On "Stuff" and Simplifying Our Home

Winter brings out the homebody in me, so we spend huge amounts of time inside these walls.  And I love it.  I could be home for days on end and be completely happy.  This hibernating also gives me the itch to organize, sort, de-clutter, and simplify our home.  In a crazy way.

I recently read a blog post about "managing stuff" and it struck a positive chord with me.  I was thrilled to see that another mom likes to see things move through and out of her house as quickly as I do.  Although our house has a little more square footage and two less people than hers does, it still got me to re-think how important it is to be pro-active about managing all of the material possessions that seem to multiply right before my eyes.

Party favor bags, drawings and crafts, garage sale finds, clothes, shoes, paper, mail, TOYS, books, pens, trinkets...wow, I could keep going, but you get the picture!

It is not that having is inherently wrong, and I walk the line between being grateful for our things and being overwhelmed by them.  Material blessings certainly have come easily to most of us, haven't they?  But I have come to realize that there is a difference between enjoying material blessings and collecting stuff just for the sake of it.  If something is no longer serving a useful purpose in our homes, then why keep it around?

I know....easier said than done.  While it's easy for me to spot the toys my children no longer play with and the clothes they no longer wear, it's much harder to look around my fabric and craft stash and spot the items that I just don't need anymore and that take up space in our precious home.

So, in an effort to "practice what I preach" I recently went through my fabric and craft shelves in the basement and donated bag fulls of fabrics, crafts, and books of my own.  And this china cabinet that held my pretties?  Gone!  (Well, to the basement anyway.  And serving perfectly as a storage area in Dan's office.)  It was just taking up too much space in the kid's craft/homework area. 

The contents of this china cabinet have been dispersed throughout the house, consolidated with kitchen items, or donated.  I tried hard to only keep the things that are functional or beautiful to us, and pass along the rest that we have collected throughout the years without second thought.

Now this space is home to items that we find both interesting and educational.

De-cluttering "stuff", both my family's and my own, brings about order and peace.  It creates more room to live and move, gives us less to clean, and is just plain good for the soul.

Simple Mom is hosting Project: Simplify beginning in March.  It looks to me like a fun and fabulous way to simplify our homes and offer some accountability at the same time.  There is even a schedule given for what to tackle each week.  A true method to the madness!

I plan to join her.  Is anyone with me?

Comments

[Tracey]

I need to gut every room in my house as there is stuff everywhere! Good for you for getting motivated.

[Heather G]

This definitely hits close to home for me. I have been feeling like we have way too much stuff lately. I would love to join in the simplifying. I'm not sure I can wait until March though! :)

[ellen]

You brave lady! That's what I need to do since we have so much STUFF. I see your easel ... I borrowed yours... I think you need it back?