Saturday 8 February 2014

Declutter: Less 365


As part of my mission to declutter this year, I thought I'd try the Less 365 Project, which I first read about here.

The point is to get rid of one thing every day for a year.  Well... I'm not doing it exactly like that - I'm getting rid of things in fits and starts really.  However, I believe I have stumbled on the key to making this a successful project... the simple print out of a 2014 calendar!  I found mine here, but any will do.

As I get rid of something, I cross a day off on the calendar.  It makes no difference to me what the actual date is I do it - I just cross a day off per item.  If you are anything like me, having this calendar will make all the difference - the other week I found myself wandering around the house, calendar in hand, looking for things to get rid of so I could cross another day off!  (I shouldn't have to look really, the house is awash with clutter!)  It might not work for everyone, but it's a motivator for me - I do like lists, ticking things off, and such related fun!  (The Lumberjack didn't quite get the point of the calendar in all of this.  His view is that if you've got too much junk, just get rid of it - why do you need a calendar?!  Although he recognised that I was clearly delighted every time I could cross a day off!  We all work in different ways...!)

Sometimes you'll find you're behind the actual date and sometimes ahead of it - depending on when you have your manic clear-outs!  I've been held up for the last week or so, as life has become rather hectic around here...


That's the Lumberjack ripping out the kitchen - eeeeek!

We've been having electrics and plastering and what-not done this week, and the installation starts on Monday.  The kitchen arrived yesterday:


The living room has now become a storage area.  As well as other random places that boxes have been squeezed into!

So it's a bit chaotic at the moment.  I am currently hiding in bed typing this - away from the mess!  Everywhere in the house appears to be covered in a fine layer of dust - it's delightful.

This weekend's plan is to get the room painted with a few coats if possible, so that when the kitchen is in, just a final coat is needed to neaten up the knocks and bumps from the installation.  The Lumberjack has to work today, so I plan to get on with that (I'm the painter anyway, he does the messy work and I do the bits that need to look neat!).  I'm just waiting for the final wet patches of plaster to dry out before I get out of bed and get on with it.  (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!)

I'm just going to get some white on the ceiling and walls to start with.  But we're struggling to decide on the actual wall colour to go for.  I originally thought a neutral like a very pale grey, then changed my mind to duck egg - but we've started to veer down the funky bright colour route!  Perhaps this sort of colour:

Source
Source - this was a Pinterest pin which doesn't seem to go anywhere unfortunately

We're having ivory cupboards, walnut worktops and a low band of lightish grey tiles over the worktop.  (Do walnut and grey go?!  Eeek, hope so!)  It's a small kitchen and not that much of the wall colour will be on show really.  We thought it would be fun to have an injection of brightness, rather than be neutral, but it's a bit scary!  What do you reckon people?  (Be prepared for me to ignore your opinions - I tend to do that.  I'll listen and take them on board, but sometimes my heart just has another idea, and you've gotta follow your heart!)

And of course, It can always be painted over if it looks hideous.

Aahh prettiness (taken just as the chaos was about to start):


Spot the polish can on the floor, ruining the picture - that amuses me.  (Don't be fooled into thinking I was cleaning - things were just being moved around!)

Goodness, this is a long waffley post - anyone would think I was avoiding getting out of bed and doing some painting....


11 comments:

  1. Very funny post. I'd be hiding too! Its the whole 'you'll be so glad you did it once it is done' scenario of living through renovation disruption isn't it.

    Re: colour- Is where is being painted reasonably accessible? If it is and can easily be repainted then go with the bright first. That way if you don't like it, it is easy enough to change. However, if difficult to access then go with the low key as even if you don't really like it, it wont offend you so much and you can change it the next time you are doing a big clear out or change.

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  2. The bright colour is lovely, but if you are not sure about it, could you do one wall "feature wall"? Also bear in mind how much time you spend in the room, if you are living in there you might want something more subtle than if you just cook in there and then eat elsewhere for example. As you said, it is paint, you can always change it and let's face it you probably will paint the walls again at some point long before you change the cupboards etc, so go with it and see what happens! The cupboards, tiles etc sound very nice, I am looking forward to seeing the progress. Hope that you can handle the dust in the meantime - if not bed is always a good option!! xx

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  3. How exciting! Lucky you getting a new kitchen and choosing paint colours. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out and what colour you decide to go with. If I tell my husband about your calendar de-clutter system he would cry - no really he is so sentimental about everything, to the point of being a hoarder ripe for a channel 4 documentary! Anyway how many days did you strike off the calendar when you got rid of the old kitchen? Must be a few months worth?

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  4. Blue is good for kitchens. Its supposed to instil creativity but calmness. I miss my blue kitchen, we're all magnolia and beige now....boring!

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  5. Hi sorry I have been absent for a short while, work as usual dominates my life at present. What a fabulous idea about de-cluttering as I have a major issue with hoarding things and need to have a big plan which works! Am going to have a look at your system as it looks doable for me. Love the colours you have highlighted and cannot wait to see what you come up with, am sure it is will be fabulous. Have a restful Sunday, am sure that you are still working in the dust though, lots of hugs
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  6. This is fantastic! I am excited to see where this adventure leads and which décor choices you make!

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  7. Renovating can be chaotic indeed, but chosing paint colors, deciding on decorations, that's where the fun starts! And I love that you've intergrated a decluttering challenge into it, I might try your calender-idea too! Thanks for sharing! xoxo Lily

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  8. Hi, Love the inspiration pictures! Hope it is going well! I have an award for you on the blog! Please pop by :-) x

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  9. Yes and yes and yes. Go big or go home has been my motto as of recently. You only live once Maria, bring it home! I especially love the image with the bright turquoise behind the floating shelves. A perfect punch of colour, especially if you have white or silver items on display with the bright hue behind it. Oh, yummmm.

    xx A

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  10. Oh yes, love those bright fresh colours...so pretty!
    Decluttering is such a good idea too Maria...I need to do more of it...it makes everywhere feel so much calmer, doesn't it?
    Happy Weekend!
    Susan x

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  11. Oh my goodness, I SOOO need to declutter and chuck stuff away... What a good idea to try to do one thing a day.
    I really love the bright colour on the walls, too. Like you say, you can always paint over it if you really dislike it!
    Have a happy week,
    Sarah xx

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