Spartan
I need to throw out all my stuff, like my books and knick-knacks. All my clutter has got to go! Minimalism is the new me.
Last night I was inspired by the stark simplicity of loft living, at a house (condo) warming party we attended.
The building was all shiny metal, new concrete and empty spaces. The one bedroom condo had spartan modern furnishings, simple abstract art and just the right accent pieces. The owner even had a dog, a black and white terrier, that perfectly matched the urban lifestyle. It could have been in modern living magazine. Yet someone, actually a couple, lived in this perfect space.
The only item of clutter was a prize stick the dog had picked up on the morning walk. When I asked how it was possible to live so simply, the host responded, “I just throw stuff out and keep throwing it out.”
I know I’ve let go of a lot of stuff in the past year but still our house feels over full. There are still items that need a home and there’s no room left. It is time to continue purging. I’m never going to be able to live in a loft space like that. Too much clutter was one of the reasons we decided not to buy a loft in the first place.
Still, wouldn’t it make daily life simple if there was less clutter? Time to fill some more donation bags.
Hmmm …. my advice (I am a yr older than you so i get to be the old wise sagesse) ;)
Don’t buy what you don’t love and want to keep. In this way, everything you see you’ll want to be seeing. I think because things are so cheap nowadays, people buy so much clutter and then give it away. have you seen thrift stres lately – filled to the brim!
With stuff like books – sell them on amazon if you don’t want them. I try to only buy books I want to keep to keep that clutter down. Things like knickknacks … do they mean something special to you? Again, try not to buy any knicknacks unless you love it. My motto is go BIG and LESS. or Subtract don’t add (that I tell to my mom).
yeesh, I can talk forever about this! But the one thing about the spartan look… there’s a fine line between modern sparse and plain ol’ warehouse/museum look.
Whew. I’m done talking now.
Comment by rosie — October 11, 2006 @ 2:41 pm
Wow, Rose Marie, you should write a book! I’d buy it…I mean, take it out from the library…
Comment by robin — October 11, 2006 @ 4:46 pm
Since moving in with SB, who brought an equal amount of stuff to my already packed life, I feel like I’ve done a good job of curbing any desires to buy more stuff. It is all a matter of getting rid of more. Subtraction is a good thing, it is a fun thing. Right?
Borrow don’t buy.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Comment by Marijka — October 11, 2006 @ 9:44 pm