I’ve been watching Marie Kondo lately. I wanted to see what all the hoopla was about. Maybe everyone loves her because she is so cute and mini and can’t speak English. I think that’s her schtick. She lova mess, it make her happy. Cha-Ching. Cha-Ching. Being her interpreter would be a great gig, except I don’t speak Japanese. I realize now that I’ve been Marie Kondo-ing our house for years, in my own way. It’s certainly not rocket science or revelational. Even her little ritual of thanking the house before they begin the purge. Hello? I’ve been praying a blessing over our home and its people for as long as I have had a home and a family. I could easily go into people’s homes and tell them to toss everything that doesn’t bring them joy but I’m afraid that some people would probably just burn down thier homes.
You know what brings me joy? My beautiful stuff. Seriously, folks, most of the things in my home DO bring me joy. That’s why they are here. I love the simple clean look but I also love my sentimental treasures. One problem with being a creative is that 60% of the ‘stuff’ in our home, I have created myself thus, it brings me joy. The other 40%, I’m planning on making more sentimental stuff out of. The armoire that I found in the ditch at the lake – we repainted it and it brings me joy. The boardroom chairs that I inherited from three jobs ago and recovered and use in my living room – they bring me joy. The canvases that my daughter and I have painted – Spark joy. The seasonal décor that I switch out every six months brings me joy. The four sets of dishes that I use alternatively when I entertain, spark joy. The bedroom furniture from my childhood that we repainted and Lexie uses in her room – spark joy. Knowing I have clothes in every size I have ever been brings me joy. Since I have an incurable medical condition characterized by weight fluctuation (its actually quite common), it means I will always have something to wear. Can’t even remember the last time I said, “I can’t go because I have nothing to wear”.
I’d better be careful that all those sparks of joy don’t ignite and start a fire. That’s one way to get rid of all your stuff.
My method is keep, organize, stash and camouflage. Here’s the thing. Creatives have a lot of stuff because we have a lot of ideas and see a lot of potential and we can imagine making something out of just about everything. In my case, I’m going to make something out of it and make millions selling it on Etsy. My creative supplies (and I have a lot) are all organized in see-through containers that stack on each other. And these are stacked in a floor-to-ceiling shelving unit keeping them out of the way and off the floor with the added bonus of visibility. I have three sets of filing cabinets in the basement that I also use for storage of my event planning paraphernalia. Fabrics that I am going to use imminently are stored in plastic three drawer Rubbermaids (see-through) for easy access. All else, that I’m not regularly using (like Christmas decor, home decor fabrics, seasonal clothes, kids toys saved for posterity or grandchildren, whichever comes first), is stored in numbered and indexed Rubbermaids. I also decided about fifteen years ago, after witnessing many neighbors and friends homes flooding from monsoon rains that hit our fair city, that there would be no more cardboard boxes or plastic bags in our basement. I began the process of switching everything we were storing into plastic rubbermaid containers. Each bin is numbered with all contents listed in an electronic notebook, making adding or subtracting contents easier. Also, extremely helpful when I’m looking for that thing that I know I have. I look it up on my list and go directly to that bin number and voila! I have the bins stacked four high and seven stacks wide (do the math) and have a bit of a Tetris method to access every one.
Every time I purge, which is at least once a year, contents are rearranged as I consolidate and purge. In all the other rooms of the house I have lovely wicker baskets and designer storage boxes strategically placed to fit in with the rest of the decor that cleverly disguise how much stuff I have. As a result, there is never clutter sitting all over (except if Lexie is in the house). Sorry lexie…. you know it’s true. But I still loving having you’re clutter around. It means so many great things.
Hence, I actually have a LOT of stuff but it doesn’t look like it. I have become very skilled in this technique. I think I need my own reality show. I think there are many that would prefer my method. Keep it and hide it.
The Red Plaid Apron 