I've just picked up the book, "The Life-Chaning Magic of Tidying Up: the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing" by Marie Kondo. This book was highly recommended at the U-Bookstore and from the very start I was desperate to buy it. Inside, I'm a minimalist but outwardly, no matter how much I give away I'm still jam packed with stuff I never use. A messy room causes me discomfort and distracts me to the point of desperate cleaning so that I can focus on what needs to be done. That being said, I rarely put things away and struggle to get rid of what's unnecessary because, "what if I really need it later?".
The first step described in the book is making a goal of what you want. I want a modern sophisticated, yet natural, room that makes me feel comfortable. It's envisioning your ideal lifestyle. By modern, I mean sleek furniture and simplistic designs and patterns. There's clear table space, good lighting, and clear pathways to all areas. My ideal modern sophisticated lifestyle includes blogging at night, organized studying, a fresh scent, and room to stretch in the evenings. I'll have a comfortable reading spot. By natural I want lots of wood and nothing to bright or "starched".
The book then asks, "why do you want that lifestyle?". As a child my family did our best to be clean but we were cluttered. We kept everything and loved rummaging through garage sales, antique stores, etc to find amazing deals and one of a kind pieces that didn't match anything. I want a room that is the opposite of that! I want everything to fit and match and belong. I want to be sophisticated as I dreamed I would be as a child, although the chanel-esque dresses, long cigarettes, and fur coats won't be necessary to make it feel complete. As a modern woman I feel that my pieces should be timeless and I love wood because it feels natural.
Ultimately I want to tidy because I have come so far in my life in creating the kind of life that I have always wanted and have achieved so much on my own. I'm ready at the cusp of 23 to start buying furniture and living my dreams.
The first step described in the book is making a goal of what you want. I want a modern sophisticated, yet natural, room that makes me feel comfortable. It's envisioning your ideal lifestyle. By modern, I mean sleek furniture and simplistic designs and patterns. There's clear table space, good lighting, and clear pathways to all areas. My ideal modern sophisticated lifestyle includes blogging at night, organized studying, a fresh scent, and room to stretch in the evenings. I'll have a comfortable reading spot. By natural I want lots of wood and nothing to bright or "starched".
The book then asks, "why do you want that lifestyle?". As a child my family did our best to be clean but we were cluttered. We kept everything and loved rummaging through garage sales, antique stores, etc to find amazing deals and one of a kind pieces that didn't match anything. I want a room that is the opposite of that! I want everything to fit and match and belong. I want to be sophisticated as I dreamed I would be as a child, although the chanel-esque dresses, long cigarettes, and fur coats won't be necessary to make it feel complete. As a modern woman I feel that my pieces should be timeless and I love wood because it feels natural.
Ultimately I want to tidy because I have come so far in my life in creating the kind of life that I have always wanted and have achieved so much on my own. I'm ready at the cusp of 23 to start buying furniture and living my dreams.