Compact Living

I've lived in large & sprawling, seriously smart...& now I'm living Compact!

Outgoings & time spent cleaning, whether you're doing it yourself, or organizing getting it done, are non- comparable. After years of living with a luxurious excess of space we find we spend more time together as a family, & we love it!

However, keeping separate space is important: the parental bedroom doubles as the 2nd TV room, complete with a cosy couch and coffee table, & the smallest bedroom is taken over for the computers and a small working desk for one. The built in wardrobe, which was tight for clothes, becomes a great area to store paper-work and those ever present technical “bits” out of sight. Use open topped boxes (clear is good) to gather like-with-like and make searching for stuff easier. I designated a shelf for school related bits and get the boys to clear it out once a month...well that's the plan anyway!

So what are the tricks to making compact living a success?

In my opinion there are three main rules: plan your storage, chose functional furniture; and the killer: discipline...to keep on top of things before they pile up, and to take time-out now and again to re-pack your shelves and generally tidy up your storage.

Less is definitely more when living with a reduced number of rooms.
Furnish with those "all-important" functional pieces, and don't overload your space.

When they have room to breathe the simplest of objects become objet d'art!

If you have lots of objects, think about how you display them. You're not forced to show them all at the same time. Try sorting them into related collections.
Chose one to show, pack the rest carefully but keep it handy, so you can rotate! 
Live a month with one collection, and you'll be amazed how much more you appreciate the next one when it reappears from its hiding place.

Keep your surfaces clear, and you'll find that any clutter that appears will “bother you” enough to deal with it immediately. The trick is not to let "mess" build up, so it's quick and easy to cope with.

Rotate clothing seasonally & invest in storage boxes that fit under beds to make the most of “lost” space, or invest in built in storage to make the most of every inch.

Custom-made solutions can be expensive, but if well done, add value to your home. Keep syles simple, and make sure that doors and shelves close quietly and fit closely. What can be added value quickly disintegrates if the finish is not good! 

Get rid of tired items: clothing, footwear & crockery...everything and anything that's lived it's life and is looking less than great should be seriously looked at. If it's not truly worth keeping then throw it! & replace with restraint.

Minimal is cool, not cold. Small is the next big thing : organize & enjoy what living together in a smaller space brings. And celebrate, you're in fashion!