MUTiNY
Have you ever felt that your house (and car) have declared 'mutiny' as storage areas bulge and piles are stacked high on all surfaces? Are you fearful of letting people into your home because they might see how you really live? Maybe your home lacks peace and beauty you crave? There is no freedom in hoarding nor peace amidst clutter and chaos.
REPURPOSiNG
Stewardship is about living within your means while carefully managing and caring for your property. Sometimes that means looking for ways to reuse posessions giving them new life and a new purpose.
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| Card catalog - buffet table |
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| Military cot - coffee table |
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| Inverted crystal goblets with candles |
Yet there are other times when stewardship involves decluttering and deleting what is no longer useful or beautiful. Today, we shall chat about de-junking and save 're-purposing' for the next blog. :)
JUMPiNG iN
"The sculptor produces the beautiful statue by chipping away such parts of the marble block as are not needed - it is a process of elimination."
-Elbert Hubbard
-Elbert Hubbard
Those who declutter are like sculptors eliminating the clutter, peeling back the layers to bring a thing of beauty out of the chaos. It involves elimination in the form of recycling, donating, selling and/or throwing out.
We recommend tackling one closet or one room at a time as to not be overwhelmed. Ready to jump in and get started? The four basic phases to canning your clutter:
EMPTY iT - SORT iT - CLEAN iT - REPACK iT
1- EMPTY iT
Everything that can possibly be moved out of the room should come out. Enlist the family and equip them will skills that they will use now and in the future. Chances are they will be better stewards of family property if they have some sweat equity invested in it.
2- SORT iT
As you empty the room, you will be sorting what comes out the door. A few tips to help with sorting.
Be Quick. Be Ruthless. Be Done.
Keep in mind that sorting is best done quickly. This phase can be emotionally draining for some as items tend to have memories and sentiments attached. To save time and keep emotion at bay, we suggest touching each item only once. Handle it no longer than 30 seconds then place it in one of three piles:
KEEP - RECYCLE / DONATE - TRASH
Key questions to ask yourself while sorting: Is it useful? Will it be worn or used within the next year? Then keep it. Is it beautiful? Sentimental value? Keep it and plan to display it. If the item is truly of value then it does not belong in storage. Let go of the rest: Donate, sell or can it.
Basic principle for sorting success: If you don't use it... lose it!
3- CLEAN iT
It is time to restore beauty to the room and get it pristine clean! Paint the ceiling and walls (if needed). Clean the closet, light fixtures, ceiling fan, carpets and floors.
4- REPACK iT
Decide what purpose(s) the room will serve? What are the essentials needed to fulfill the purpose? Do not put back into the room anything that does not fulfill the new purpose.
Large furniture items are placed in the room first. Fill in with smaller furniture, lamps and other essentials. Decorate with sentimental treasures, works of art and items of beauty to finish the room.
Large furniture items are placed in the room first. Fill in with smaller furniture, lamps and other essentials. Decorate with sentimental treasures, works of art and items of beauty to finish the room.
You've finished. Woo Hoo! Now, celebrate and enjoy a job well done.
