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Housekeeping

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Original poster

How do you have an uncluttered minimalistic house and live?

49 replies

evenhope · 10/05/2007 15:17

If you have a minimalistic tidy and clear house, do you not have "stuff"? Where do you keep books, DVDs, receipts, correspondence, tools, things with wires (mobile chargers), cameras and all the other paraphenalia?

(I ask as someone who is drowning in mess)

OP posts:
ceolas · 10/05/2007 15:21

No idea. I am like you. Drowning. Can't imagine what we'll do when baby number 4 comes along in August.

Will watch this with interest.

MrsBadger · 10/05/2007 15:22

books go on the bookshelves
DVDs go in the DVD cupboard
Receipts and correspondence go in an in-tray basket and are filed once dealt with
Tools go in the toolbox or (eg glasses screwdriver, penknives) the Useful Stuff Drawer under the phone
Chargers stay plugged in where they're used (on desks or by bed)
SLR in camera bag in wardrobe, compact in aforementioned Useful Stuff Drawer.

hairymclary · 10/05/2007 15:24

i think they have a secret room upstaris for the stuff.
am quite envious, but not enough to get rid of my precious things. am a hoarder

Idreamofdaleks · 10/05/2007 15:24

you just have a lot of unintrusive storage for your stuff

MrsBadger · 10/05/2007 15:26

...and DH and I each have a basket at the end of the sofa for real genuine clutter like the remotes, spare specs for watching TV, in-progress magazines etc

nailpolish · 10/05/2007 15:27

books go on bookshelves
we dont have dvds or cds - dh put them all on pc hardrive
toys come out every morning and go away in dd's bedrooms every night
fitted cupboards is the key
once you get in the habit of tidy tidy tidy then it isnt a chore
and being very very very ruthless at throwing things away - if i havent worn something for 6 months i chuck it - same with dd's clothes and toys (although i keep dd1s stuff for dd2, but i keep it in the garage or loft)

nailpolish · 10/05/2007 15:28

mobile phone chargers are plugged in the bedroom under the bed

LucyJones · 10/05/2007 15:30

this reminds me of the Friends episode where Chandler discovers Monica's 'mess' cupboard

Spidermama · 10/05/2007 15:31

I actually can't tidy up as quickly as my kids mess up so I'm on to a loser.

Bink · 10/05/2007 15:35

You know those ancient gardeners whose shed walls have the outlines of tools drawn on them? - so that each tool is always hung up on its own specific nail, and no other?

You have to be like that. It takes effort to set the system up (and of course you need enough space/storage to assign everything a place), but once set up it runs itself.

MellowMa · 10/05/2007 15:36

Message withdrawn

nailpolish · 10/05/2007 15:36

oh mellowma we all know fine they are 'adult'

expatinscotland · 10/05/2007 15:38

Just get rid of all your shit, man.

No, it's not easier said than done.

Purge and keep purging.

MellowMa · 10/05/2007 15:38

Message withdrawn

nailpolish · 10/05/2007 15:39

i love htat you keep them in the bedside drawer mellowma

brimfull · 10/05/2007 15:41

correct me if I am wrong but doesn't a phone charger still emit electricity when left plugged in and therefore it is rather wasteful to leave them plugged in when not charging.

Am ready to be corrected as vaguely remember someone going on about this.

MellowMa · 10/05/2007 15:41

Message withdrawn

MrsBadger · 10/05/2007 15:42

I turn off the power but leave them plugged in

Anchovy · 10/05/2007 15:42

Bink, you will not be surprised to know that we have a system like that in our garden shed...

We have a very clutter free house. I think my advice is to marry someone who can't stand clutter and who is ruthless about tidying up. Actually once you get into the groove with it it is very satisfying.

Basically, you have to have systems, and ones that work, so that things always go in the same place. Once you have a place for everything, then putting stuff away at the end of the day is easy. The DCs are reasonably good about this as well - they know where things go and they know that they are supposed to put them there. (Its just getting them to do it...)

expatinscotland · 10/05/2007 15:43

I hate clutter.

I really, really do.

brimfull · 10/05/2007 15:45

I married the wrong man then

bozza · 10/05/2007 15:45

We keep the phone charger in the drawer in the utility room and just get it out and plug in as necessary. We keep the camera charger in the desk drawer upstairs. DVDs in DVD cupboard. CDs in CD cupboard. Books on shelf upstairs. Receipts in in-tray and then small drawer in unit thing from Ikea. Tools in toolbox in garage.

nailpolish · 10/05/2007 15:45

an extreme way to do it is move house
i ve moved 5 times in about 10 years and you have a clear out each time
i have no shit wahtsoever believe me!
and i m moving again in 3 weeks - im haivng a clearout as i pack and ive taken loads of stuff to recyclng/charity shop already

KathyMCMLXXII · 10/05/2007 15:47

My little brother lives in Japan where the flats always look lovely and minimalistic....but actually they just have loads of huge built in cupboards.

MellowMa · 10/05/2007 15:50

Message withdrawn

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