are no room for a few new finds, so something has to go. The plan here is to keep only items that have meaning or really speak to me. If I can’t see myself using it in our home, it goes. This is my stock to pull from for us to enjoy, for photoshoots, tablescapes, etc. and every single piece has to be loved. Most of them were given to me or purchased cheaply. There are days where I want to just chuck it all and live more bare bones and who knows, maybe one day I will. But I’m wired for change. It fuels me to create each day even if it’s just changing out a candlestick, so for now, a carefully chosen limited amount stays. I have so many more spaces in our home that I can’t wait to apply this to. The spaces that are organized like the playroom and Rosie’s room have such a different feel. They’re not just clean, but they’re happy and just make me want to be there. Now to bring that feeling into the rest of the house. A huge thanks to Melissa for inviting me to join in! I got her book in the mail recently and I’m learning so much from it for my own simplified journey. You can get your copy here! And I’m so excited to check out the other bloggers sharing their tips for a simplified, organized life today! Make sure you check them out below: Eleven Gables / At the Picket Fence / Fieldstone Hill Design / Julie Blanner / Southern Hospitality / Beneath My Heart / Thrifty Decor Chick / Reluctant Entertainer / My Sweet Savannah / Domestic Fashionista / At Home In Love / 320 Sycamore / Sunny Side Up / Craftberry Bush / Happy Happy Nester / The White Buffalo Styling Co / Sweet and Simple Home / Finding Home Farms / In My Own Style / Fox Hollow Cottage / The House of Silver Lining / Infarrantly Creative / Shabby Nest / Today’s Creative Life / Sarah M. Dorsey Designs / Emily A. Clark / Just A Girl
Kathie Briggs says May 2, 2016 at 8:22 am Great ideas. I see the paint chip books deserved a space in the decorating closet. Reply
Austin says May 2, 2016 at 11:02 am This is so timely – as I live in a apartment, I have (depressingly) limited closet space. We don’t even have an authentic linen closet. That said, there is a wall in my room that is currently taken up with all of my decor that I don’t have a place for right now. It overwhelms me, but I love so much of it, it’s hard to part with. I definitely need to read this book and start redefining what I “love” and what I like but have no use/space for. That “sucking the life out of you” line really resonated with me! Reply
Meg @ Green With Decor says May 2, 2016 at 11:23 am Loved this post! I’m so on a mission lately to declutter and simplify. Reply
Cindy says May 2, 2016 at 11:49 am Decluttering is on my list to do in our whole house. In fact I was just reading over the weekend to only have on your kitchen counter tops the things you use in that room. No extra decorations, etc. Since our kitchen is small, doing this has made it seem much more streamlined and bigger. It makes it a lot more joyous to cook in a space where there is no clutter. And I am going to purchase this book too. Thanks! Reply
Leah Prevost says May 2, 2016 at 12:48 pm I have a closet too where all my extra stuff sits. Like you said I’m too afraid to let it go because would if I need it later?? So dumb. I’m ready to go through my closets, and garage to get rid of the excess. It’s so true that you literally feel better when your home is clean and everything’s in its place. This has motivated me to finally start . Thanks! Reply
Melissa Michaels says May 3, 2016 at 9:28 pm Simplifying what we don’t need and keeping what we love is a life-long process, I think! Certainly we all face different STUFF at different times in lifeI love your decorating closet, I have to do the same thing, continually clear out even things I love! Thanks so much for being a part of the tour and sharing your home and heart on your blog. You are doing a fabulous job and I love being inspired by you! xo Reply
[…] / At Home In Love / 320 Sycamore / Sunny Side Up / Craftberry Bush / Happy Happy Nester / The White Buffalo Styling Co / Sweet and Simple Home / Finding Home Farms / In My Own Style / Fox Hollow Cottage / The House of […] Reply
[…] / At Home In Love / 320 Sycamore / Sunny Side Up / Craftberry Bush / Happy Happy Nester / The White Buffalo Styling Co / Sweet and Simple Home / Finding Home Farms / In My Own Style / Fox Hollow Cottage / The House of […] Reply
[…] The White Buffalo Styling Co / Sweet and Simple Home / Finding Home Farms / In My Own Style / […] Reply
[…] The White Buffalo Styling Co / Sweet and Simple Home / Finding Home Farms / In My Own Style / […] Reply
[…] Home In Love / 320 Sycamore / Sunny Side Up / Craftberry Bush / Happy Happy Nester / The White Buffalo Styling Co / Sweet and Simple Home / Finding Home Farms / In My Own Style / Fox Hollow Cottage / The […] Reply
[…] / At Home In Love / 320 Sycamore / Sunny Side Up / Craftberry Bush / Happy Happy Nester / The White Buffalo Styling Co / Sweet and Simple Home / Finding Home Farms / In My Own Style / Fox Hollow Cottage / The House of […] Reply
[…] / Domestic Fashionista / At Home In Love / 320 Sycamore / Sunny Side Up / Happy Happy Nester / The White Buffalo Styling Co / Sweet and Simple Home / Finding Home Farms / In My Own Style / Fox Hollow Cottage / The House of […] Reply
[…] Fashionista / At Home In Love / 320 Sycamore / Sunny Side Up / Happy Happy Nester / The White Buffalo Styling Co / Sweet and Simple Home / Finding Home Farms / In My Own Style / Fox Hollow Cottage / The […] Reply
[…] / At Home In Love / 320 Sycamore / Sunny Side Up / Craftberry Bush / Happy Happy Nester / The White Buffalo Styling Co / Sweet and Simple Home / Finding Home Farms / In My Own Style / Fox Hollow Cottage / The House of […] Reply