It’s been a few months since I discovered “Clutter Free” by Kathi Lipp, and I have changed as much as I have changed our home. No longer feeling suffocated by stuff, I am more energized when at home. There’s a level of peace when sitting on the coach in a spacious living room and cooking in a kitchen with clear counters. I have more time, because things aren’t constantly getting lost in the abyss.
It’s not that things aren’t messy at times. I am still human, and there are still three other people living under this roof. One may not be walking yet, but she has her own collection of stuff that can become clutter when not kept in its place. But even when the house appears out of hand, it can be brought back under control in 15 to 20 minutes using Kathi’s “three box, two bag” system.
I’ve taken Kathi Lipp’s challenge to be clutter free in 2015.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned in this process is that it’s important to make the most of what you have. For us, that’s played out three ways:
- Everything has earned its place in our home
- Everything has a dedicated space
- If it’s worth keeping, it’s worth showing off
Instead of 20 pairs of spiky high heels cluttering my closet, I’ve realized the value of four pairs of shoes that are functional, fashionable and – most importantly – comfortable. Those shoes have earned their place in my closet. The heels collecting dust have not.
Our home lacks storage space. What little we have isn’t practical. After thinking through our needs, we purchased some storage items to keep the things that we value. Instead of being strewn all over the floor or haphazardly stacked here and there, the girls’ toys, games and clothes now have dedicated spaces.
Finally, we have decided to feature the things that bring us the most joy. That means, hanging up preschool artwork, bringing in favorite dishes and appliances from the garage and arranging decorative items in a way that honors how much they mean to us.
Using Kathi’s Clutter Free principles has taken me from harried to happy. As a result, there is greater peace and contentment for our entire family. My hope is that we can start a Clutter Free revolution in our homes by reducing what we buy and what we have so that everything we have has earned its place in our lives.
This is the last of a four-part series on learning to love my living space utilizing strategies and concepts from Kathi Lipp’s “Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps to Simplifying Your Space” (Harvest House 2015). Want to join me? Text FINALLY to 33444 and sign up for Kathi’s Clutter Free emails to get free resources to start your journey.