A declutter's dilemma

Ya know, I can't stand clutter around my house. It happens, but it moves on within a week usually.

Well, over the past week or two I have had my sewing machine out. Our house is pretty small, so the machine is set up on my dining table (which in itself is really small and only seats 4 people) - and my dining room is right in the entry of my house. So you see it as soon as you knock on the door. It's out of character for me to have left it there for so long (and it's meant more picnic dinners and more sitting on the couch in that room to eat because of no table space). BUT, boy have I done a heap of sewing in that time! Not even a lot to show for it, but if I feel the urge, I just go straight over there and do it (sewed little bags for the kids marbles, added a knee patch to Nathan's pyjamas, sewed the button holes on his pyjamas a bit smaller as they'd stretched, made Danielle a top and Nathan a pair of pants...). Most of these things wouldn't have happened in such a timely manner if that machine weren't just sitting there. *sigh* These are the times I wish I had a spare room to convert into a sewing room.

The other thing - the declutter in me also doesn't like the printer permanently set up (I have my laptop perched on the couch arm) and need to plonk the printer on my side table to print. However, last week I needed to print off an application form, so out it came. Well, it's stayed there and I have found heaps of things to just zap off as I need (previously I just don't bother, but wish I could if I weren't so lazy).

What a dilemma!

(sewing machine has now been put away though).

Hand-me-downs

(Groovy patterned hand sewn apron from my nana - my first apron!)

I love receiving hand-me-downs and buying 2nd hand. It's not even so much that it's a means of saving me money, but much more...

* I find it wonderful to reuse items, especially those that have been treasured by the previous owner. I get the joy out of extending the life of something and often the gifter loves to see their previously treasured items living on. I am mindful of only accepting what I *need*, it can be too easy to say "yes".

* I enjoy coming up with my own unique use of an item or if it's clothing, it can be refashioned into something new.

* It means one less item that I am buying new from a large corporation with goods likely made in China and shipped all across the world to New Zealand.

* Receiving used items is having a flow on effect helping me be more mindful when down at the mall (in fact I rarely go there for the purpose of "browsing" anymore), I know that whatever I *need* or *desire* can often be found at a 2nd hand shop or will *appear* when needed. The less I shop - the less I have the desire to go shop.

* My children are less inclined to see only things of value as coming from a shop.

Then there is a following for what is called The Compact. I investigated doing this, but have decided that where I am at is to just be more mindful rather than have strict rules that don't quite fit with me just yet.

I feel blessed to have people who are willing to offer me used items. I also love to pass on things to others who are open to receiving.

Content in my cosy home...

So I've always been a declutterer. I think it was driven from having grown up in a very cluttered house with my parents (a large house, just every surface was covered in *stuff*). I recall it driving me nuts back then and it still does now heh!

I wouldn't say I am a minimalist, but I like to only own things that I LOVE. I don't like to own lots of similar type things when one or two of them would be sufficient (kitchen comes to mind here). It has been a long process of getting to where I am now even and I tend to purge things every few months. I find it hard to be a continual declutterer though, so I do like to put things in a drawer for reassessing at some later stage. Usually it's a burst of energy that comes on at 9pm!

I read a thread on a message board last year (with a link to a blog) that got me really inspired to do a massive overhaul of my home. Here is the blog about the home (including a photo tour) that changed my views on why I previously thought my average 3 bedroom home would be too small for our family long term. For some reason I was sucked into the whole idea that families need a lot of space and within 5yrs we'd need to upgrade. We have quite large living rooms and kitchen space which is more than enough space for our family of four. Once I got my head around all of this, I realised that I *am* content where we are. I like the community neighbourhood, I like the feel of our house, I like the large backyard (as yet unused, but now has a plan ;)) - so really why would I want a bigger house?

The contentment that I felt after reading the thread and blog has just made me feel so much more settled - in fact I guess this realisation was really what led to my desire to live a sustainable lifestyle and that our current property is perfect for doing just that!

Here are a few pics of my living areas post-declutter (although they mostly looked like this anyway, I was looking at it with new eyes). I did have one of my lounge, but has been lost somewhere between my two laptops breaking down and some data was lost.

Looking down hallway towards bedrooms from dining room.



Standing near my kitchen entry looking across my dining room to my front door - very open and exposed, no privacy. Ideally I'd like to extend out down the porch and enclose a portion that will create a foyer-type room. Our small dining table is to the right of the photo (this room used to be the original entire living room of the house which used to be a beach bach).



Dining room


My kitchen from standing in the dining room.



Lounge


Bathroom


Laundry


Bedroom


I am also focusing on making really conscious purchases when I go shopping. I find it so easy to just see something and justify a need for it (and that goes for buying 2nd hand stuff as well). I have been stopping myself by asking "did have this need before I saw it?". So far that has worked and I have walked away.

Maybe that will be further discussion for another time. Voluntary Simplicity.