My family and I have been in quarantine since March. While we do go to the grocery store, Target, and the like. For the most part, we've been free of the hustle and bustle of our pre-COVID life.
After spending so much uninterrupted time at home. The reality that I have TOO MUCH STUFF in my house has finally sunk in.
As a home decor/DIY blogger, and someone who has a hard time passing up pretty things that catch my eye (especially if it's "a deal"). And an even harder time letting go of those things.
It's no surprise that my house ended up cluttered and jam-packed with too much stuff I frankly don't want or need in my home anymore.
While I've had garage sales and sold things I no longer wanted over the years. It never really made a difference. Because I was bringing in the same amount if not more stuff than whatever I just sold (sigh).
Things pile up, you move it around the house, and eventually, your whole house starts looking like this-
It's no wonder my organizing efforts have never really stuck. You cannot organize a cluttered house. You just can't. (Believe me, I've tried).
I was under the illusion that clutter is a junky or broken thing that you have laying around. Now I see even the pretty things we buy can become clutter when there's so much of it, we can't appreciate any of it.
Pretty things we buy can become clutter when there's so much of it, we can't appreciate any of it.
Spending precious time I won't ever get back in my life managing STUFF is just not something I want to do anymore. Making positive changes in other areas of my life has definitely shaped how I see my home now.
I'm finally looking at my home with a critical eye. Being honest about the stress and anxiety having so much stuff has caused me and in turn my family.
Although I still have a love of home decor (and pretty things in general). I don't want that impulse to have so much power over my home. Going forward it's going to be critical that I'm more judicious about my purchases.
Ultimately my goal is to create a home for my family (and myself) that is warm and welcoming. That provides them with consistency and comfort from the chaotic world we live in.
More posts on this topic will be coming in the future, if ya'll are interested! Let me know in the comments.
I would love to share my little journey with you because I'm determined to get my house together you guys. Please comment below if you can relate. I would love to know I'm not alone out here LOL.
I also did a video chatting about this very topic of what quarantine has taught me about my house. Watch it below.
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Thanks for stopping by!
Katie says
I have been on a mission to eliminate the things that do not serve a purpose or bring me or my family joy. I often feel overwhelmed in knowing where to start. I lost my mom shortly after becoming a mother myself and inherited my childhood home. Choosing which of my moms things to keep or let go of was something I avoided for years as it was a taxing and emotional chore. I’ve finally been able to do more of the work and realizing they are just things and holding on to just the meaningful items. I love the concept of minimalism and have tried to incorporate more of it in my approach at home and when bringing in new items into my home. Having less brings me peace and I feel it’s our environmental duty to buy less, create less trash, promote sustainability and buy quality, not quantity.
I love your approach to buying used items and giving them new purpose.
I’m so pleased with your return and the sharing your personal journey since March I found to be so relatable and inspirational.
Linda P. says
Oh Katie I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. I can't even imagine how incredibly difficult it must be having to decide which of your mom's things to keep or let go off, you are very strong to have pushed through that no matter how long it took. If we're being honest as a lover of "stuff" I always had a negative reaction to the idea of minimalism because I always felt it meant giving up things you love. Lately, since I've been doing more reading and research on declutteing and simplifying my home, minimalism comes up a lot and I'm seeing it in a new light. While I'm not sure if I will ever get to minimalism status, the idea of living with only the things you love and need is very very apealing especially as I get older.
Patricia Sheehan Brock says
Thank you for the video....I am sooo where you are. I feel you, girl. I am trying to get systems in place and teaching myself “enough is enough”. Hank in there girl, you got this! It took how long to accumulate it does not go a way in A “twitch of the nose” [Samantha]? 💕
Linda P. says
Patricia, how funny I was just recently trying to explain to my 10-year-old the "nose twitch" from Bewitched, I eventually had to pull it up on Youtbe LOL. Thank you for the encouragement. I know my house did not get this way overnight and I will not able to fix overnight, but boy what I wouldn't give for a "twitch of the nose" right now LOL.
Diane Calkins says
I loved your video! I have a feeling that a lot of us who love home decor live this way. I so could relate to doing a lot of shifting and moving around of stuff! i can't tell you how much time i spend looking for something that i have moved from one place to another! you have inspired me to get a handle on my so called craft room that is more of a catch all room that i spend little time in being creative because it is stressful to be in due to the clutter! stuff! Thank you!
Good luck in your journey to a simpler and more thoughtful way of life. I look forward to all you have to share.
Diane
Linda P. says
Diane, you're 100% correct in that us home decor lovers struggle with an overabundance of stuff in our homes. I know for me it's like I never thought about what would happen when I ran out of space in my home to store, or even display all of my decor items, I just kept buying SMH. Good luck with your craft room, because I know the pain of having a space dedicated to creative pursuits yet it's too messy to actually create in 😣 . I plan to pass on all the tips I'm learning in this book I'm reading (Flylady Sink Relections) and hope us decor lovers can overcome our clutter ways.
Candis Coleman says
I have subscribed to your blog for a while now and never watched your video before today. Oh my gosh, you are me!! My house is cluttered with so many fabulous finds (I love thrifting). I'm depressed after all this quarantining, and I think it's because of my "stuff"! I'll be anxious to see what you do. I need all the help, getting rid of, organizing and freeing my soul of stuff!! Thank you so much...
Linda P. says
Hi Candice, and yes sister we are in the same boat. So sorry you are feeling depressed (definitely can relate to that one too), I do hope things are looking up for you {virtual hug}. What I started telling myself is I love the stuff but the stuff doesn't love me. I've been reading the Flylady's book -- https://bit.ly/2RPHSu0 (affiliate link) and so far it's been helping. I'll be talking about it in a future video. In the meantime, if you're up to it. Get some heavy-duty trash bags and just spend 15 minutes a day (more if you want), just getting rid of the obvious things you don't want. Be ruthless. Also, if you have things that are just to hard to donate, why not try selling them on Facebook Marketplace (I've made a good amount on there over the last few weeks). Good luck!