Styling books in a Minimalist home

In my mist of decluttering I have got rid of a lot of books but there are still some favourites I have kept but styling them bothers me, a mix of different coloured spines and texts is sometimes just too much so when I have found books styled in a reversed fashion I have been really drawn to the simplicity. Albeit a little unpractical.

Image credit pinterest

I am a little late to the party with this way of styling as it really gained momentum on Instagram late 2017, there are dozens of pins on pinterest, featuring the look showing full bookcases with books facing the wrong direction. If books do not match your decor, this in my opinion is an incredibly easy solution to flip them for a perfectly coordinated look. 

I appreciate it may look a bit unpractical, but I have restyled my shelves with the books I wanted to keep and was pretty pleased with the look.

I feel its given them a more clean minimalistic look even though my my partner did make a comment the other day about why the books are facing the wrong way!

Would love to hear your thoughts, how are books styled in your home, do you like the look or think it's a bit unpractical?

Thanks for stopping by
Cathy xox

(0)

Continue reading

Modern Outdoor Spaces

Now it's that time of year where I mostly think about how I want to spend a lot more of my time outside in the garden, sadly summer seems to be a little slow off the ground but regardless of the rubbish weather we are having here in the UK I feel really inspired at the moment to transform my outdoor space, I had a patio laid last year but I have been stuck with the horrible teak garden table and chairs for a good few years, I am going to consider painting it first as I don't really have the budget for a new set. I have lots of ideas but sadly the budget doesn't really stretch to the contemporary garden of my dreams. 

I do spend far too much time on Pinterest pinning garden inspiration and I wanted to share with you some of my favourite outside spaces. 

I love everything about these spaces, the wooden slatted backdrop is just so stylish and I love the idea of a pergola to be able to still be outside when the weather isn't great and in the evening to light candles or hang some festoon lighting to create an instant atmosphere. Lights4Fun have some great tips on their site on how to style festoon lighting this summer.

All images sourced via pinterest

Have you any plans for your outdoor space this summer or like me are you dreaming of transforming your garden into something stylish and modern? For more garden inspiration  make sure you hit the follow button on pinterest.

Cathy xox 

Found in: Garden

(0)

Continue reading

Spring Wear

Image Credit Cos

Hurry up Spring, It's so windy and cold at the moment and I am feeling like I need a change with my attire all I seem to wear is jeans and jumpers, I am out of my winter boots and in my Converse but still hanging onto my North Face coat for the school run.

So after my epiphany last year when I stopped buying loads of cheap, crap clothes and sold half my wardrobe have I anything left... hmm not much! But it still stands I am only buying clothes that I will actually wear all the time and are more sustainable, otherwise what is the actual point in them just gaining dust hanging on my clothes rail! My staples for the day are jeans, long sleeved tops and sweaters, now I have a few of those so that's great, my most recent purchase was these jeans from Marks and Spencer. They are soft and ridiculously comfortable, love them. The other pair I own are Next jeggings for the day to day running around, but I do feel they look a bit bum-saggy after a few wears! So may consider purchasing another pair of  'day jeans'.

The only other purchases I am going to make are two shirts, a new denim one as my faithful H&M number has been worn to death and added to the recycling bag to give back to them in store. My other planned purchase is a white shirt. The white shirt is a classic staple and such a versatile piece of clothing. I feel a purchase will be well justified as it will be so useful.

So the search is on, so far I have found one in Boden which is a great price. I feel really determined to shop for items I feel I need and will wear on a regular basis. I am no longer buying items that do not fit my lifestyle anymore. My capsule wardrobe is getting established now however there are still items I need to clear out. But I have been hanging onto them for some reason, I feel I need to give them the Maria Kondo approach, do they 'spark joy'?

Have you any planned purchases for Spring or are you sticking with what you have already, or maybe planning a clear out?

Thanks for stopping by,
Cathy
xox

Found in: Capsule Wardrobe

(0)

Continue reading

Restore some bathroom zen

In my last post I talked about my first stage of decluttering which was my wardrobe, I quickly moved onto the bathroom, now my bathroom is small like the rest of our home! With limited storage,  I don't have any photos to share as it's got to be my least favourite room in the house, it needs a make-over,  well more than that really it needs ripping out and starting again but there's no pennies for that at the moment. However I will happily say it's organised and clutter free. So here I want to share with you my tips on ditching the bathroom clutter.

You will need the following items:

* A cloth and bathroom cleaner
* Rubbish & recycling bag
* Storage baskets
* A dry cloth to give everything the once over before putting items back again.
* An eco cloth for cleaning mirrors and shower doors.

Then the fun starts!

1. You need to take stock of how many shampoo, conditioners, shower gels that you actually need, it's time to get ruthless and take stock of what you have so clear out the cabinet and shower caddy and start to place just one item of the products you use on a regular basis. Now I am not suggesting you throw away any surplus products just store them away and use them up.

2. The same goes with your make-up and cosmetics most make-up should only be kept for a year, mascara 3-6 months. Cleansers and toners usually 12-18 months so its time to go through your make-up bag and get rid of any old make-up, ask yourself what items do I use on a regular basis, which items suit me?  Make a pile of those items anything else yep it time to get rid.  With your cleansers and toners etc, only keep the items you use if there is anything else that you have had for a while or brought as an impulse purchase it's time to get rid.

3. Decide on a reasonable number of towels for your family and keep only ones you are using on the towel rail any others keep them stored away and if you buy new ones get rid of the old ones. Don't get storing them at the back of the airing cupboard.. charity shops or even homeless hostels are always grateful for donated towels.

4. The medicine cabinet pain killers, creams, ointments all have expiry dates on them and don't last as long as you think when I went through our medicine box I found some truly shocking out of date meds. There are some useful storage boxes online which are great for storing items to keep them neatly stored away.  Make sure you check any prescriptions no-one is using as these can be dangerous and are just creating clutter.

5. Hair accessories go through any hair bands, bobby pins, head bands etc, make sure they are all being used. Time to throw away anything that may be broken how annoying is it to grab an overstretched hair tie in a hurry! Time to get rid of those.

6. Appliances the idea of a foot spa was great but if its taking up too much space in your bathroom and collecting dust it's time to let it go.

7.  Cleaning products use up what you have, it does take quite a while to get through a cleaning bottle, don't be tempted to stock pile on cleaning items and chuck out the gross old cleaning cloths.

8. Kids stuff i'm so glad my kids have now grown out of bath toys! Oh the clutter they can create. Keep only the ones they play with and keep them stored away if it's not bath time.

9.  Storage use the available storage you have for the items you really need, store older products to the front so they get used up.

10. Travel size and samples, use them up. I used to keep them for the next time I travel but they easily got forgotten about. So try and make sure you use them or donate them to charity or a homeless shelter.

With these tips I am confident you will get your bathroom into a clutter free zone. Give it a deep clean I love Method Bathroom Cleaner Spray 828ml  to clean my bathroom it smells fresh and clean, use Eco cloths  to clean mirrors and shower doors.

Time to create some zen -

If you can treat yourself to a plant, aromatherapy candles and soaps, I love these products by Pure Thoughts I discovered Leanna's brand on instagram, the 'peace meditation candle' will be ideal for creating some zen in the bathroom, it contains lavender which helps to improve sleep and restore emotional wellbeing. Plus I just love the simplicity of the amber glass jar to help create some luxury in your bathroom.

Peace Meditation Candle by Pure Thoughts

Natural Soaps by Pure Thoughts

I have recently switched to soaps in my attempt for the kids and I to use less chemicals and reduce plastic, these soaps contain uplifting essential oils and no nasties. Win, win!

So the last thing on the list now is to set yourself a pamper date to enjoy the space you have worked hard to make clutter free and relaxing.

Oh and if there is anything I should add to the list to restore some bathroom zen please let me know in the comments section below.


Cathy xoxo


* this post may contain affiliate links you can read my disclosure on the side bar.

Found in: decluttering

(0)

Continue reading

Live well with less

It's all over the internet now there's even a Netflix series about decluttering got to love Marie Kondo, the series is great I binged watched and although I have downsized my wardrobe dramatically I want to start going through the folding techniques to get more organised. So last year I started to really take stock of all the stuff I owned and what I actually need. I downsized when I got divorced and really wanted to make the smaller space work for me and my children so last year I made a conscious effort to declutter.

I started with my clothes now what i was really faced with was a tone of clothes and nothing to wear! So the clear out commenced, I have quite a small bedroom and only really space for a small chest of drawers there is a decent size alcove which is perfect for a fitted wardrobe but until I can afford it I have made use of a clothing rail which i picked up off ebay as a temporary measure, due to limited space I rotate my seasonal capsule wardrobe, this has been good for me as I have been forced to re-think my wardrobe and what I actually need and because I have limited storage the items I have now are more sustainable and will last longer. I now feel more educated and have been more mindful with purchases.  I donated bags and bags of clothing to charity shops,  I did Ebay quite a bit, the brands that worked for me on there are Joules, Boden, Next & Jack Wills. My rule of thumb with Ebay is just list for "Buy It Now" I found I got a better price, it takes longer but its worth it. I think Ebay is getting a bit more like Amazon buyers see an item they want it now rather than waiting to bid.


I went through the kids stuff  and have developed more of a capsule wardrobe for them too and to be honest only really buy what I need for them. They grown so quickly and they don't need hoards of clothes. I tend to buy more quality items that can be Ebayed once they have grown out of them, again when selling kids stuff I would recommend buy it now and offer a bundle of items if you can. I find this works for me you don't get that much back for kids clothes but it all helps towards budgeting for more items when they have grown out of them. Also there is a feel good factor of doing your bit for the environment to stop fast fashion. I will often donate items or pass on stuff to friends and family with younger children.

I didn't stop with my clothes.... I went through my jewellery, bags, scarves , there was so much I just didn't wear or need so again off it went to the charity shop. Now I am left with pieces that I really love and enjoy wearing.

I feel so much lighter and more organised with my wardrobe,  its easier to plan my outfits, I have found myself more content and more in tune with my personal style than ever before. 

Plus my laundry is much lighter too which is definitely an added bonus.

Have you got any decluttering or capsule wardrobe tips to share? I would love to hear them.

Thanks for stopping by...

Cathy xox

Found in: decluttering

(0)

Continue reading

Welcome To My Blog

So here I am with my first blog post and I am so happy that I have finally entered into the world of blogging again, it is something I have enjoyed in the past, I blogged a few years ago,  I wrote a lifestyle journal but sadly stopped as I was going through a tricky time and dealing with divorce and settling into single motherhood.

Now I feel the timing is right to jump back in as I feel passionate about writing about my journey about how I simplified my home through decluttering and home organising and how I am working on developing a more capsule wardrobe and reducing fast fashion purchases.

 I hate the new year "new you" phrase but this is the year I really want to make some changes into my lifestyle, to slow down... i know that's hard as a mother but I believe self care is so important, I want to share this journey on how I plan to supercharge my health and mindset and take time for some wellness and self care.

You will also find some reassuring posts about single parenting and how I introduced aromatherapy in my skincare routine and in our home.  

So that really is enough waffling for now, I am so pleased that I have finally pulled my finger out and started this blogging journey again. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Cathy xoxox

xox

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

(0)

Continue reading