Simplify your home. A step-by-step plan.

Thanks for the swell comments on yesterday's post.

It's good to know that I'm not alone and that others are struggling in the journey towards simplicity.

What you see below is a (much needed) repost from early 2012. A simple path to a simple home.

I think it's time to revisit this plan and take in on anew. Are you in? 

Ooh! More ugly pictures. (You love these, don't you.) Yes. This space looked so lovely when we first set it up, but it's been a while and it's looking pretty tattered.

I have formulated a plan for how we can work together to transform our homes to more simple and beautiful spaces. As we roll into the weekend I thought many of you would be anxious to start. While some of you are probably already digging in, I thought others could use a formula to get started. There is no right or wrong way to go about it as long as you're making progress. Below is my plan:

A Simple and Beautiful Home

1. Take a notebook. At the top of each page jot down the name of each room or space in your home. (Don't forget the basement, garage, and any additional off-site storage spaces that you want to tackle.)

2. Walk through your home and list the projects that need to be accomplished in each room. Write it all down. Then you have the satisfaction of crossing off each task as it is completed and you'll see the progress in your notebook and your space. (For super geeky simplifying, shoot some before pictures. I'll figure out a way for us to share before and afters in the coming weeks.)

For example, the room above, our homeschooling room (really a pass-through hallway) needs the following:

Homeschool Room

• Clean clutter off globe shelves and top of hutch. Wipe off globes.
• Clean, purge and organize craft supplies. Wipe down hutch inside and out.
• Purge and organize books.
• Clean off nature table and start fresh.
• Touch up paint.

Repeat this process for each space.

3. Now decide how much time you will commit each day (or week) to simplification. I suggest a bare minimum of 10 minutes per session so that you can actually see some progress and a maximum of a few hours. Try not to schedule such large and frequent chunks of time that you burn out, but schedule enough that you'll see progress and be inspired to continue. For many of you (myself included) setting a particular time each day to work will be helpful too. After dinner, before bed, etc.

4. Before you start your first space, gather a few supplies:

• Bye-bye box (items to donate)
• Recycling box (for all that paper that seems to breed and multiply on every flat surface)
• Trash bag
• Damp rag for wiping surfaces down
• Your notebook: keep it close at hand to cross off tasks and to jot down any additional supplies you may need. (Say, a bin, coat hook or file folder for example. You may find you can repurpose something you already have that you find in a room further down the list.).

5. Choose the room that will pack the most satisfaction without being overwhelming and start there. Come back to that room each session until it is done if you are unable to complete it in one go.

That's it! Now you are rolling. Your new simple, de-cluttered, beautiful home awaits. Go and get it.

Thanks for the swell comments on yesterday's post.

It's good to know that I'm not alone and that others are struggling in the journey towards simplicity.

What you see below is a (much needed) repost from early 2012. A simple path to a simple home.

I think it's time to revisit this plan and take in on anew. Are you in? 

Ooh! More ugly pictures. (You love these, don't you.) Yes. This space looked so lovely when we first set it up, but it's been a while and it's looking pretty tattered.

I have formulated a plan for how we can work together to transform our homes to more simple and beautiful spaces. As we roll into the weekend I thought many of you would be anxious to start. While some of you are probably already digging in, I thought others could use a formula to get started. There is no right or wrong way to go about it as long as you're making progress. Below is my plan:

A Simple and Beautiful Home

1. Take a notebook. At the top of each page jot down the name of each room or space in your home. (Don't forget the basement, garage, and any additional off-site storage spaces that you want to tackle.)

2. Walk through your home and list the projects that need to be accomplished in each room. Write it all down. Then you have the satisfaction of crossing off each task as it is completed and you'll see the progress in your notebook and your space. (For super geeky simplifying, shoot some before pictures. I'll figure out a way for us to share before and afters in the coming weeks.)

For example, the room above, our homeschooling room (really a pass-through hallway) needs the following:

Homeschool Room

• Clean clutter off globe shelves and top of hutch. Wipe off globes.
• Clean, purge and organize craft supplies. Wipe down hutch inside and out.
• Purge and organize books.
• Clean off nature table and start fresh.
• Touch up paint.

Repeat this process for each space.

3. Now decide how much time you will commit each day (or week) to simplification. I suggest a bare minimum of 10 minutes per session so that you can actually see some progress and a maximum of a few hours. Try not to schedule such large and frequent chunks of time that you burn out, but schedule enough that you'll see progress and be inspired to continue. For many of you (myself included) setting a particular time each day to work will be helpful too. After dinner, before bed, etc.

4. Before you start your first space, gather a few supplies:

• Bye-bye box (items to donate)
• Recycling box (for all that paper that seems to breed and multiply on every flat surface)
• Trash bag
• Damp rag for wiping surfaces down
• Your notebook: keep it close at hand to cross off tasks and to jot down any additional supplies you may need. (Say, a bin, coat hook or file folder for example. You may find you can repurpose something you already have that you find in a room further down the list.).

5. Choose the room that will pack the most satisfaction without being overwhelming and start there. Come back to that room each session until it is done if you are unable to complete it in one go.

That's it! Now you are rolling. Your new simple, de-cluttered, beautiful home awaits. Go and get it.