Comments on Mockingbird Hill Cottage: Defending the Small House #7 - Controlling Clutter...

I like your concept of "cozy clutter" Ev...

2012-01-12T18:24:59.036-05:00

I like your concept of "cozy clutter"
Everything! must have a home, including things to go out-the-door to our next meeting or event or pet toys and leashes, so I even have a large baskets for them.
Your practical tips are right on

I see too many who are "depressed" because their homes are overstuffed, or cluttered, or unorganized. Literally, their stuff is weighing them down emotionally. If they followed your ideas, they would feel better.

Great post. Clutter can take us over...but cozy cl...

2012-01-11T23:11:28.842-05:00

Great post. Clutter can take us over...but cozy clutter makes like wonderful.

- The Tablescaper

PS - After I posted the previous comment and read ...

2012-01-11T12:50:44.898-05:00

PS - After I posted the previous comment and read it, it kinda sounds like I'm a religeous kleptomaniac. Let me clear that up by saying I collected the hymnals and communion glasses from garage sales.

This is so off topic, but it's why I love read...

2012-01-11T12:49:18.511-05:00

This is so off topic, but it's why I love reading blogs... That "Hymns" sign in back of you in the first photo is adorable! We had one like it in the little church I went to as a child. There was a second one just like it that held the attendance and offering amounts. I love religeous items, I have my grandparents' crucifix (catholic) and my other grandparents' bible (Baptist), also a church pew, a collection of various denominations of hymnals, a collection of Last Supper prints, and about 30 of the teensy weensy communion glasses!
Now back to the subject of controlling clutter (I didn't totally miss the message even though I was caught up in a Baptist flashback). Like I told Brenda, I scan the articles and photos from books and magazines and save them in a file on the computer. That way the book/magazine is still intact and ready for someone else to enjoy.

I'm so glad I found you through Vintage Green ...

2012-01-11T12:38:55.703-05:00

I'm so glad I found you through Vintage Green and am following so I don't miss anything! ~ Maureen

I have my Grandmothers painted holder like yours I...

2012-01-11T12:18:04.650-05:00

I have my Grandmothers painted holder like yours I put all my mail in too!

First of all, I must comment on your photo. Along ...

2012-01-11T09:45:19.108-05:00

First of all, I must comment on your photo. Along with the caption underneath, it's just so endearing. You look like a character in a soap opera. The other day when I saw you and Don dancing, I laughed so much. Have you seen that commercial where they have all those characters from different comedy shows dancing to rock music? Third Rock from the Sun characters, Roseanne and her husband, King of Queens, That 70's Show, and others I can't think of right now. Well, that's what it reminded me of. Priceless!

Thank you for all the decluttering tips. I have one of my own that you missed. My bed is up on blocks that I purchased at Zellers. It allows me to store containers underneath that would otherwise not fit. Here's another one. If you have a decorator table with a long floor length cloth, you can hide things underneath. Also, the decorator table in my living room is really a filing cabinet. I simply had somebody cut a round top which I put on top of the cabinet and added a decorator cloth which I made from fabric I had on hand.

Really great tips Claudia! I don't have a smal...

2012-01-11T05:41:00.070-05:00

Really great tips Claudia! I don't have a small house but a very old house with way too few closets! I love the basket for sweaters idea in the bedroom! And the basket by the front door for a quick drop of junk mail to be recycled. great stuff!

Lots of great ideas, Claudia! I really like the c...

2012-01-11T01:17:19.319-05:00

Lots of great ideas, Claudia! I really like the concept of cozy clutter and clutter clutter...it makes me look at things in a different way!

I, too, noticed the JAR! Loved it. I also agree ...

2012-01-11T00:20:16.518-05:00

I, too, noticed the JAR! Loved it. I also agree about the current level of stress and the amount of clutter. I appear to be stressed based on the amount of clutter in my studio!

Blessings,
Dianne
www.mysouthernheart.com
www.campbellkidsfarm.com

i was getting all motivated until i saw the adorab...

2012-01-10T21:38:32.968-05:00

i was getting all motivated until i saw the adorable jar and then my mind went blank.

jar!

xo
elyse

I started 2012 decluttering today and, as it's...

2012-01-10T21:03:38.878-05:00

I started 2012 decluttering today and, as it's going to be a really wet day tomorrow, I'm planning to stay here and seriously work on the kitchen cabinets. I have far too many pots, platters, bowls etc. taking up space. I no longer entertain large groups - come to tea but don't expect to stay for dinner, sorry!!! I'm now in my dotage and ready to be waited on by grown children and young friends, ha! ha! When you're as old as me you get away with saying stuff like this!!!!!

Baskets are fabulous - I wanted to bring dozens back from Thailand, hand woven and gorgeous, but they wouldn't fit in my luggage. My favorites now are the vintage metal gym baskets - three under my coffee table to store my magazines.

Great post, and Brenda sure has made a delightful home in her sweet cottage - she is really organized!

Hugs - Mary

Haven't visited for a few days-my computer was...

2012-01-10T20:58:44.546-05:00

Haven't visited for a few days-my computer was in the shop. So nice to visit and catch up. I have my favorite place to sit and there is always clutter around the area. I call it my nest, or now I can call it cozy clutter. Good idea.

Amen- the only thing I would add for people who ha...

2012-01-10T20:17:22.383-05:00

Amen- the only thing I would add for people who have stairs is to have a basket at the base and/or at the top and as things need to migrate up and down they are contained neatly in a basket until it occurs.. Couldn't live without mine.
xx
z

Claudia, we currently have bad bad clutter clutter...

2012-01-10T19:57:54.285-05:00

Claudia, we currently have bad bad clutter clutter at our yellow house but I have been working on sorting it out all day. I do like cozy clutter and having books around me makes me feel cozy. Wonderful and helpful this was, Olive.

Claudia Wonderful tips. My cabin is 1200 sq. ft. t...

2012-01-10T19:00:28.109-05:00

Claudia
Wonderful tips. My cabin is 1200 sq. ft. too and it's a real battle here with 'stuff'. I know I have way too much furniture, but I won't part with it as much of it is inherited.
I especially like your tip on the mail tin. Mine does end up laying on the kitchen counter-which I hate
Kimberly

Claudia, thank you so much for these ideas and for...

2012-01-10T18:27:52.209-05:00

Claudia, thank you so much for these ideas and for all the comments from your followers! together they make me feel like I'm not alone in my goal to "de-clutter". I used to be a very neat person but I think situations and illness and the accompanying stress have led me to feeling overwhelmed most of the time. It seems like I can't keep up anymore. You and Brenda have been a real life raft to the rest of us! Thank you both!

Hi Claudia, Thank you so much for your note. I th...

2012-01-10T16:26:36.127-05:00

Hi Claudia,
Thank you so much for your note. I think you are right, Amber is not designing any longer and did not let anyone know, hence all the design problems.
Gary and I have been cleaning out closets and getting rid of everything we have not used or hehehe (out grown). One of the first big steps for him was his office, Oh man was it a mess. The next big thing we have to tackle is the garage its still has boxes we have not unpacked. I love cozy clutter too, not the messy clutter it just drives me crazy.
A really great post!
Wishing you and yours a very sweet and happy New Year, Elizabeth

I have been following Brenda for sometime now and ...

2012-01-10T16:00:28.960-05:00

I have been following Brenda for sometime now and since both of you have joined up together on this "The Small House" I have been following you as well. Thank you both for sharing!
~Karrieann

Great ideas & great sense of humor....I am alw...

2012-01-10T15:24:52.038-05:00

Great ideas & great sense of humor....I am always glad to hear more about how I can organize myself! Thanks for all the tips that equal encouragement!
I have tried to comment on Brenda's (always have been able to in the past) but something must be wrong on my side as I can't even get an email to her!

Great post ... and yest there is a difference! I ...

2012-01-10T15:00:27.976-05:00

Great post ... and yest there is a difference! I subscribe to some of these practices and then some I need to incorporate. My house magazines? I just can't toss yet. But at least I've quite buying them!

SO TRUE...SO TRUE....CLUTTER....WHAT DO YOU DO WIT...

2012-01-10T14:32:54.551-05:00

SO TRUE...SO TRUE....CLUTTER....WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT......I HAVE BEEN THROWING A LOT MORE IN THE TRASH LATELY.....NOW MY BASKETS ARE NOT OVER FLOWING.....SANTA BOUGHT ME A SMALL DOLL HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS......
DON'T KNOW WHEN I AM GOING TO START IT..I GUESS WHEN I HAVE SOME SPACE :)
I LOVED LOOKING AT YOURS AND ALL YOUR BEAUTIFUL CREATIVE WORK....GREAT POST.......RIZZI

My mother was right when she said it is much easie...

2012-01-10T12:52:19.857-05:00

My mother was right when she said it is much easier to live in a big house than a small one -- it's even easier to clean the big one!

Claudia, your "cozy clutter" looks like my "neat." I think I need to re-assess!

Good post. I, too, use LOADS of baskets.
They make clutter picturesque.
Cass

Wonderful post! I have more decluttering to do to ...

2012-01-10T12:00:01.147-05:00

Wonderful post! I have more decluttering to do to be sure and these tips will come in mighty handy.

I live in a small apartment and have many, many &q...

2012-01-10T11:28:20.995-05:00

I live in a small apartment and have many, many "containers" holding my treasures! Unfortunately I am a clutter bug... I really try to keep it under control, but among all our books, carvings, and other lovelies you might find a coffee cup sitting on the bookcase, forgotten and although pretty, not belonging there. Sigh.. 2012 is a new year. Maybe this year.....