homemaking Archives • New Nostalgia

Creating Hygge in my Sunroom With Facebook Marketplace

Thank you Facebook Marketplace for sponsoring this post. There’s something for everyone!

I have a fun new hobby of turning another’s used into something NEW thanks to Facebook Marketplace. I wanted to create hygge in my sunroom now that the weather is finally nice!

Just last week, my sunroom was full of broken down cardboard boxes that were needing to go to recycling and was quickly becoming overloaded with stuff. It is the first greeting for my guest when they visit, so this was not ok. It needed a little TLC, but I needed to keep it simple and inexpensive. This is where Facebook Marketplace comes in.

Facebook Marketplace has made it so fun and easy to browse and buy items from your local community, and sell any items that are in your home and need a new home. Make money while minimizing and beautifying my home? Yes, please!

It really could not be more simple. If you can take a photo with your phone and know how to send a text message, then you have the skill to use Facebook Marketplace!

Along with a posted photo, add a description of your item, name your price, and wait for messages from people who are interested. I have found some of my most favorite home items locally sourced on Facebook Marketplace.

It is a place to find amazing items to bring beauty into your home. It is a place to post the items you no longer love to make space for the NEW! Yep, I’m all about it.

Used Items to Create Hygge

Here is a secret about me…I really don’t like huge DIY projects. I’m too impatient to get out a bunch of tools and wait for layers upon layers of paint to dry. Plus, I’d have to borrow my in-law’s pickup to transfer anything large, which is simple, but not simple enough for me.

But I what I love, and am pretty good at, is seeing beauty in what someone else might see as used and would want to discard, and knowing how to place it in the right spot, or creatively use in a different way.

I’m also passionate about creating hygge in my home, and often that means getting rid of excess and being purposeful about what brings beauty and a welcoming atmosphere.

While searching Facebook Marketplace, I kept my eye out for things that would beautify my sunroom, fit in my small car, and were practical, but beautiful.

I kept in mind that anything can be updated with a quick layer of spray paint if needed.

Items I Found Recently on Facebook Marketplace:

Plant Stand

I searched Facebook Marketplace for items I can use to update the sunroom. I really wanted a place to display plants in an uncluttered way.

I found the cutest plant stand that was perfect for my needs and met the nicest farmer in a busy grocery store parking lot. He lived close, but outside of the city limits, and was so kind to drive it into town for us (the roads just outside of town had been affected due to the awful flooding here in Nebraska).

I felt safe meeting him. Facebook allows you to see some information on each seller, depending on their privacy settings. I could see that his main image was of his large extended family, and we would be meeting in a public place.

The plant stand fit perfectly in my little hatchback, we said a few cordial sentences to each other, he even lifted it from the back of his truck into the back of my car for me, and we both went on our way.

I had planned on spray painting the plant stand white, but when I saw how the wood looked in our sunroom, I changed my mind!

I love it just the way it is. Isn’t it so cute? It is very practical, too, as I needed something to hold my plants that would not create clutter.

Swivel Stool

This was my second purchase, and when I saw it on Facebook Marketplace, I knew I had to have it!

You would not believe how heavy and well made it is. There is wood on top that is so sturdy, and the bottom leg part is made of a heavy metal…and not the head banging kind. {grin}

It can be used for extra seating, as a side table to set a coaster and a drink on, or as a plant stand.

I paid $20 for it and picked it up in the most beautiful lakeside local neighborhood, which conveniently was right by my in-law’s home where I needed to be that day anyway!

My Favorite Items to Search on Facebook Marketplace

I continued with my online search. I made sure to narrow it down by putting our city in with just a 30-mile radius when searching.

Here are some of my favorite search terms:

Mirror
Plants
Frames
Side Table
Planters
Garden
Lamps
Stools

Notice that all of these searches would come up with items small enough to fit in my car. You can extend your search into whatever you are looking for…furniture, art, clothes…there are so many great things!

Facebook Marketplace lets you bookmark the items that catch your eye, and quickly ask the seller if the item is still available with the push of a button, which then starts a conversation in Messenger, if you desire.

I bookmarked some items that I loved and then noticed that 3 of these items were from the same seller! I messaged her right away and she responded stating how convenient it was that I was interested in several of her items.

I was thinking the same thing, that I could pick the items up from one spot. She was moving out of town and had a really great lamp, plants, a side table, and a really cool plant holder. She was very friendly and gave me some great deals on her items.

Here are images of her items:

Side Table

The side table is so fun. I couldn’t decide what to paint it. It would be so cute with the tray white and legs gold, or tray white and legs black, or I could leave the tray wood and just stain it. I really like the weathered look it has, too. So many good options!

This could be in a bedroom next to a bed, or in a living room with a lamp on it. I am using it unconventionally as a plant tray in my sunroom. I think it fits so great in this space.

Planter

I ended up just spray painting the legs gold and I am so happy with how it turned out. It took me minutes and transformed the look of it, giving it a bit of a modern edge.

Lamp

This is another item I was going to spray paint, but then decided not to once I saw it in person. I just LOVE IT. It is much larger than it appeared in her photo, which was a nice surprise. I didn’t pay attention to the measurements she put in her description, but started to pay attention to this while I continued to shop.

This lamp might end up in my bedroom or on a desk, but it sure adds a warming glow to my sunroom in the evening!

2 Plants

I got both a snake plant and a ficus plant from this seller. I am doing my best to take good care of them, as I am sure she didn’t really want to give up such good plants, but needed to due to her move.

Plants bring such life to a space and I just love what a good deal I got on them. The seller also gave me 2 lamp shades to put around plants…how great of a hack is that? Why have I not thought of that? I just think this is a brilliant tip if you don’t have a planter to use.

My Favorite Facebook Marketplace Purchase

The last buyer I contacted was selling a large round mirror. The buyer wanted $35 dollars for this mirror, and I asked if he would take $30 and he said “why not?” 🙂

I noticed the measurements in the description showed that it was a 36-inch mirror. That is a big round mirror! It was a bargain, as round mirrors of this size and quality usually go for over $170.

It was noted in the description that there was a crack in the frame of the mirror, and it showed a close up of the crack in one of the photos. It was small, and I knew I might even be painting it, so a crack really didn’t bother me.

It already looks so high end, but it will be amazing once I decide on whether I’m going to paint it gold or a brass color. It would be great in a shiny white, too! Oh, the decisions…so fun!

This was the BEST purchase. I have yet to paint or hang it but it will go over the dresser in my room and I will use it daily. It will bring my favorite modern shape to our bedroom wall and will almost act as a window, reflecting light. I’m giddy about this purchase…it was a great deal.

{To Pin}

Selling Your Items On Facebook Marketplace

We had a family gathering this past Sunday and I overheard my sister-in-law ask what is the best way to sell an item online. She wanted to sell a child’s table that her youngest has outgrown. Of course, I interjected and said Facebook Marketplace! It really can’t be easier to sell your items and have a local buyer pay you for them! I told her to take a look around Facebook Marketplace as it is not only a convenient way to sell items, but to also discover and buy some, too.

My bestie from California just called me and told me what fun she is having purchasing baby items on Facebook Marketplace for her first grandchild coming soon!

It really is a great way to find treasures that someone just may have been nostalgic about at one time, and make them items that end up meaning something to YOU…you could even call it….NEW NOSTALGIA!

Decorating/ HOME/ Homemaking

11 Ways To Hygge In the Fall and Winter

I’ve written about Spring and Summer Hygge, but my FAVORITE time to create a Hygge home is in the Fall.

As for winter? Hygge is what gets me through our long brutal winters in here in the Midwest.

What is Hygge?

First of all.. let’s get the pronunciation down. It is pronounced “hoo-ga”…I know, I know, it is not the most elegant-sounding word, but I have so grown to love this word!

Hygge is a Danish term that is defined as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.”

If you know me well, you know I am all about doing that little bit of extra to create a special atmosphere!

My friends and family tell me I’m quite good at it, and I adore doing it. It is just in my nature.

I naturally and automatically want to create a homey, cozy, and comfortable feeling for the people that I love when they come into my space.

I also am very intentional about using these spaces to slow down and be present and purposeful when I am alone, too.

HOME/ Organizing

Decluttering in the Fall

Who knew that paint would be just the thing I needed to get bit by the fall decluttering bug. Did you see and hear that I got new paint around here?

My sweet kids painted my living room and dining room for me, and I could not be more excited about it.

The walls went from dark and dreary gold color to a nice, bright grey. Sherwin Williams Repose Grey to be exact.

The process of clearing out the living room and dining room to make space for painting was just what I needed to rethink what I keep in each room and get rid of clutter.

I was in a bit of a rut with what I kept out on my shelves for decor and items I had hanging on the wall.

FAMILY/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Kids/Family

Anti-Procrastination With First Alert: Protect Your Home & Family From Carbon Monoxide

Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post. Don’t let the beep steal your sleep.

I talk a lot about procrastination here on the blog, and something I have procrastinated on that could be life or death, is installing carbon monoxide detectors in our home.

You all know my 3 teen girls mean the world to me, but as much as I hate to admit it, I have not been proactive when it comes to fire and carbon monoxide poison safety.

We recently had our air conditioning and heater replaced, and I was delighted to see that they left a carbon monoxide detector plugged into an outlet in our basement family room by the heater.

I instantly felt relief knowing it brought safety, and I was also very intrigued that there were CO detectors that you could simply plug into an outlet!

HOME/ Homemaking

5 Items In My Amazon Cart

Items In My Amazon Cart

Below are 5 items that you would see if you peeked into my Amazon shopping cart. Do you ever peek at others shopping carts to see what they are buying?

I’m especially guilty of this when I shop at Trader Joes…it is so fun to see what others think is worth their hard earned money.

Many of the links below are affiliate links, so if you click through to Amazon and do any shopping, I will get a small percentage and you will be supporting this blog, for which I am so grateful!

5 Pack Glass Meal Prep Containers

These food prep containers with lids are BPA free and the exact size I have been looking for. Great for keeping meal prep nice and simple or for using leftovers.

I love how they are see-through glass and can stack in my refrigerator, and can go straight from refrigerator or freezer to microwave for reheating.

HOME/ Homemaking/ Organizing/ Simplifying

Every Day Home Goals Chore System

I’m working hard at creating systems in my home to keep life flowing efficiently and smoothly. This means pursuing organized methods that will turn everyday necessities (like having clean clothes and dishes) into habits.

A home well kept in such an efficient way that it is done on automatic….this is my goal when it comes to my home.

This is not about living perfectly, but about being mindful of how I go about my day and finding mindful systems that work so that much of the mundane but necessary part of life can be done on automatic. Mindful becoming mindless.

Some examples of this:

I empty the dishwasher every morning while my coffee is brewing. It is so much a part of my morning habit that I don’t even think about it. I make coffee every morning which means my dishwasher gets emptied every morning. Win!

I clean the shower while I am in it, and do it safely by using a homemade natural cleaner that is ok to breath in. Not just ok, but thanks to essential oils, therapeutic!

It is so easy to quickly wipe down when already in there, (no awkwardly trying to lean in and clean the shower without getting wet) and I love knowing that the oils I’m using to clean (no harmful chemicals!) are also bringing alertness as I breathe them in. A great way to start the day!

Another example? Our bed gets made the minute I get out of it, even if my Todd is still in it. Ha! Seriously, I just do the best I can with pulling the comforter up and placing pillows around him. Then he can easily fix his corner and pillows when he gets up…although most days he is up before me.

These are just 3 systems built into my day that makes a huge difference in our home staying tidy.

The Everyday Home Goals below also work beautifully! They are great examples of more systems put into place that keep our home tidy on the daily.

Everyday Home Goals

MAKE BEDS — did you know the most successful people make their beds every day?

WIPE SURFACES — quick wipe bathroom sinks/counters, kitchen sink/counters, tables

CLUTTER — quick pick up and a few minutes wherever it is accumulating

ONE FULL LOAD — dishwasher & laundry; don’t stop until dishes and clothes are put away!

FLOORS –quick sweep, vacuum & spot clean

GENERAL PICKUP — be aware throughout the day. Put things back in their place.

TRASH — kitchen trash daily, bathroom and office trash weekly. My Todd takes care of this one. I am grateful.

I do quite well with most of the Everyday Home Goals. I will comment below on each of them:

Make beds — this is automatic for me. I don’t have to think about it.

Wipe surfaces — another automatic. When I get the spray cleaner in hand, I concentrate on flat surfaces and think of the surfaces that need to be wiped every day. For me, this is kitchen and bathroom sinks and counters, and my kitchen and dining room tables. I spray and wipe these areas all at one time, at least one time a day.

Clutter — oh man. This one seems neverending and right now I have way too many piles throughout my home, but I’m super motivated with Spring here! You cannot organize clutter so I will be getting rid of much of it.

One Full Load — I do a load every day of both dishes and laundry…but my downfall is the follow through with washing/drying dishes that don’t fit into the dishwasher and making sure I put away/hang up all clean clothes.

When I do the follow through, it is amazing what a difference this makes. I am prioritizing how to make this into a system that works completely for me on the daily and will update you when I get it figured out!

Floors — I do this automatically every day in my main living areas…living room, dining room and kitchen. I have wood floors and 2 area rugs so it is fast and easy. I love doing it because I love a good vacuum line and how it instantly makes the room feel clean. I also hate stepping on crumbs so that is huge motivation to get that broom out.

General pickup — I’m pretty good at this. I do it mindlessly without thinking. As I walk through a room I will straighten what needs to be (I’m forever straightening throw pillows!) and pick up items to take with me to where they belong.

I am always looking for things to upstairs that made their way downstairs, and vise versa. I rarely walk up or down the stairs without grabbing something on my way that is misplaced.

Trash — like I said above, my man does this one. I’m spoiled.

A Chore A Day Goals

M – Bathrooms — note: you can save the floor for Thursday

T – Dusting –“work quickly, top to bottom, left to right” —Clean Mama

W – Vacuuming — some weeks just the middles will do, other weeks add upholstery and rugs.

Th – Floors –sweep & mop

F – Kitchen — wipe down microwave and appliances. Wipe down and sort refrigerator. Wipe stove. Shine stainless steel.

Sa – Change Sheets –nothing like fresh sheets and towels!

Su – None –just do Everyday Home Goals listed above

Note: If getting all done at once is more your style, you can take 1-2 hours of time, once a week, and do all of the above in one fell swoop.

{Homekeeping Goals Inspired by Clean Mama’s Simply Clean Book. }

Let’s talk about these Chore a Day Goals. I don’t know if I love them or hate them. While I have my Everyday Home Goals pretty much down, the Chore a Day goals are a different story.

My success really depends on what type of week I am having. If my week is a normal, structured week where my schedule goes according to plan, I get them done no problem.

The problem comes when the week is overbooked or unexpected life events come up. On these weeks, I end up doing it all in one day and that day is usually a Saturday, or it does not get done at all. Yuck!

Doing it all in one day is not my favorite way to spend a chunk of time on a Saturday, so I really want to figure out how to consistently do a little bit each day of the week.

I think the key to making these Chore a Day Goals into a habit is finding 15 minutes of time in each day that is consistent. I will think about that, figure it out, implement it, and get back to you on my success!

Another key to creating this habit is keeping my daily and weekly goals in a place where I see them every day, all throughout the day. This printable is the answer for me right now. It works well printed out and put on a magnet on my refrigerator.

Keep reading if you want one too!

Home Goals | Clean Home Printable

This super helpful “Keeping a Clean Home” printable checklist divides home goals into Every Day, Once a Week, Once a Month, Once a Season, and Once a Year. This checklist allows me to focus in and know exactly where I am at and what needs to be done.

Would you like to print one out for yourself too? You can get it by signing up for my email list, which is a great way to not miss a new post from New Nostalgia.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE ‘KEEPING A CLEAN HOME’ PRINTABLE HERE

I’m on a mission to continue to build more systems into my day, to make keeping a home as simple as possible. I have been very successful with what I’ve implemented so far, but systems often need tweaked and they take time to put into place and become automatic. I will continue sharing them with you as I discover what is working best for me, so make sure you get on the list!

{for your pinning pleasure}

What about you? What are systems working for you? What have become mindless habits for you in keeping your home? What are consistent problem areas? Got any tips for me? Please share in the comments!

Facing the Clutter in That One Dreaded Room

Don’t we all have them? That one dreaded room full of clutter? I’d like to think I’m not alone. The time has come for me to face the clutter in the one dreaded room in our home. There are a couple of little areas in my home that need my attention, (and a big garage) but for the most part, the main areas stay decluttered. These are not the ‘dreaded room’ I’m talking about.

{the home office before it became a room-sized junk drawer}

The Dreaded Room

For me, the dreaded room was our home office. I’ve posted before about this room, about how to do the deconstructed chevron paint treatment on the wall, and how I organized the desk drawers, and the office closet. Honestly, I’m embarrassed to admit how bad it got! The organizational systems I set into place worked really well for at least a couple of years, but then… life happened.

A year-long fight with anxiety, raising 3 teenagers, a blog that became a business our budget depends on, and medications that take me on an emotional roller coaster ride every 3 months…these are the reasons that come to mind when I think of why our office became a dumping ground. Yep, these are my excuses and they are quite good ones if I do say so myself!

If you have a similar room, have grace for yourself. You are certainly not alone, and it is ok to not have any good excuse. I just like to make myself feel better by listing mine. {grin.}

The office is on the main floor of our home. Until the last 2 days, it was full. Imagine an oversized junk drawer–it was a place to stash things that do not have a home. That was what our home office became and it was driving me crazy.

Clutter Attracts Clutter

An additional problem–the office is a room that one must walk through to get to my oldest daughter, Teagan’s room. She has always been my creative-minded daughter, who sees beauty in a lot of beautiful things, and likes to keep those things. I have to say, she has become much better releasing some of those things the last couple of years.

{door to my daughters’ room, must walk through the office}

Teagan has the ability to be organized, but it is not easy for her. She loves all the things but has the smallest room in the house with the tiniest, most dis-functional closet. You literally have to step up about 2 feet to get into the tiny closet. Once inside the floor slopes and makes it hard to stand straight and reach anything. She does NOT enjoy this.

Ironically, she choose her tiny room when she was little because of this “fun” step-up and slanted closet…it made the perfect private fort! I found her a few times using it as a place to pout about her ‘annoying’ little sisters or when she got in trouble for reacting to that annoyance! I picture her all tucked into the closet with her favorite yellow fuzzy comfort blanket, and it makes me smile..she was so little!

Now it is overflowing with clothes, high heels, and past homecoming and prom dresses. My baby has grown up and needs more usable space in order to live more organized.

Because of her lack of space and her love for all the things, I would often find her stuff overflowing into the office area. We all know clutter attracts clutter, so I take responsibility for how easy it was for her to add to my piles with her stuff.

Facing the Clutter

Teagan and her Grandma came up with the brilliant idea of clearing out the office and giving Teagan the space. It made sense since the rooms flow into each other, but I was immediately resistant. I feared a few things: giving up space where I stored a lot of my stuff, facing my room-sized junk drawer (who has the time?), and fear that I would just be trading my messy clutter for Teagan’s.

The last few weeks I have softened to the idea for a few reasons. I know it would force me to declutter and get rid of stuff that has been overflowing the office and office closet. I also recognized that Teagan (being a senior) has at least a year left with us, and has been talking about living at home for her first year of college, so we might get her for 2.

Over the summer, she worked so hard, saved a ton of money and showed so much responsibility in many areas. She is such a good kid. During the school year, she studies her cute little head off and needs a calm, clutter-free, quiet place to do it, especially as she enters college. She is amazing, and could use more space…and I have the ability to give it to her!

After communicating with her about my expectations for the ‘office turned Teagan’s extended room’ area, (which really is just to keep it orderly enough for me to easily dust and vacuum it with the rest of the house once a week), I decided she could take it.

I’m ok with just shutting the door to her main bedroom, but this second room I truly want her to keep orderly. She understands this and part of our agreement is that I can take the room back if it is not appreciated and taken care of.

Teagan has all kinds of plans to update her room and create a great space for her extended room. She and her boyfriend (who is super handy and helpful in these projects, and who has already helped by clearing the room) came up with a list of things that need to be done, from taking down wallpaper and painting/updating her room, to buying a few things to make the old office space beautiful and functional for her.

Clear Out the Clutter

She started clearing out the office clutter–another part of our agreement. She had to help by clearing the clutter, or really just transferring it to a place where I would be forced to deal with it. I wanted her to be a part of the process of making this space her own, experience hard work, and frankly, I needed the help to get it all up the stairs!

I had her carry it all upstairs to our landing area, an area that I pass to get to my bedroom. I could not handle having it strewn all over the house, and was purposeful in choosing where to gather the clutter. A single area, and a place where I would be forced to deal with it ASAP.

She made a bazillion trips up the stairs and commented on how great a leg workout it was. Ha!

I have a post coming out very soon titled ‘How to Declutter When Overwhelmed’ which will walk one through the process of tackling overwhelming clutter. I plan on making quite a bit of progress on the transferred clutter mess using the steps in the upcoming post. One thing about me is when I finally face the clutter, it has no chance. I’m good a tackling it and getting it done!

My anxiety rises every time I pass the transferred clutter. It is jolting to come up my stairs and walk through it to get to my nice, clean, de-cluttered and peaceful bedroom. It doesn’t feel good….talk about motivating!

Sometimes all it takes is to pull clutter out of closets and drawers (or entire rooms!) and place it in a space where you have to come face to face with it. It is definitely working for me, and I have already had two 20-minute sessions of decluttering in the area. Progress! I have a lot of tips and tricks I’ve learned when decluttering over the years, so watch for my upcoming post.

What about you?

Do you have a dreaded room or area that you need to unclutter?

Tell me all about it…it will make me feel so much better about mine!

Older Posts