March is moving right along! It’s the third week of a Life on a Dime’s annual Minimalism in March declutter challenge; the living room and coat closets. Let’s get into it!
MINIMALISM IN MARCH WEEK THREE: LIVING ROOM
Chances are this is an area you either feel really good about, or are dreading. Most families spend a lot of time in this shared space (and yes, if you have a separate family room, it’s included in this week’s challenge), and that usually means a lot of opportunities for clutter. Areas of focus will be:
- The media cabinet/entertainment center – organize all movies, video games, and electronics. Decide what to keep, what to toss or donate, and reshelve kept items in a more organized manner. Be sure to dust those shelves while they’re empty!
- The console/entryway table – If you have one it’s probably a catch all for keys, gloves, and random things that move to and from the vehicle. Clear it off, dust and vacuum, then sort through the contents. What stays should be in good condition and well-organized. This is not the place for random things; this is home to items that get you out the door as easily as possible.
- Bookshelves – Is the living room home to bookshelves or other storage? Yep, we’re clearing everything out, dusting/vacuuming as needed, and getting rid of items that are no longer needed. If it’s been three years since anyone has played candy land or enjoyed that 500 piece puzzle, maybe it’s time to pass those things on. The same goes for books; I love looking at my small book collection, but if I don’t plan to read it again it’s probably going to be donated or passed on to a friend to enjoy.
WEEK THREE CHALLENGE: THE COAT CLOSETS
Let’s face it, you likely have a lot more than just coats hiding in the coat/entryway closet. It’s time to fix that! This week we will:
- Go through all coats and check for fit and condition; resell or donate coats that are in good condition but do not fit or haven’t been worn in years. I’d much rather let someone else get use out of it than have it clutter up my space. Check local homeless shelters to see what they need. If something needs repaired, set it aside and make the repair before it goes back on the hanger.
- Check the top shelf. You might be surprised what’s up there. Sort through the contents into keep, donate, sell, or dispose piles. Make sure you can see and access what goes back into the closet for future ease of use.
- Clear the floor space. Vacuum and mop as needed. Try to leave as much empty floor space as possible; make it as uninviting for spiders as possible. This is a good place to store rain and snow boots (dry of course). It’s not the best to store boxes of random clutter you’re holding onto for what reason again? Just in case?
THAT’S IT FOR WEEK THREE
But do not underestimate the amount of work this may take! Check back next week for our final weekly Minimalism in March challenge of the year. Until then, stay frugal and healthy my friends, and get your declutter on!