We’ve been doing a lot of work over the summer on various projects around our house and yard, which means I’ve spent a lot of time looking at various platforms and photos for inspiration. While this can be helpful to visualize the project I want to tackle, it can also make me feel like our home and yard aren’t good enough if they don’t look a certain way.
So often we strive for some unattainable image or for an idealistic standard of what we think our homes should look like.
I think the true marker of beauty in a home actually doesn’t have to do with beauty at all.
Our countertops aren’t fancy, but it’s where we sit down with friends and family to have real conversations and share nourishing food.
Our pantry isn’t colour-coordinated, but it holds the food we’re blessed to buy.
Our yard isn’t perfectly landscaped, but we watch cows in neighbouring fields, go for walks and play on the swings, learn about nature, and watch the seasons change.
Our house isn’t big, but it’s cozy, inviting, and we call it home.
I think a beautiful home is peaceful, functional, and full of love. This often comes from simplifying your home and lifestyle to find what works best for you and your family.
I am giving myself the freedom this season to pursue simple spaces instead of stressing about perfection.
How Do You Make A Space Function Well?
Here are a few practical tips to make any space in your home simpler:
- Clear your home’s surfaces! If visual clutter stresses you out, tuck as many items away as possible. If you prefer to see your belongings, try grouping like with like.
- Find purposeful homes for items. Put your things where you’re most likely to look for them first! (this is a concept I first heard from author and blogger Dana K. White, and I love it!) For example, if I always look for a Sharpie in a certain desk drawer, I shouldn’t also store them in a craft caddy because I’ll forget they are there. Make a decision about where items will go and stick with it!
- Stick to The Container Method. If a drawer, cupboard, or room is feeling overstuffed, this method will help you easily pare down your belongings.
Let’s choose peace over perfection!
Little Minimalist on the Prairies 