Thinking More Minimal Thoughts

I am in the midst of not only painting but am decluttering and purging as I go. I am finding that I need to get rid of items that I don't use or need. I need to move back to a more minimal look. 

I have realized that I am past my clutter threshold and am feeling stressed. How much do I want in my house so it feels minimal but also warm and cozy. How can I decorate a minimal home so I don't have items that need to be stored and take up space. These are questions I am mulling over every day. 

I do not want to have seasonal items as I have never done a lot of seasonal decorating except for Christmas. I am working through ideas and am thinking that I will have keep the house in the grey and blues I love and buy seasonal paper napkins. The only season I will decorate my house will be Christmas as I have everything I need and love for that season. I am willing to store the tubs under the stairs. I am not adding much to those tubs as I have most everything I need. 

I decided to try something that I did in Ashcroft. After I finish painting a space, I will treat it like I am moving back in to it again. It means sorting through everything in that room like we did years ago when we decided on going more minimal. It was a huge lesson on wants and needs for both of us. We succeeded and let go of a huge amount of items we didn't need or used.

I did that with the dining room on October 4. I spent a whole morning sorting, purging, and organizing the mess I had. It started with me wanting an office and realizing I didn't need it. With some creativity, I ended up with a pared down office space in the server. There is a place to store my lap top when I need it off the table. It works for me as everything I need in that space. 

As I paint the spare bedroom I think about what I need and what I want in this room. How do I want this room to look. I know light, bright, and uncluttered for easy cleaning. This is my October project.  

More walls were painted yesterday and what I did needs a second coat of paint. The walls look splotchy as the paint is wet. 

It is starting to look less like a dark hole now that 3 walls are grey. It will never be a bright and sunny room as it faces north. But it will not be dark and gloomy like it was. 

The goal is to have this room painted by our Thanksgiving. It is doable if I don't over do it each day. Then I can move the furniture back and decide on what I need to complete the room. Once done, I hope to have it calm and cozy so I can enjoy it more.