Decluttering In Your Home: How To Get It Done
Decluttering often feels like a grand concept that will take a lot of time. I want to assure you that there is another approach that is far more doable and realistic for you, regardless of the season of life you’re in.
Today we’re going to cover 3 strategic tips that will help you actually get decluttering done in your home, in short bursts. These tips will help you align your efforts with proven ways to complete a round of decluttering instead of it just being an idea, that sounds good, that you hope to get to someday! Let’s dive in.
Create a plan.
The first step to decluttering is to create a plan so it becomes a tangible, actionable thing you can get a pulse on. First, IDENTIFY what category, zone or area you want to focus on. Next CLARIFY when you will work on it. I suggest you write this down on a calendar or planner, a task list or schedule it digitally in your calendar on your phone as a reminder.
Your plan might look like one of these:
IDENTIFY: Declutter the hallway misc. closet / CLARIFY: I’ll declutter it over two evenings after the kids are in bed
IDENTIFY: Do a general declutter of decor in the main spaces in our home / CLARIFY: I’ll set a timer for 30 minutes on the weekend to get it done
Set a deadline.
Nothing is more powerful for getting a decluttering project done than a deadline. Pinky promise. Here’s a few ideas on how to do this, all of which I have done and continue to do in my own home.
Do it with a friend: You both create a plan for a small declutter task you’re doing in your home and then plan to go drop off your donations together. Set a deadline 1-2 weeks out and hold each other accountable/encourage each other during the process.
Schedule a donation pick up: One of my favorite ways to keep momentum during a decluttering burst in my home is to know someone is relying on my efforts for a donation pick up. Having a hard date on the calendar is extremely helpful to keep you focused and motivated. Two of my donation pick ups you can schedule in advance include Leukemia of Texas and Salvation Army - check locally for more options.
Invite someone over: Use the invite of someone coming to your house to visit as your deadline to get your decluttering burst done. I love doing this before my parents visit. I try to get any donations I have sitting in the garage dropped off before they arrive.
Align your efforts with a cause.
One of the things you utilize to encourage forward motion on any decluttering effort is to align it with something that is meaningful and valuable to you. Aligning your decluttering efforts with a cause or charity that needs your help will help you stay motivated when you want quit or spend your time elsewhere. Reminding yourself that there’s so many people in your local community that can benefit from your donated goods will help you remember that your time decluttering is part of a bigger effort to care for the people in need in your community.
Here’s a few of my favorites right now.:
The Big Blue Truck Dress for Success Operation Kindness
My Stuff Bags Hope Scarves The Welman Project
I want to encourage to seek out your own donation causes, charities and groups in your area and share it with us through the forms on any of our donation pages. See all our donation categories here for more ideas.
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Now it’s your turn to weigh in!
Tell us below which one of these 3 declutter strategies are the most helpful to you while you’re decluttering to get the job done.
5 Ways To Lighten Your Holiday Load
The holidays often come with unwanted pressure, stress, obligations eating up your time and that awful busy feeling we all hate. In an effort to go against the grain (as we like to do here), I’ve come up with some tried and true ways that will help lighten your load this holiday season, fill up your bucket and help you focus on what’s most important to you (minus the overwhelm and stress).
1. Unsubscribe From Unwanted Emails
Not where you thought I was going to start, am I right?!
Your inbox is about to be inundated with marketing emails and this is the perfect time to reduce what’s landing in your inbox. Within a few days and into the first week you’ll start noticing far less emails in your inbox to review, and less emails taking up your time.
WHAT TO DO:
put the timer on for 10 minutes
start unsubscribing from emails you no longer want to receive
delete emails you’ve already read + gathered what you needed from it
unsubscribe from stores/blogs/websites you never engaged with this year
2. Do A Quick Seasonal Declutter
I’m not talking about a huge entire home purge here, but editing things in a few key areas will feel like a full home declutter.
This is a great time to assess items that weren’t used, worn, not longer your taste or have expired. The change of seasons almost beckons for this, so let’s lean in! These three categories alone will have a far reaching effect on your day to day routines and how much you’re having to store/manage seasonally.
WHAT TO DO:
declutter seasonal decor as you pull it out to decorate your home (remove anything broken, you’ve fallen out of love it, have recently replaced, etc.).
declutter your cooler weather clothing/outerwear/accessories (if you never wear it, it doesn’t fit or beyond repair, send it on to donate or textile recycling)
declutter your fridge, freezer, pantry + spices (look for items you’re not eating or have expired) - donate anything unopened/not expired to your local food bank - have a list handy for writing down any items that need to be restocked
3. Look For Timer Savers
Many of you expressed to me that part of your biggest frustrations with the holiday season is feeling like you don’t have enough time for everything, therefore looking for ways to streamline your have-to tasks is a must.
Doing a quick time audit (where’s your time going each day) plus looking for ways to save time will help you get back in control of your days so you can enjoy what’s most important to you. Below are just a few examples that can be applied in many different ways.
WHAT TO DO:
write down things that are upcoming that are important to you that you want to make time this for this holiday season to put those into focus
identify things that can be done in advance or in bundled bursts to create more time for those important holiday activities/gatherings - this could be bundling cleaning or laundry tasks, scheduling a grocery order to save time or recruiting others to help with any of these basic but essential tasks
take care of shopping/errands during a low-traffic times on a weekday if you can, handle it all online or place an order for pick up for a convenient time
time saving example: I stock up on a few of my favorite appetizers that I can find in the frozen section for a few holiday occasions that save me lots of time (+ I like to pair with fresh fruits + veggies = is easy + fast)
time saving example: I love making fresh pie crusts but I often don’t have the steam for it so I spent time finding my favorite pre-made frozen brand as a back up that is delicious + preserves my energy for other things - I’ll stock up on several for pies, quiches + more!
4. Look For Things You Can Eliminate
Instead of saying yes to all the things, which we often feel compelled to do, try to looking for things that aren’t “have-tos” to let go of this season.
Saying no to things can be just as or more powerful than saying yes. And ironically, saying no to more things allows you to say yes to things that actually matter. Here’s a few ideas to help you recapture more time, energy + peace this holiday season.
WHAT TO DO:
eliminate any social gatherings that you don’t want to be a part of - no reasons are needed, promise!
eliminate the need to make all the food for an event - ask others to bring things, order food in advance or try a combo of making some + buying some already made to lighten your load
eliminate the pressure to buy new decor, a new outfit, or big gifts - repurpose what you have + gift with heart/intention - the size + cost doesn’t matter
eliminate the need/pressure to buy “things” to give to others - offer up your time, cook a meal, gift an experience, offer to fix something or do housework for someone or make something with your own two hands
eliminate the pressure for family photos, holiday cards, etc. if you’re heart is not in it this year, don’t do it - save your money + energy - take intentional time to connect with those you care about most when you can + call it a day (or year!)
5. Fill Up Your Bucket + Others
Lightening your load is very much intertwined with how you care for yourself + others.
In a season where the feeling of “busy” seems inevitable, let’s slow down + look for ways to do just the opposite. Here’s a few ideas to get you going.
WHAT TO DO:
donate to a favorite charity or new one in your area for a cause you’re wanting to support/impact this season
take some quiet walks to move your body, get some fresh air + clear your mind - or meet up with a friend to walk together
surprise a neighbor with a meal or homemade treats they might not be able to make for themselves
schedule in downtime and quiet alone time to rest your body + mind
take some leisurely power naps + read more
focus on local shops and small businesses for gifting and home good needs
incorporate a free family activity or fun with friends like driving around to see Christmas + holiday lights in your area on Friday nights until New Years
schedule a low key game night with family or friends + maybe throw in some hot chocolate, popcorn or store bought treat/keep it easy!
call, text or write a quick note of encouragement to friend/family member
purchase high priority items from an Amazon wish list for a local non-profit or charity - check their website or send them an email to inquire more
Get creative, start looking more intentionally and I promise you’ll find lots of ways to take your time + energy back while doing some good for yourself + others.
Wishing you all the happiest + healthiest of Holidays!
Thanks for being here + I’ll see you in the next post.
Dynamic Women In Their Home - Bess
We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what’s bringing them joy.
Our next interview is with Bess Swantner. Bess is an Architect turned water color artist based out of San Antonio, Texas. Bess and I met at Texas A&M in Architecture School (we were both studying Environmental Design during our undergrad years). Ironically we didn’t have many classes together, which seems hard to believe thinking back on it. We had many good mutual friends and she had a lot more classes with my now husband, Luke. Long story short, Bess and I have thankfully stayed in touch after going separate ways for graduate school, moving to different cities, both having architecture careers and then us both shifting out of those roles in different ways (her, now focusing her creative energy on watercolor painting and myself, as an interior designer here in this space with you).
Anytime I’ve been around Bess she’s warm, kind and welcoming. She is thoughtful and intentional with her words and her approach to design. Her water color work is detailed, humble, approachable and brilliant. I see her very clearly in her work. Her work gives you fresh eyes and perspective on things you thought you knew, things you’ve seen many times before. If you are lucky enough, you’ll get your hands on some of her beautiful work ASAP. You can find her watercolor work here.
Most days you can find us DMing about our kids getting too big too fast, all sorts of excitement with mom life, cool furniture pieces and all things design/home. She’s such a delight to have here in our community and I know you’re going to love getting to know her!
Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Bess about all things home and life.
Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard
Share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:
The past five years have been full of changes for our family - I quit taking on architectural work, began painting more seriously, gave birth to our third child, moved to a new home and endured the challenges of school/childcare during the pandemic.
What's your day to day like right now?
Every day is a little bit different, but I am finally in a phase of life where I have some uninterrupted time throughout the week. My older children are in elementary school full-time and my youngest is in part-time preschool. On mornings when Clara is at school, I try to block time to paint, usually working on commissions or toward a collection of paintings. I spend the early afternoon with Clara, and usually sneak back into the studio for an hour or so before Elsa and Henry come home on the bus. From then on, I am running kids to sports, supervising homework and fixing dinner. 4-8 pm are busy hours in our home! I spend a lot of time volunteering at the Old School Makerspace, a community space for art and making that I helped to launch over the last few years.
Photo Credit: Bess Swantner
How long have you been in your current home?
Three years.
What do you love most about your current home?
Our house is a great party house. The open spaces and back yard are perfect for entertaining. The previous owners put a lot of work into the back yard, pool and covered patio, and we added a tree fort for our kids and an outdoor kitchen. Our favorite way to spend the weekend is with kids in the pool and my husband, Matt grilling something fun for a big group of friends.
Photo Credit: Bess Swantner
What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?
My biggest challenge is keeping it tidy with three kids! We also have a really awkward fireplace with deep glass shelves that is continually filled with clutter. I would love to rip out the entire fireplace surround and clean it up with something more modern. But that is a project for another year.
In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?
I am constantly decluttering kids’ closets as they outgrow clothes so quickly.
If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?
A few years ago, I edited my closet down to a capsule wardrobe and learned a lot about what colors I gravitate towards and what fits my body best. I would like to do another capsule wardrobe this winter.
What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?
Declutter. The organization part overwhelms me a bit. Fortunately, my sister is a professional organizer and comes to my rescue.
Photo Credit: Bess Swantner
Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?
The pair of leather chairs outside of my studio. It is a great spot to read in the quiet morning hours or read aloud to my kids. My son, Henry, and I are currently reading through the Chronicles of Narnia together.
What object in your home means a lot to you?
That is hard - there are so many! I love my grandmother's milk glass collection and an oil painting created by my high school art teacher and mentor.
Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know...
I was the duchess of the Miss Comfort Court in Comfort, Texas, at age 14. We rode in small town parades all over Central Texas, white gloves and all.
OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!
Light/bright OR dark/moody:
Light
Open concept or separated rooms/nooks:
Open concept (although I did enclose my studio after a little too much open concept during the pandemic).
Color or neutrals:
Neutrals with blue. Always blue.
Real plants or faux:
Real but I also have a black thumb.
Listen to music or read:
Listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks
Favorite morning or daily ritual:
Morning pages with my first cup of coffee.
Morning person or night person:
Night
Favorite piece of furniture in your home:
My Danish modern credenza I bought from Period Modern, an amazing local store specializing in mid century modern furniture.
Do you dress like the interiors of your home?
I think I do! Most of my closet is black, white, denim and other shades of blue or green.
THANK YOU BESS for sharing more about your home and life with us! I love following along with your watercolor adventures and am exciting to see the pieces you’re working on next! Thank you for giving us a snapshot into this current season of life for you!
Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard (studio portrait) | Bess Swantner (interior home photos)
Find Bess on IG: @bessstudio
Find Bess’ Water Color Work: www.bessswantner.com
More Support for Your Home + Life:
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✔ Not sure where to being + need help getting started? Check out the tools I’ve created for you HERE.
See you in the next interview!
Dynamic Women In Their Home - Nicki
We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what’s bringing them joy.
Our next interview is with Nicki Turner. Nicki is a one woman show over at Cori Rose Handmade where she creates lightweight clay jewelry. She’s based out of Polk County Florida, not too far from my sister, who’s also a Floridian. Nicki and I connected through mutual interest Instagram accounts many months ago. I landed on her page one day and loved what she was doing, as she was just starting up her handmade clay jewelry business at that time. I am most drawn to her use of color and I am a total sucker for her simple stud earrings (yes, she does big, bold pieces as well you’ll need to check out)! I also appreciate her ability design for the bold and minimal aesthetic simultaneously, which I feel is incredibly rare!
A while back, I did an “ask me anything” series and she reached out to me about advice on several kids sharing a bedroom and how to keep it organized (what a fabulous topic). You can see my response here on Instagram.
Most days you can find us DMing each other about our kids and encouraging each other on our small business adventures! I’ve loved watching her business grow, how she involves she kids in her making process, and seeing her keep pushing her creative boundaries through the designs in her shop. I’m absolutely thrilled to share more about her with you here!
Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Nicki about all things home and life.
Share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:
Over the last five years I've have been transitioning roles from working full time, being in school, raising kids, and starting a new business.
What's your day to day like right now?
I drop my girls off at school in the morning and then return home to work.
While my girls are at school I'm making products and scheduling marketing events to promote my work. Throughout the week I also have webinars and meetings with virtual entrepreneur communities. My work day ends at 3 pm so that I can pick up my girls. Sometimes I leave projects from my business for after school so that they can join me. I love teaching them about clay and having their help.
How long have you been in your current home?
I've currently been in my home for almost four years. We were not looking to buy, but I walked through this house and fell in love. I saw the home online and it looked like an Austin Powers movie set. My friend was a realtor and was familiar with the neighborhood, so I asked her if I could be nosey and see the house. She warned me that it was a time capsule, but agreed. After my first walk though I fell in love and we started a long and grueling process of renovation (a story for another time). I'll never forget finishing our first walk through and my friend asking me what I thought. I told her I could see myself living there and my husband was like that was not the purpose of us visiting this house (lol).
Also, after purchasing this home we found out a lot of really cool history about the previous owners and their amazing contributions to our community.
What do you love most about your current home?
The size. It's very spacious and large, because the previous owners did a lot of entertaining.
What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?
There is still a lot that needs to be renovated, because we had to stay within a budget. Also, we have an insane amount of storage space all throughout the house and we don't utilize it well.
In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?
Here and there we have made efforts to declutter. Recently we've done some decluttering in our girls room, because we were inspired by advice from Kristin with Fuzzy Hippo Shop. She emphasized the importance of children's rooms being restful and gave a lot of insight on how to help kids with shared rooms have their own areas.
If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?
Decluttering their room was extremely helpful. The girls are starting to prioritize making their room cozy and restful, by giving ideas on what to remove and add. They mostly want to add things (lol).
What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?
I'd much rather organize, because I have a hard time letting things go. I'm always worried I'm going to miss it, or that I should use it while I already have it. Haha, this probably means that I need to focus on decluttering rather than organizing.
Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?
I have a few, but my favorite is our dining room in the morning. Our home has a lot of windows and when the sun hits just right the rooms are golden, warm, and cozy.
What object in your home means a lot to you?
Our dining table. We built it with Ben's uncle and its taken a beating, but I love it. It can comfortably fit 10+ people.
Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know...
I played soccer from Kindergarten through college and I can play four instruments.
OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!
Light/bright OR dark/moody:
I love both, but for my mental health I need Light/Bright
Open concept or separated rooms/nooks:
Open Concept
Color or neutrals:
Color
Real plants or faux:
Real Plants
Listen to music or read:
Listen to Music
Favorite morning or daily ritual:
Coffee or Tea in a quiet house
Morning person or night person:
Night Person
Favorite piece of furniture in your home:
Dining Room table or Piano
Do you dress like the interiors of your home?
No
THANK YOU NICKI for sharing more about your home and life with us! I love following along with your colorful designs and can’t wait to see what you’ll be creating next! Thank you for giving us a snapshot into this current season of life for you!
Photo Credit: Nicki Turner
Cori Rose Handmade Clay Jewelry | https://www.corirose.com/
Follow Nicki over on IG: @corirosehandmade
See you in the next interview!
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Dynamic Women In Their Home - Molly
We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what is bringing them joy.
Our next interview is with Molly Lam. Molly and I were destined to meet for many years because we were swirling around in the same handmade/makers community in the DFW area.
We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what’s bringing them joy.
Our next interview is with Molly Lam. Molly and I were destined to meet for many years because we were swirling around in the same handmade/makers community in the DFW area. When I met her in the fall of 2016, I had come off of an incredibly taxing year of family health issues, followed by having a miscarriage of my own, all in the midst of studying for one of my Interior Design Professional exams. To say that meeting Molly as a fellow designer/maker at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash/Handmade Bash was a *bright spot* for me that year would be a total understatement! She stopped by my booth of paper goods and said the most sincere, kind things about my shop and my booth display. We hit it off, both encouraged and inspired by the design work we were both doing at the time, while also having young children about the same age. We’ve thankfully stayed in touch ever since and I continue to be inspired endlessly by the creative, color and dynamic work of hers over in her design shop, Tokodots. Since that show, her illustrations have evolved to various mediums, from prints, to cards, to fabric designs and surfacing art. She also has a card of the month subscription delivered to you monthly so you can keep a stash of beautifully colorful cards on hand for notes through out the year. Yes please!
Most days you can find Molly and I chatting about our kids, random house decluttering/organizing bursts, and how we’re navigating motherhood along side being a small business owner. I am so grateful to have her here to share with you!
Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Molly about all things home and life.
Photo Credit: Yony Lee Kim @ylkphotography
Share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:
The last 5 years have been a whirlwind of the early years of motherhood as a SAHM to my two young boys, building and running a small stationery and art business.
What's your day to day like right now?
It’s the end of the school year (at the time of writing this) so things are crazy, breakfast and rushing to school in the mornings, usually followed by a little down time at home with my toddler after that. We spend time in the garden, making art, doing housework and sometimes just sitting on the couch to watch TV while I work on a project before naptime, then school pickup and the dinner/evening activity rush. By the time the kids are finally settled down some time around 8:00pm I find it really hard to make good use of that alone time! I like to just go to bed early if I can stay off of my phone, but a lot of days lately I’m up late trying to get in some time on creative projects.
How long have you been in your current home?
My husband and I moved into our one story, 3B house in the suburbs about 6 years ago before our oldest had his first birthday. Because of the timing of our move with a little one I let so many design decisions go for years and years and am still working through some ideas about how I actually want things to look.
What do you love most about your current home?
We have a “small” home by Texas standards, but I love that I can have eyes on both of my kids from the kitchen while I prepare meals in any of the areas they’d be playing in our house. When we were searching, we definitely had the kids in mind as we decided what was a priority for us at this stage, even if it’s not really what we ultimately love in a home.
We’ve also been really flexible about how we organize the space, and some rooms have seen many different layouts and setups for the kids as they have gone through different stages of childhood. We’ve eaten dinner at our dining room table about 3 times since we’ve lived here, and the rest of the time the room has been used as a “family work room” which has meant sewing spot, painting studio, Lego zone, puzzle area, or even cello practice area over the years. We’ve moved the table around the room in different ways, had a couch in there for a short time to accommodate a big tent in the living room, and cordoned the whole area off with a baby fence for a big portion of the pandemic. Our master bedroom, off the main living area, now has a big bookshelf, all of the art supplies, and several work tables for the kids because it is a convenient space we could lock off for the little one but I could still see and supervise from my spot in the kitchen. It’s not exactly the most relaxing bedroom setup for me, but we like that everyone has a variety of spaces to use throughout our home and that feels worth it for the sacrifice when the kids are small.
What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?
I never thought I’d buy a house with half-circle windows and really wanted something more interesting but here we are in the North Texas suburbs with lots of things I swore we’d never have. I have had a hard time expressing my own style in a home that is not really what I had envisioned for our family, but little by little we’re making it our own. We started by painting everything white, the walls and the kitchen cabinets, and try to use that as a base for the colorful textiles and artwork that we’d like to use in the space. The house has these small cutout shelf/nooks in some hallway spaces that really bothered me at first, but I’m finally figuring out how to use them in a way that I like.
In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?
Yes! It is a constant struggle, because I have a tendency to always be stashing things out of the kids’ sight—toys they are being too rough with, special items I want to have up my sleeve for when they need a surprise, or just things of my own that I don’t want out for everyone to see—and this often means stuffing things quickly into a locked cabinet, tall shelf, high counter, or off-limits closet and then not having the energy to clear it out when the kids are asleep. My guest room/studio closet, a few junk-type cabinets in the kitchen, and my desk are all places that I spend decluttering more often than I’d like, but as the kids get bigger I can find a little time and mental space to address these things, more than I used to at least.
If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?
It always feels so great to declutter and get rid of things I don’t need but I’m obviously not doing it enough because there are certain problem spots that just need to be addressed again and again. Although each time I do a big purge—baby toys we’ve outgrown, maternity clothes I’m not saving anymore, and other unnecessary items, I’m getting closer to the simplified home I prefer.
What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?
I think I’d rather declutter.. I’ve spent years reorganizing things that were really just too big for their spaces. And now that I’ve realized the great feeling of leaving some spaces empty, I just want to clear out everything!
Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?
I love this hutch in our dining room/family work room. It had more of my own books and display objects on it until recently, when I had to make room for some growing book and Lego collections. But I love how my cookbooks can live alongside Lego manuals and everyone has their own space on this special piece.
What object in your home means a lot to you?
My favorite things are my quilts—mostly made by my mom but a few by me too. I wanted to find the right place to store them where I could enjoy looking at them all the time, so we settled on this console table in an angled spot leading into our family room. I love it because I can see them as I walk by (when the kids don’t have them draped all around the living room), but I also like that if I ever had to run out of the house in a fire I could probably grab an armful to bring them with me.
Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know...
I’m not an animal person. When I first moved to Japan after college I had a blog called “Afraid of Small Animals” inspired by my fear of the creepy crawlies that I figured would show up in my new apartment. Now that I have kids of my own I work really hard to show how excited I am to meet neighborhood pets so that my kids don’t end up scared too. But it might be in their blood.
OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!
Light/bright OR dark/moody:
Light/bright
Open concept or separated rooms/nooks:
Open concept
Color or neutrals:
Color!
Real plants or faux:
Real.. if I can keep them alive
Listen to music or read:
Read
Favorite morning or daily ritual:
That first cup of coffee
Morning person or night person:
Morning
Favorite piece of furniture in your home:
My little Muji couch, the first piece of furniture I bought as an adult in 2005 in Japan and have found a spot for ever since. It’s faded and a little worse for the wear but still hanging in. I’d love to reupholster it in a bright, colorful pattern when the kids get a bit bigger. Maybe of my own design!
Do you dress like the interiors of your home?
Sometimes! Neutrals as a base for bright colors and interesting textiles… but I want to do a better job of mixing color and texture in my wardrobe. It’s a work in progress.
THANK YOU MOLLY for sharing more about your home and life with us! I love following along with your colorful life and designs and can’t wait to see what you’ll be creating next! Thank you for giving us a snapshot into this current season of life for you!
Photo Credit: Molly Lam | http://www.tokodots.com/
Portrait Photo Credit: Yony Lee Kim @ylkphotography
See Molly’s Shop on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/tokodots
Find Molly on IG: @tokodots
See you in the next interview!
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3 Things To Simplify Your Morning Routine For Less Stress: Back To School Edition
Well friends, it is August and back to school plus the general shift out of summer mode is upon us, and with that comes the resurgence of morning chaos (if we let it)!
The phenomenon of morning chaos comes from two things. One, things taking too many steps to complete. And two, things being done that don’t actually need to be done at that time. But I have GREAT news! We have control over both of these things, and when we streamline our morning, it also allows for more flexibility to handle those unpredictable moments that tend to pop up conveniently at this time (like spills, a forgotten scrunchie, or a missing favorite shoe).
Well friends, it is August and back to school plus the general shift out of summer mode is upon us, and with that comes the resurgence of morning chaos (if we let it)!
The phenomenon of morning chaos comes from two things. One, things taking too many steps to complete. And two, things being done that don’t actually need to be done at that time. But I have GREAT news! We have control over both of these things, and when we streamline our morning, it also allows for more flexibility to handle those unpredictable moments that tend to pop up conveniently at this time (like spills, a forgotten scrunchie, or a missing favorite shoe).
Whether your kids are headed back to school, you homeschool, you’re starting a new job or just wanting to tame your regular morning chaos during the week before you start your day, I’m here to help. Let’s not waste another second!
1. Clarify what’s essential for your morning.
You’re no longer going to walk blindly into your mornings or let them just happen to you, deal? You’re also not going to shove a bunch of stuff into your morning that won’t add value to you, your family or your day. When I say clarify, that’s exactly what I mean. I want you to go through this list below and ask yourself (honestly) what needs to be part of your morning (and for everyone involved) to make it great (and of course less chaotic). We’re going to do a morning time/activity audit if you will!
Before you add or allow something into your morning routine, first ask yourself:
Will this add fuel to my tank (or to others) to start the day?
Does it absolutely have to be done in the morning before work/school/etc?
Could it be done at another time and still be helpful/effective?
Do I even need to do it at all? (domestic chores, can lunch packing happen at night or the process be simplified or delegated)
Make sure whatever you have loaded up into your morning routine during the week are things that HAVE to happen in the morning to get your day started off on the right foot. Edit out everything else from your morning that doesn’t need to happen then and watch the chaos melt away!
2. Edit your “exit” zone.
You can also consider this your landing area for bags/daily essentials OR the place you grab all the things you need before you head off to school, work, etc. If you’re schooling from home, take some time to edit your learning hub/learning command center so your transition into your learning time is smoother and easier. Our exit zone in our laundry niche, which also happens to be the pass thru between our kitchen, pantry and garage. There is a lot of activity happen in one small area so it must be a well-oiled machine or it quickly turns into the hot mess express.
Here’s a few things to consider while you edit your space:
Does each item in this space support what needs to happen here?
What can I remove from this space to make grabbing our essentials for the day easier/quicker?
It is clear what each person should do here, is clearly marked, or highly intuitive so it is easy to do?
Do I have everything I need here or do I need to add anything to streamline how this space works? (more hooks, labels, rearrange a few items)
Have I given this space some breathing room (some white space) so it’s not chocked full of stuff and more flexible for us to move in and out of?
Does everyone in the home understand where everything is, what to do in here and what the realistic expectations are?
After you edit your space, give it a test run to make sure you’ve covered all the details. Walk everyone through how to use the space and let them ask questions and share feedback/share their insight to make improvements. Make tweaks as needed once you start getting in you groove during a normal week day. We learn and improve things only by living with it and by reflecting on how well it is working.
3. Carve out time to fuel + care for yourself.
Remember to do this what actually help you save time and energy over the course of your whole day, boost your mood and increase your patience/flexibility to handle whatever the day might through at you. This looks different for each person, but as the adult in the home, you need to invest time each day in yourself to care for your well-being, even in small ways right out of the gate as you start your day.
Here’s a few ideas to get your going:
Having a quality but simple/quick breakfast.
Filling your favorite water bottle up the night before to save time in the morning.
Quiet time to stretch before you join your family to start the day.
Packing a protein snack for later in the day.
Having fresh flowers out on the counter you see the most during your morning routine.
Reading a few pages in your book instead of screen scrolling.
Avoiding checking emails first thing in the morning.
Sipping your favorite coffee or tea while you get breakfast ready.
Delegating some tasks to free up a few extra minutes so you can spend more time caring for yourself.
Getting up a few minutes earlier so you can move slower while getting dressed for the day.
Listen to your favorite music or an inspiring podcast while you get ready.
Going to bed 20 minutes (or more) so you can feel more refreshed when you wake up in the morning.
Tidy up the kitchen, your bedroom or your exit zone the night before so the first thing you see in the morning is order and peace.
Test these 3 simplifying strategies in your home now to reduce the stress and chaos you feel in your morning. And remember to check back in with these whenever you feel the chaos on creeping up again…you just might need to implement a few simple tweaks to get your routine back on track!
See you in the next post!
BIG HUGS,
Kristin
More Support for Your Home + Life:
✔ Lots more decluttering + organizing support here to lighten the load in your home!
✔ Ready to take action in your home? START HERE with with FREE Home Simplifying Quick Guide!
✔ Not sure where to being + need help getting started? Check out the tools I’ve created for you HERE.
Dynamic Women In Their Home - Lauren
We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what is bringing them joy.
Our next interview is with Lauren Nygard. Another one of my favorite humans I’m so thrilled to introduce you to in our incredible community here.
We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what is bringing them joy.
Our next interview is with Lauren Nygard. Another one of my favorite humans I’m so thrilled to introduce you to in our incredible community here. Lauren and I met at Texas A&M in Architecture School (we were both studying Environmental Design during our undergrad years). I’m trying to pinpoint exactly when we met, but I am guessing it was at least by sophomore year. We were in the same student group that studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain and we’ve stayed connected ever since. After we both went in different directions for graduate school, we stayed connected by sending each other mix CDs…Lauren, should we start this up again? I loved this! Lauren is a former military spouse and mom of 2 young boys who wears many business hats that I’ll let her tell you more about. She’s an incredible photographer (you can find her work here) and is a major learn through reading advocate. Yes, she’s my go-to book lady! Most days you can find us DMing about misc home biz, iced coffee hacks + kiddo randomness. She has the most lovely, infectious laugh and is passionate about creating and sharing good out in the world. I’m so thrilled to share more with you about her here!
Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Lauren about all things home and life.
Photo credit: Lauren Nygard
Share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:
In the past 5 years, we've added two boys to our family, my husband got out of the military, we moved from NC to TX, and I've been working from home during a pandemic. :)
What's your day to day like right now?
We spend a lot of time in our backyard or reading on the couch. I squeeze in work when I can during the day, and usually work for an hour or two after the boys go to bed.
Photo credit: Lauren Nygard
How long have you been in your current home?
Since September 2019, though it seems like just a few months!
What do you love most about your current home?
It's cozy and the perfect size for our family.
What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?
This is a huge can of worms! We had to have our foundation repaired last summer and are still waiting for our flooring material to arrive so that we can replace the flooring (it was damaged due to foundation issues). We then will need to repair cracks in our drywall (walls and ceilings) and repaint practically every surface.
Beyond that mess, our boys' bathroom doesn't function well as is (I've messaged you about our towel storage in there!) and I'm considering replacing the vanity while we're redoing the floor. The vanity that was installed before we moved in is above average height, which I actually love but it doesn't work well for our 18-month-old. The bathroom is so small that we can't put a step stool tall enough in front of the vanity without blocking the entrance to the bathroom (the door opens up to the sink). Now that he's interested in potty learning, it's been even more frustrating than it had been.
Photo credit: Lauren Nygard
In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?
Yes! Lots of editing of my closet and dresser drawers, as well as my "work" and "craft" stashes. When our second son arrived, my office became his room, and my work desk moved out into our living room. When he's a little older, he'll move into the same room as our older son (and we'll get an office again--hurray!) but I cleaned out a lot to make the shift happen--and it's still a work in progress!
If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?
It has been super helpful to be able to find more of what we need and get rid of things we no longer need or use. There are still some areas that need more decluttering (our laundry room cabinets have become a stash for random stuff) but we've been working on it little by little.
What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?
Right now, definitely declutter... because organizing doesn't matter if you still have too much stuff.
Photo credit: Lauren Nygard
Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?
Inside.... Our bedroom! We spend most of our time in our living room but the 4 of us end up hanging out, lounging and reading on our bed sometimes. The living room tends to get out of control with toys so our bedroom is a nice place for us to relax since it's usually cleaner. (Except when I don't put my laundry away--shhhhhh!)
Outside... We have a really deep front porch that was a total sanity saver when we were homebound in 2020. Colt and I spent lots of time out on the porch, even through the heat of summer (pregnant!)--we were gifted an old art table from a neighbor, and he'd scribble for hours out there. We added a big deck in our backyard about a year ago, which has been amazing as well.
Photo credit: Lauren Nygard
What object in your home means a lot to you?
I can't think of anything right now!
Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know...
Do I have any secrets? I can't think of one.
OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!
Light/bright OR dark/moody:
Light/bright
Open concept or separated rooms/nooks:
Open concept
Color or neutrals:
Neutrals
Real plants or faux:
Real!
Listen to music or read:
Read
Favorite morning or daily ritual:
My new morning ritual is to drink 16oz of water before I have any coffee. I feel like it sets me up to drink more water throughout the day. But my favorite daily ritual is my early afternoon iced coffee a la Kristin (shaken, not stirred)!
Morning person or night person:
Morning
Favorite piece of furniture in your home:
Our mid-century dining table
Do you dress like the interiors of your home?
Color-wise? Yes. Style? I'm not sure.
THANK YOU LAUREN for sharing more about your home and life with us! I love following along with your entrepreneurial spirit and seeing what awesomeness you’re cooking up next. Thank you for giving us a snapshot into this current season of life for you!
Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard | https://laurennygard.com/
Find Lauren on IG: @laurennygard
More Support for Your Home + Life:
✔ Lots more decluttering + organizing support here to lighten the load in your home!
✔ Ready to take action in your home? START HERE with with FREE Home Simplifying Quick Guide!
✔ Not sure where to being + need help getting started? Check out the tools I’ve created for you HERE.
See you in the next interview!
Organizing Mistakes You're Making in Your Home + What To Do Instead: Part II
We’re back at it discussing organizing mistakes commonly made in your home and what to do instead. Is there a better DIY topic that exists on the planet right now? I think not! If you missed PART I, you can check it out HERE and then come back to us for PART II below!
We’re back at it discussing organizing mistakes commonly made in your home and what to do instead. Is there a better DIY topic that exists on the planet right now? I think not! If you missed PART I, you can check it out HERE and then come back to us for PART II below!
MISTAKE #4: You’re locating things in the wrong place.
One of the key components to a highly organize and efficient home is locating things in the RIGHT place to make life easier for you. No one has ever argued with me that they want life to be harder, so let’s keep reading! I know this might seem like a really obvious one, but when we get into the nitty gritty of everyday life, we get into autopilot mode. Here’s a few things to consider to make sure an item has truly landed in the right spot.
✓ Does the item or group of items support a task or goal for this spot in your home?
✓ Does the item or group of items make the task or goal easier and more efficient to complete because it is here? (Example, laundry detergent directly above the washer, verses on a shelf off to the side you have use a stool to get to, then get it down, etc. That’s too many steps!)
✓ Is the item or group of items essential in this location (accessed often, helpful, useful, valuable) or could it go away and life would remain unaffected by its absence?
Answer these honestly then remove or move items that don’t support the task or goals you have for that zone. Yes, decluttering is forever and ever! But it gets easier, trust me! Stick with me friend!
MISTAKE #5: You’re not giving your items breathing room.
You can have a well organizing drawer with lots of little compartments and containers, but if you don’t need half the items in the drawer (ie. they’re never used) or if everything is filled to the brim and you have to dig around in each container just to grab your favorite pen or washi tape, we still have an issue. Organizing is about keeping what you use and love, AND giving it space to live and breathe. Consider the follow tips to give your items you’re organizing a bit of breathing room.
✓ If you ever have to dig (aside from inside a LEGO bin) for something, you have too much. You either need to edit more, or you need to make additional categories to spread out the things you have.
✓ In most cases, you should be able to see everything you have in a drawer at one glance. This means you should avoid stacking things vertically if possible in drawers (or bins) to avoid the “out of sight out of mind” epidemic. If you can’t see it, odds are you won’t use it or you’ll forget you have it.
✓ On shelves, in cabinets and in closets, you should be able to see, grab and pull out anything easily. This means you need space to reach things and remove them without having to move 5 things. If you hold to this rule, you’ll avoid over-stuffing any and all of these spaces.
Just like in graphic design (and in all forms of design) white space is often the solution to solve many design issues. It is the same throughout your home. In this case, the “white space” is the “breathing room” that the things in your home desperately need, just like you need it!
MISTAKE #6: You haven’t shopped your home first.
True story. 9.5 times out of 10 I can solve any organizing issue with the things in my home before I ever even entertain running out to buy something. I want you to look at this like a choose your own adventure game. The next time you encounter an issue with an area in your home that you know needs more order, consider looking throughout your home thoroughly to see if you already have what you need (then prepare to be amazed at what you’ll find). Try these tips.
✓ Declutter the zone in question first, then assess what is left. If you have lots of small categories, hunt around for trays, reusable bags, small jars, tops of shoe boxes, etc.
✓ If you’re dividing up large or deep spaces like a kitchen cabinet, consider something you can pull out similar to a drawer like a bin, a container or a box. You can use a cardboard box and cut out your own handle then swap this out over time if you’d like - but take the time to understand what you need first. If you need to divide the space up further, think “containers within containers”. Drop several smaller boxes inside a larger box to create several small zones in whatever configuration works for what you need.
✓ Make swaps with things in other rooms. If you’re going to corral/organize something in a spot that is more visible and you care what it looks like, consider swapping an old box that will go deep in a cabinet for the nicer basket that will help elevate the aesthetics of your space and be highly visible.
→ Now comment below on which one of these 3 Mistakes feels most common for you? I’ve been guilty of all of them!
I hope these first 3 common mistakes were eye-opening for you + will inspire you to take concrete organizing action in your home. My goal here is to help you save time, money + energy. See you soon in Part III of ‘Organizing Mistakes You’re Making + What To Do Instead.’
PS. The Organized Home Masterclass is coming at the END OF MAY! If you’d like a little sneak peek into what this program is all about, you can check it out HERE! To say I’m excited about this new program is an incredible understatement. Stick here with me + I’ll continue to spill all the beans for you.
Dynamic Women + Their Home - Kirsten
We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what is bringing them joy.
We’re in a year long series of interviews highlighting incredible women in our community. The focus of each interview is to have a candid conversation about their home, life, what they value, what feels challenging right now, and most importantly, what is bringing them joy.
Our next interview is with Kirsten Griffin. She’s currently a Job Captain at HKS, Inc. and the Vice-Chair for AIA Dallas Latinos in Architecture (LiA). Kirsten and I got connected through Instagram by a mutual friend/colleague a few years ago AND of course our names are quite close so we’re automatically bonded for life. Quite quickly we had several incredible, genuine, interesting conversations about simplifying life through editing in her home and planning for her future. I’ve always been impressed with her insightful, wise beyond her years questions and ideas about home. I’ve loved getting to know her through our chats about our spaces, the misc. house projects we’re working on/dreaming up, and all things design. I deeply admire her passion for architecture, and her intentional action to make an impact and serve her local architecture community. I love all the commitments she shares with us on Instagram from caring for herself through fitness goals (PS. this girl is strong, don’t mess with her!) and her intentional focus going after her architecture license. And all of which she does while having fun along the way! Recently she’s woven more into her day to day stories about her deaf/hard of hearing and bilateral cochlear implant journey. I value her perspective on this topic that I’m continuing to learn more about. Follow along with her vivaciousness over at @kirsten_ttu on Instagram.
Scroll down to enjoy my interview with Kirsten about all things home and life.
Share a quick snapshot of your last 5 years:
Been a busy 5 years! I Graduated college with my Master degree, got married and started working full time in an architecture firm. We adopted two dogs while living in an apartment, then we bought a house to have backyard space for the pups. Now working on my Architectural Exams and highly involved in the architecture community.
What's your day to day like right now?
Work out in the morning, go work at the office at home or the company office and then spend my evening attending an event or at home studying for my Architectural Exams.
How long have you been in your current home?
2 years! Got it July 2020.
What do you love most about your current home?
The space! Get to have my own office and my own home gym.
What's something you'd love to change/or feels challenging for you in your current home?
The challenge would be the bathrooms, its a late 70's home. So the bathrooms are not a big as the newer homes.
The outdoor patio is the space where I enjoy drinking coffee in the morning or relaxing in the evening when weather is nice.
In the last year, have you spent any time decluttering/editing in your home (if so where/why)?
Yes, the closets. There were a lot of clothes and memorial items that haven't been used in years.
If you have spent time decluttering/editing, what was the result? Was it helpful?
Relief, we have plenty of space. More than we think. Spend less time stressing about the overload of items or looking for something.
What part would you rather do - declutter OR organize (+ why)?
Organize but we have to declutter before organizing. Organizing because you know exactly where everything is rather then looking for awhile to find it.
Where's your favorite spot in your home right now?
The smallest office the house with the little couch in the corner. A small cozy room.
What object in your home means a lot to you?
My small round breakfast table, I sit here almost everyday drinking my coffee. Came from my uncle who passed away recently.
The breakfast nook is my favorite spot I spend a lot of my time.
Tell me something fun or quirky about you I probably don't know...
I’m left handed but I only eat and write with my left hand. And I do everything else with my right side. Can write/draw also with my right hand (not as good as left).
OK, NOW A FEW RAPID-FIRE HOME QUESTIONS!
Light/bright OR dark/moody:
Light/Bright
Open concept OR separated rooms/nooks:
Both! Open concept for social events and then separation for more comfort/cozy.
Color OR neutrals:
Neutrals
Real plants OR faux:
Faux
Listen to music OR read:
Listen to music
Favorite morning or daily ritual:
Getting my day started early and drinking coffee
Morning person OR night person:
Morning, but I still have my days where I don't want to get up.
Favorite piece of furniture in your home:
Breakfast table
Do you dress like the interiors of your home?
Yes, Simple
THANK YOU KIRSTEN for sharing more about your home and life with us! I can’t wait to see what you’re involved with and creating next!
Follow along with Kirsten’s architecture, mentoring and home adventures over on Instagram @kirsten_ttu HERE. Photo Credit: Kirsten Griffin
Ready to take action in your home? START HERE.
Note sure where to being + need help getting started? Check out the tools I’ve created for you HERE.
See you in the next interview!
