~ Written by Juanita Luna

I have dreamt of living in a tiny house or gypsy caravan in the deep woods somewhere off grid. But I am waayyy to spoiled for that life right now, plus I don’t think I could handle all that work and with a kid! But a city girl can dream. While doing so I try, emphasis on TRY to live minimalistic. We own a small two bedroom house that I have been converting into a bohemian haven one year at a time, think Earth bound trading co. This is my safe place to come home and unwind. Since my home is small, living with less makes it appear bigger. On the flip side if you have more stuff in a small place it will seem smaller. I have adopted this method of thinking for quite some time now, decorating homes is so therapeutic.

Marie Kondo that Thang!

If it doesn’t bring you joy then throw it out! Or donate it which is my favorite way to get rid of unwanted items. Since I LOVE to shop at thrift stores I often remind myself to declutter my own junk. Less stuff in your home equals less stuff to clean up, Ahem! I also enjoy re-purposing a lot because you can come up with great ideas for old items around the house.

My top 5 re-purposed items

• Candle jars- Once your favorite candle has burned out don’t throw away that cute glass jar (especially those Bath and body works candles because they are always so fancy), instead clean out the left over wax and remove the label. I converted mine into makeup brush holders/cotton ball jars. They work great and are so decorative.
• Wicker baskets– I must be old school but one of my favorite ways of re-purposing wicker baskets is A.) gift baskets and B.) makeup organizer! OK, hear me out. Grab an old wicker basket with handle(s), add decorative tissue paper or fluff and then top with small gift items. These are always a hit for baby shower’s! Yes, you can see the gift but they also get to re-purpose that same basket (diaper organizer, swaddle blanket holder, etc! Makeup organizer, some wicker baskets have divided sections these look great in bathrooms! They add a subtle homey feel, while still providing you with usable access.
• Mason Jars– I use a large mason jar to hold my bar of soap’s on our bathroom shelf. So this way I can tell if I’m running low also space save! win win.
• Picture frames– Shop your local resale shops for cheap frames, or dig out your own frames from home. Paint, add buttons to perimeter, diy shadowboxes, or even pressed dried flowers for decor or present to a family member.
• Mirrors– Similar to the picture frames you will decorate the perimeter. Craft stores carry stick-on quotes/images which make for unique custom pieces of art. Keep for yourself or re-gift!

Limit your unnecessary purchases

This one is hard I must admit, with black Friday deals and that sale you just can’t miss, we tend to buy more than we need or have room for. It takes time and patience to achieve any goal. Start slow by taking steps towards taking clutter out of your home the rest will fall into place slowly but surely. A good rule of thumb to follow is one in two out, as in take two things out and bring in one thing new.

Learn to love the simple life

Get your family involved in cleaning out the closets and cabinets, I would suggest working from bigger places to small so that first wind will help you get it done, then when you are feeling tired work on smaller locations for a rest. Make a cleaning log/to do list and set a time frame of when it shall be done. That first initial declutter will make you feel accomplished so don’t throw in the towel when you feel bombarded with loads of clothes to sort through. Lastly ENJOY your new free space! Take a deep breath and align your Chakaras if you will.

Happy cleaning!