As we entered the final week of the summer holiday I started thinking about the new academic year. I've taken on more teaching this year and in order to work efficiently, everything has to be tidy and accessible. To put it bluntly - it wasn't.
When I moved into the smaller bedroom and cleared out the masses of storage space I had in my old bedroom in order to rent out that room, I never found a place for everything so that everything has its place. And DD's room was also getting out of control. Lots of toys, clothes and books in, nothing out. It all adds up, especially as I finally decided that she's old enough to keep all her stuff in her bedroom. With a lodger the salon has to be a grown up room and not a playroom, unless it is actually being played in.
My solution last week was to buy more storage - even though I'd said it's not about more storage, it's about owning less. Some wall shelves in DD's room and a shelving unit for my room maybe? We went looking but something stopped me buying. At the last minute I suddenly had the brilliant idea of... wait for it... tidying up. Remember "Think like Gali"? Yeah well I never really achieved that even though I did major decluttering when I moved into the smaller bedroom.
So today we tidied DD's bedroom. Yield: One ride-on toy ready to go to the nursery, two bags of books and toys to donate to the next charity sale, a bag of books to return to a friend who lent us a virtual library when DD was a baby, 40 pine cones that we collected last year (what for?) to the kindergarten for crafts, a bag of old shoes to put by the bins, another bag of good shoes to give to a friend, and a big bag of rubbish to throw out. That's seven bags of stuff we didn't need! And I am not a hoarder.
Not only did we not need to buy new shelves for DD's bedroom, we emptied and moved out of the room, one large storage box on wheels and a sturdy 4-shelf plastic vegetable rack that had been full of toys. The bedroom is now clear, clean and clutter-free. Next stop my bedroom.
When I moved into the smaller bedroom and cleared out the masses of storage space I had in my old bedroom in order to rent out that room, I never found a place for everything so that everything has its place. And DD's room was also getting out of control. Lots of toys, clothes and books in, nothing out. It all adds up, especially as I finally decided that she's old enough to keep all her stuff in her bedroom. With a lodger the salon has to be a grown up room and not a playroom, unless it is actually being played in.
My solution last week was to buy more storage - even though I'd said it's not about more storage, it's about owning less. Some wall shelves in DD's room and a shelving unit for my room maybe? We went looking but something stopped me buying. At the last minute I suddenly had the brilliant idea of... wait for it... tidying up. Remember "Think like Gali"? Yeah well I never really achieved that even though I did major decluttering when I moved into the smaller bedroom.
So today we tidied DD's bedroom. Yield: One ride-on toy ready to go to the nursery, two bags of books and toys to donate to the next charity sale, a bag of books to return to a friend who lent us a virtual library when DD was a baby, 40 pine cones that we collected last year (what for?) to the kindergarten for crafts, a bag of old shoes to put by the bins, another bag of good shoes to give to a friend, and a big bag of rubbish to throw out. That's seven bags of stuff we didn't need! And I am not a hoarder.
Not only did we not need to buy new shelves for DD's bedroom, we emptied and moved out of the room, one large storage box on wheels and a sturdy 4-shelf plastic vegetable rack that had been full of toys. The bedroom is now clear, clean and clutter-free. Next stop my bedroom.
You should come help me declutter! I will have a guestroom should I ever be able to walk in the door of that room to get it set up...
ReplyDeleteIf you were in Jerusalem I'd have been over to your place already.
ReplyDeleteI hear things like 'declutter 'and my brain goes right into declutter mode .It has to be my favourite household chore .I would have come over like a shot if I were nearer!!!
ReplyDeleteI'd go into business with you but you've just started a new and demanding job. Oh well, next life.
DeleteMy all time favourite household activity is decluttering .Nothing gives me greater pleasure then big rubbish bags by the front door ready for bin/charity/friends ...
ReplyDeleteI still never understand why I still and always will have stuff to chuck out!!
this is great...i should be focuesd on this one....
ReplyDeleteThanks. I can't believe I was going to buy shelves for stuff we didn't even need.
DeleteWell done. We're having a clear out and trying not to be sentimental about stuff. Good luck doing your room.
ReplyDeleteNortonmum
There's no place for sentimentality in my small flat, LOL.
DeleteI love decluttering :) I still yearn for the days when I could fit all my belongings in the boot of my car!
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see the beauty in that and feel the sense of freedom it would bring.
DeleteThere is something very good for the soul about a good declutter! Hope you find a nice lodger too! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, I've had some interesting replies already.
DeleteOh yes, buying more storage only means hoarding more 'stuff'. I am hopeless at de-cluttering but feel a huge sense of achievement whenever I do it. Well done!
ReplyDeletexx Jazzy
Thank you.Funny how you sometimes need to have less storage in order to be organised.
DeleteI did some de-cluttering as well after we bought a house from a private real estate sales company, but it was not as successful as I thought it to be. It was harder than I imagined. I guess I'm not fitted for interior designing and stuffs.
ReplyDeleteI agree, spamming is more your style. Beautifully done here I might add. Well done.
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