I had to laugh at this week's options for The Minimalist community - they really didn't want us to share some 'random shit story'. This made me really tempted to wind the girls up by telling some 'random shit' story, but then I started worrying that all my stories were 'random' and subjectively 'shit'. Like tidying up the bottom drawer, I totally delayed on this one, before deciding to go with 'what are some creative ways for reducing visual noise around you and what are the benefits you gain'. Then I started worrying that my 'creative ways' weren't creative at all. But enough is enough. I had to get on with it, because it was likely my last KISS for the year.
Okay, here goes my random shit post about clearning up visual noise. I'm a Libran, if that makes sense to you. At this point you're going - oh my god not some random shite about astrology @riverflows, you've totally lost me there. But Librans are known to be drawn to beauty, harmony and balance, so we're naturally sensitve to our environment. Visual clutter disrupts my innate sense of aesthetic equilibrium so I have to tidy up and create places that feel pleasing and serene. This drive for order aligns with my desire for peace and a calm atmosphere.
Do you want to know how peaceful and calm my place is? I'm going to use Professor Alice Roberts as authority. She visited our house last week and the first thing she said when she came in was how serene and peaceful and calming our house was. So there you go, I have the backing of a famous celebrity scientist. Thus, I can conclude one of the knock on benefits is the respect and admiration of others - bahaha.
Let's go over a couple of my 'creative' ways to deal with visual noise a.k.a clutter - all which makes me feel more calm in my surroundings.
1. The Magic Wardrobe
One, shove everything inside an upcycled wardrobe and shut the door. We don't have walk in cupboards, so I had no where to store my linen. I had this awful orange pine cupboard I picked up for free, and with a bit of sanding, white washing, and chopping the chunky decorations from top and bottom and some gold feet and new handles, I had this fresh cupboard that hides all my linen. Just open at your own risk - any number of badly folded doona covers may jump our at you.
If you want to know how darn ugly it WAS, have a look in the comments - I'll put the before photo there. I did NOT save photos of the sheets and duvets on the top shelf of our walk in robe - that was just a freaking horror show.
2. The Magic Mushroom Sock Drawers
Now this one I had to include even though it's not in the main house, but in the Defender camper. I have to live up to my reputation, you see, of being mushroom mad, so I like to tease Jamie by putting mushrooms everywhere. Don't worry, there's no mushroom noise until you open up the cupboard, and in fact, you'll see that the cupboard itself is very streamlined and aesthetically quiet.
We had no where to put socks that didn't make them tricky to find or lost amongst the clutter of other clothes, so I found three small cardboard boxes from the local supermarket, painted them green to suit the Land Rover, and glued mushrooms on them. Now when you open the door you don't get a mess, you get three cute boxes with socks and knickers in them. This really makes me irrationally happy.
3. The Luscious Laundry
Okay I hate clutter on benchtops, and it's one of the reasons I don't have a lot of electric appliances. However, the blender and the Smeg espresso machine was an absolute non negotiable, as of course was the kettle. The solution? Make the laundry into a walk in extension of the kitchen. Worse comes to worse, if we have guests and that's a mess, I can shut the door on it. You can't see the appliances (just the kettle) from the kitchen - only my mosaic. Because we couldn't have cupboard doors, as they would smash into the laundry door, I use three black baskets that store potatoes and onions, tea towels and sponges, and calico shopping bags and eco veg bags.
And those overhead cupboards - which I don't have in my open plan kitchen - contain teas, cups, glasses and so on, as well as herbs and more tea in the visible jars. Down below I have the laundry baskets. It's a tiny laundry, but it's actually a really functional use of space.
And I also have this lovely laundry window, which was useless as a door, so we screwed it in place. It gives me more room this way.
I hope my solutions were both creative enough. I hope you all have a wonderful festive season and come back rested in the new year. Much love!
With Love,
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I mean, that prof is right, your house is serene and so calm 😄 if my house is like yours, I wouldn't ever leave the house haha or maybe I would but not as much as I typically leave my house these days hehe
Ha well if I stay home I just have to tidy up again, so even I must leave it! Thankyou x
I'm with you on that Mac😁
After I saw that laundry window, I forgot about everything I read before. Wow! I’m definitely taking that as an inspiration. If I had such a thing in my space, I would be doing my laundry everytime.
You know when we bought the place the laundry stank of cat pee and we had to pull up the linoleum and tile it, repaint etc. So it's a huge improvement!!!
Oh and it sure was worth it.
mushrooms have this way of having been there all along even though i could swear they weren't a minute ago. it's a sweet touch!
Ha I love it. Even Jamie secretly likes the secret shrooms. They do make me smile.
This was the hideous cupboard BEFORE
Wait, this is the before ? I like this one a lot better 😅
Sure it's harder to match with the interior, but on it's own it looked really nice.
Oh no it's too dark and chunky and old fashioned for me. The after is much more in harmony with the room and lightens it up. But we all have different taste xx
Your home does look incredibly inviting.
WoW! I've seen a few ideas here that are worth stealing😉
👆
Nicely said. I'm Cancerian, but it resonates with me. Atm, I wish I could reduce some noise on my narrowboat, but I think I can only do so when I get a bigger boat.
The photo of your living space is indeed calming and pleasing to the eye. It looks authentically tasteful and not-too-magazine-perfect for comfort.
Wow! It's hard to believe that's the same cupboard.
Btw, I'm yet to read a 'random shit story' from you,😁 and, sadly, only authors who take sincere pride are the ones who would be hesitant to write on the prompt after a direct warning.
Kudos to you for receiving such fine celebrity feedback on your living place. You earned that:)))
Thanks for your #KISS
I enjoyed it 😉
lips sealed
Darling, I didn't even talk about my Cancerian homebody MOON!!!!
Glad you enjoyed my post. It's much harder in a super tiny space. Do you think you'll get a bigger boat? I always love the challenge of making a tiny space decluttered. I'd make it my day job if I could!!!
Thanks so much for the ❤️❤️❤️
You're very welcome 😍
Yeah! It's coming up to a year on this current boat, and we're fairly comfortable (much more than on the previous one Badger). However, we can see ourselves getting closer to finding 'the boat' in another year or so:)))
Awesome!
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