minimalism

How to Set Up Your Spring Capsule Wardrobe

April 8, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

Now is the perfect time to set up your spring capsule wardrobe. As you figured out, the "in-between seasons" make it difficult to decide what to wear. Right now, are you searching two closets or digging through bins of off-season clothing? Instead, consider how much easier it will be to get ready, if everything lived in one closet? I use one closet (no dresser) but that wasn't always the case. Here's how I downsized my wardrobe into one simple closet. Experiment with Less First, I challenged myself to wear just 7 pieces of clothing for an entire week. This exercise was inspired by Jen Hatmaker’s book 7 Experiments Against Excess. During this week, I still left the house for work, church, and social engagements and always in clean clothes. Second, I developed a spring (and then winter) capsule wardrobe of a limited number of seasonal pieces. By following Courtney Carver’s Project 333, I selected my favorite spring items. And moved the rest to our guest closet. I dressed …

How to Organize Your Pantry

April 15, 2023 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

I often hear that the pantry is the most disorganized spaces in your home. Am I right? Well, you can tackle it one shelf at a time! Since we simplified, I can empty and reset my pantry in 2 hours or less, including cleaning the shelves and updating labels. My pantry is a cabinet, not a walk-in space. I think that is a blessing. It might take you longer and you may need to tackle one shelf at a time. My Step-by-Step Approach for how to organize the pantry can be used over and over again until you've taken care of all the pantry food and contents. Give it a try this week! Remove everything from the cabinet or shelf Clean canisters, shelves, and containers Declutter expired items and poor quality ingredients Group items by category Vinegar/Oil Flour/Sugar Canned goods Snacks Pasta and Rice Repurpose extra food storage containers for organization Remove items from multi-pack plastic or trim boxes for easy access Granola bars …

How to Increase Margin and Improve Organization in Your Home

January 27, 2023 by Amy Slenker-Smith 24 Comments

Want to know a secret? Organizing isn’t about the stuff. It’s actually about the margin between the stuff. The more space, the better. I create margin in every space I declutter and organize. Eliminate the excess and keep the essentials. Margin represents 37% of a page of written work. Margin makes spaces look more attractive. As a decluttering coach, I help clients create margin in their crowded and cluttered spaces. Empty Flat Surfaces Consider the kitchen. Are you fighting to store a large piece such as a griddle or the Instapot? Open all the cabinets, take a step back, and find prime real estate for the items you use most and store them accordingly. This means getting rid of lesser-used items and rearranging. Margin also means empty flat surfaces such as clean kitchen counters. With clean counters, I unload groceries, cook dinner, and pack lunches without cleaning the kitchen first. Create a Playroom Not a Toy Room Margin also means creating a …

Not Enough Hangers Or Too Many Clothes

June 28, 2021 by Amy Slenker-Smith 14 Comments

You have enough hangers. However, I'm guessing they do not match and this alone can make a closet look disorganized. But by now you know I am not an organizer who encourages you to buy stuff. I will always suggest that you declutter first to figure out what you really need. It's always less than you think. But when it’s time to replace broken hangers, I like these. In the meantime, try these decluttering and organizing tips for your closet. How to Reduce Hangers and Clothing Remove Empty Hangers - Return metal ones to the dry cleaner. Recycle plastic store hangers. Sort Clothes by Season - If possible, move current season clothing to the front. Or utilize a spare closet to store offseason clothing while you downsize. Sort Clothes by Color - Create a visually appealing space by grouping colors. Shoes - Use the 1-In/1-Out Rule. Or 1-In/5-Out Rule. :) Turn Hangers - To face the back of the closet. When you re-hang clean clothes, turn them in the …

How Uncluttered Will Change Your Life

September 17, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

I am passionate about living simply and owning less. My journey began when stress was high and I burned the candle at both ends. I'm here to tell you there is a better way. Uncluttered Course One key component of my journey was Joshua Becker's Uncluttered course. He's a husband and dad with great advice for families. He gets it. Joshua's story started on a beautiful spring Saturday with a garage full of stuff and his son playing in the backyard alone. He was too busy to play with him. Joshua's family felt burdened by all the stuff in their house. It was stealing their time, energy, and money. That was the moment when he knew something had to change. And he certainly followed through. My Moment My moment came in the hospital with an out-of-control, two-week-long migraine. The pain had escalated to where I could not open my eyes. When I tried to lay down, the pressure was unbearable. I sat curled up in a ball on the floor. My husband …

9 Easy Ways to Organize Your Home

April 9, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith 1 Comment

I love to declutter and organize spaces but it doesn't happen overnight. Over the years, I've established practical habits to control clutter and organize our home. Here are nine easy ways to get started! Stop Shopping I really mean stop shopping. I know, it's easier said than done. But question your purchases before you make them or wait 24 hours to click order. Avoid stores that result in impulse buys and extra purchases. The bullseye store comes to mind. :) Before you buy, identify storage for new items. Where will it live? Do you have space to store it? Borrow, Repurpose, Reuse or Do Without Save time, build relationships and borrow a cup of sugar from your neighbor. Or maybe a weed whacker, power washer or crockpot. I love building community through borrowing. Several of my friends join me in saying "We own 8 folding chairs." and "We own a piano." If you cannot borrow an item, try waiting a few days to see if the need …

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