Learning To Live More Minimally

 I have worked some on the spare bedroom since Thanksgiving. I got almost half of the baseboards and the window painted. I then crashed with pain. I wondered if it was my hip joint, SI joint, or soft tissue. In the end it was soft tissue. The hip flexor and adductor were taut enough to drum on. The pain was becoming unbearable and it was causing me to have bad nights of sleep. I have had osteopathy and physio and am feeling better. 

I have started to set up the room so I can finish painting the baseboards. I moved the dresser back to where it was prior to 2023. It is now back at the foot of bed rather than at the head. 

I hung the curtains and I do like them in the room. It gives it a bit of colour which is needed. 

I put the bedside table where the dresser use to be. I decorated it to see how it would look. 

When I looked at the room from the door, it wasn't feeling right. I had everything on the window side of the room. It felt heavy on that side. The other side of the bed had nothing. I lived with it for 24 hours figuring out what I needed to do. 

I moved the bedside table to the other side of the bed. I decorated the top of it to see if it felt balanced. 

No it didn't as there as a gaping hole on the other side of the bed. The table came back in and it feels much better. 

Excuse the mess as I am still cleaning the room to finish the baseboards. 

I have not put the small cloths back on the table and bedside table. I was not enjoying the tops of these items. I did put the table runner on the dresser as I like it. 

I am still thinking about the bed. I know it will have white bedding with a blue throw on it. I am not sure if I will use the cushions or add the covers to the little wall hanging and table toppers and take them to the thrift store. I can make simple cushion cover for the bed if I think I need it. My goal of having the room minimal but cozy is coming along. I will be sleeping in this room when I start painting my bedroom. 

I have also been thinking about how I am enjoying pare back the house to have it more minimal. I am sure it will be easier to look after so I can do other things I want to do. I am enjoying having the walls lighter and all the same colour. It has a calming effect on me. I love having less out and will continue to see what I do and don't need. 

I have been watching a lot of videos lately due to the pain. Most often than not I watch maybe 50% and listen to the remaining part. Two videos I watched last night I did look at them all. 

Video One is about a young couple with 2 girls under the age of 4. They bought their first place and are painting and decorating it in a farmhouse style. She loves to decorate seasonally and the amount of items she has out is beyond my clutter threshold. She keeps it organized and clean almost every day. She loves what she does and I admire her for doing everything with 2 young children in the house all the time. Her husband is wonderful also. Her last video was her Christmas haul. She will be decorating starting Nov. 1. 

Video Two is about a German couple who live in Britain. They own a terrace home that is old. They have been redoing the house over the years they have lived in it. They also love colour with every room a different colour. Their style is Victorian/Edwardian with a modern twist. They don't have as many items in their home and they only decorate for Christmas which is more German than British. Their last 2 videos have been about renovating their kitchen/utility room. They painted their pantry all one colour and installed a light. They are now working on the kitchen as they need to paint it before the cabinets are put in. The door to the utility room was painted a rich blue with a green undertone on the kitchen side and will be a rose colour on the utility side. They are deciding which dusty rose they will paint the rooms in. It isn't my style but I love watching them renovate and decorate they buy high end items which are displayed all the time. They also look for interesting antiques that will fit in their house. 

While watching these videos and a Finnish one on minimalism, I realize that I like to have less in my house. I enjoy the prospect of being able to clean it quickly and easily. What do I really need and what can I let go of that I am not using. How can I find that balance not only in the areas I live in but those that I work in. 

I am deciding on what I will keep for hobbies (sewing, knitting, paper crafting) and will let other hobbies go. I also know I want low inventory for my hobbies so I can put it all away easily. I am learning how much is enough for me. I want to feel calm and inspired when I work in those spaces. 

I know I have a lot of work still to do painting the upstairs and decluttering both levels. I know I want to live minimally and will have to work on not collecting clutter in this house. It is a challenge that I am embracing at this season of my life.