Getting Organized and DIY Decorating in 2013

 

Last year, I had a great plan to organize my house. It didn't happen. Well, not exactly.

 I DID organize my homeschool room and I did do a shared bedroom makeover for my two older daughters. So that is something.

             Pin boards serves double duty as headboards

in my daughters'  shared bedroom...

Labels make finding books on a bookshelf

 in the Brighton Park homeschool room a breeze...

But two rooms does not a whole house make...

It is happening in 2013.

Definitely happening. So, alot of my reasons for wanting to organize have remained the same as last year when I decided "this is the year". (Alas, 2012 was not the year. But I have a good feeling about 2013.)

Especially since I have decided I am not just organizing this year...

I am redecorating. And I am excited about this because...

I am not just redecorating, I am DIY redecorating. I am dusting off my tools, seeking inspiration and looking forward to letting go of anything that does not bring me inspiration, does not have function, or that which does not serve me.

Minimalism and Redecorating in one. Now we're talking...

Let's revisit...

As I have written before, I like to consider myself an organized person. At heart, I  know I am an organized person (My closet IS organized by sleeve length and color, from dark to light), and I LOVE it when everything is in its place and clutter free. However, my house is currently not organized, (not even in the same vicinity as "organized") and I can attribute this to the following factors:

• when we moved into this house, I never got to organize initially the way I wanted, because baby Brooke was born a mere 2 weeks after we moved in. 
• I went back to Graduate School (currently in my 3rd semester of getting a new Master's in History) and
• Right now, I'm also in class about 40 hours a month getting my yoga teacher training certification
• I am hopelessly outnumbered by children, who seem to not share my love of minimalism...
• There are only so many hours in a day and what "gives" on a day where there is not enough time is usually the house.  

So, this is my year to get organized. There are alot of reasons to get organized. These are mine (yours may be different):

• I am a minimalist at heart, so clutter free spaces and clear counter tops for me are a necessity to my mental well being.
• I want to set the example to the kids of a home that is well taken care of (not chaotic), which is particularly important since their home doubles as their school.
• Less time looking for things and no money spent on buying duplicates of items we already have.
• Weekly maintenance/cleaning takes less time when there is no clutter.

These are MY challenges to staying organized. (Yours may be different):

• homeschool books, supplies and projects
• My husband (while I am a minimalist, he is a "keeper"...wants to keep everything and his "system" of keeping everything is "piles").
• lack of time; between homeschool, graduate school and kids' activities, almost every hour of every day is taken by an activity that is a bigger priority than cleaning closets or drawers.
• my constantly growing book collection; apparently, I am hoarding cookbooks for the zombie apocalypse...
• craft books, supplies and projects

So, I am making 2013--for real this year--the year I get my house really organized--for keeps. To apply minimalism and organization to each room down to the closet and drawers, so that I wake up each day in a clean and clutter free environment (read: not lose my sanity half way through a semester or a tax season or a homeschool lesson). And to rethink, and refresh the decor and aesthetic of my home to turn each room into an inspired space.

An inspired space. (The very thought of this makes my heart smile).

So here is my challenge to you: If you have been saying "I need to organize my homeschool" or "I really need to organize the _____ room" (or the whole house), or if any of these sound like resolutions for 2012 you plan to make, then join me! If you are wanting to simplify, then may I suggest the following amazing blogs to get you started:

Be more with Less
The Joy of Less
Zen Habits

So, my challenge to you. Ask yourself:

• am I organized? is my home?
• If yes (I am so jealous), if not, make your own list of what you think is keeping you from being organized
• make a list of positive reasons/benefits of having an organized space.
• make a list of the areas you want to revamp. My list is small~~ "whole house". What's yours?

I have already started organizing...turning this clutter collecting corner of our kitchen counter this week from this...

to this...

As I work on organizing other areas, and as I delve into some DIY decorating,  I will share before and after pictures. As far as our redecorating, Mr. Darcy and I have decided our biggest project is going to be converting our not often used formal dining room into a music room (That is going to be awesome). We are also giving two of our bathrooms an "update" and I am excited to try my hand at some DIY tasks I have never tried before.  (You will also notice a few changes to the blog in the upcoming weeks as I also organize here a bit too!)

I hope you will join me!

So, do you have a goal to organize or DIY this coming year? Leave a comment and share your plans!

This post is linked up to these lovely parties...

Blessings,

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