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Minimalizing My Dining Room

Minimizing dining room
A series in minimalizing.  For my Living Room Post, click here.
Today I minimalized my Dining Room.  This room is right off the living room and is another room that does not often get to cluttered.  These are the first two rooms you see when you walk in our front door, so I tend to keep them up.  Stay tuned for future rooms to see the REAL clutter!
Before and after minimalizing dining room

The corner bookshelf is really the only thing that collects clutter. I tried to keep only things that are necessary or meaningful to me. We keep our white board markers/erasers in a basket–see our whiteboard for chores in the far right on the wall? The red box holds cd’s that I like to play in my under-the-cabinet player in my kitchen.  There is a picture frame from our family Disney trip and photos of my girls.  All things worth keeping.  I just cleared a few things from the bookshelf and gave it a quick dusting.

Before and after getting rid of clutter

Remember, even though I do have cleaning supplies out, WE ARE NOT CLEANING.  We are minimalizing.  A purging of sorts.  We have to train our brains to ignore the dirt and only focus on minimizing the items that we no longer need, love or that need to be put elsewhere.  If we do this then cleaning will be a breeze.  We will get to cleaning eventually.

Broom, duster, vacuum, trash bag

 

I DO have the broom, duster and vacuum nearby for the big nasty chunks.  You know, the dust bunnies that appear when you decided to move a bookshelf to another room or to get the layer of dust under knickknacks that are no longer wanted or loved.  It is just for a quick maintenance.  A fake clean if you will.  DO NOT GET OBSESSIVE and start cleaning.  That will come later.
Things To Have Close By When Minimalizing
1. Broom
2. Duster
3. Vacuum
4. Trash Bag
5. Bin for Giveaway
6. Bin for Things That Belong Elsewhere
Scentsy pot on shelf
This is the shelf I put my Scentsy Pot.  that was from the Living Room.  In my Living Room post I talked about how it was hidden and not getting used.  That lamp is also from a shelf that I moved out of the living room.  I love the glow it gives our Dining Room in the evening when the household slows down.  The Dining Room is a central location so it works great.  I have pens and pencils in a holder, (notice they all match, a touch of OCD), as homework is done at the table and my daughters need me to sign folders each day.  I have a little succulent plant that makes me happy, and a holder for my most favorite cookbooks.  I made the Simplfy sign. Tutorial here.
Minimizing your house
{lamp that I took from the Living Room}
Organizing piano books
Our piano is in the dining room and the basket they put their books in gets mess.  It felt good to organize it.  See those earphones? They are a God- send some days!
Hot spot for clutter
This ledge separates our Living Room and Dining Room.  It is what I call a ‘hot spot.’  It collects clutter all the time.  Ugh.  Notice there is no ‘after’ pic.  I didn’t get to clearing it off yet.  Tomorrow!
Organizing the clutter
Here is what I was able to purge from the Dining Room. Some of it is giveaway, some of it belongs elsewhere. Not bad, not bad.  Just wait until we get to my office & girls rooms.  I will need my bins out for those rooms!!

Got any questions about Minimalizing for me?

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  • fleur
    May 31, 2013 at 7:49 am

    I love it all. Considering that hot spot and what it means to you. do you need the space to collect more small stuff, and if so, maybe a basket there to catch it OR if u want it to be just part of the decor, maybe put a place holder to fill the “hot spot”.
    I like your decor and ideas and just getting to read about them some. Love the idea of simplifying a LOT.

  • Anonymous
    April 5, 2013 at 4:26 am

    can’t wait to see the rest of the rooms!

  • Anonymous
    April 4, 2013 at 9:44 pm

    looks great! keep up the good work!

  • Cheryl @ Bingle Bears
    April 4, 2013 at 5:53 pm

    I’m loving your little series in decluttering! Thanks for sharing!

    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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