| We all, including me, like our creature comforts at | | | | 6. Clever Containers. Keep possessions well-sorted in |
| home. But do you like storing too much stuff, organizing | | | | labeled containers so you can find things when you |
| it, paying for it, tripping over it, and maintaining it? I don't, | | | | need them. Think baskets, plastic bins, clear tubs with |
| so I'm very selective about what I allow to reside in my | | | | lids, and zippered plastic bags. It's wise to containerize. |
| 987 square foot upscale apartment. Sure I think big | | | | 7. Kiss the Cook. Your mate will more likely kiss you as |
| homes are beautiful to look at and visit, but I personally | | | | the cook if he or she can actually find a dish in the |
| choose, and have always chosen, to live in a small | | | | kitchen. Go through your spices and toss any that are |
| space, surrounded only with possessions I truly find | | | | old, keep kitchen cabinets free from appliances, and |
| beautiful or useful. Why? Four words: The freedom of | | | | make sure the dishes you have in the cabinets are |
| simplicity. That includes freedom from big house | | | | well organized. Keep your favorite recipes in a binder |
| maintenance and never-ending landscaping and the | | | | or file box and ditch the rest. |
| freedom to travel with my husband at a moment's | | | | 8. Shoe Sugar. Are you a "shoe sugar" who loves |
| notice so I can experience the wonders of the world | | | | every pretty pair of shoes you see? (Yes, I'm guilty!) If |
| around me and write about all of it. What freedom | | | | so, choose the ones that are still comfortable and that |
| from your stuff do you long for? | | | | match all your current outfits. Get rid of the rest, as in |
| So, how can you achieve "small space savvy" in a "big | | | | hello Goodwill! |
| stuff" world? | | | | 9. Book Blitz. Unless you're a professional writer like me |
| Here's how: | | | | (and even then...) do you really need every book |
| 1. Savvy Stuff. Are you savvy about your "stuff?" Do | | | | you've read since third grade? Nope. Sort through |
| you absolutely love everything in your home? Do you | | | | them all and display your favorites on attractive |
| need it? If not, why not donate some of it to charity or | | | | bookshelves and donate the rest where they belong: |
| give it to a family member? Don't pay for a bigger | | | | the public library. |
| space when it's easier to unload it once and for all. | | | | 10. Bathroom Brigade. If you have 99 perfume bottles, |
| 2. Memento Madness. Okay, I admit that I too still have | | | | that's frankly 97 too many. Some of those scents |
| the card that came with courting flowers from my | | | | went out with the 60's so say goodbye to that era |
| hubby over 30 years ago. The good news it's in a | | | | now. And while you're at it, donate your old frayed |
| scrapbook, which doesn't take up much space. Weed | | | | towels to the local animal shelter so Fluffy is more |
| through your mementos and if parting with your | | | | comfortable. |
| football trophies ignites your adolescent angst, take a | | | | 11. Tacky Ties. Oh, I know. You're saving all those |
| photo of them for your scrapbook and say "so long" | | | | colorful wacky ties your husband's had since the 80's |
| to the actual dusty space-hogging trophies. | | | | to make a quilt some day. News alert: Your local |
| 3. Bountiful Beauty. If you're like me, your weakness is | | | | quilting bee can use them today. Donate. |
| "pretty stuff." But do you really need five sets of the | | | | 12. CD Serenade. Do the greatest hits from the 40's |
| same crystal glasses and four sets of china? Or the | | | | still make you swoon? If so, choose your favorites and |
| juice glasses that were a present from Aunt Gertrude | | | | get rid of the rest. If they make you feel like you're |
| in 1958? Choose your two favorite dish sets and | | | | older than the hills, ditch them so they're not making |
| donate the rest to a local homeless shelter. | | | | you feel more drab than mouse-brown hair. |
| 4. Fab Furnishings. If you inherited Aunt Matilda's | | | | 13. Toy Town. Do your children really need enough |
| Victorian furniture and you're a minimalist, there's no | | | | toys to create a toy town? Give some of them to a |
| rule book written that says you have to keep it. Might | | | | local abused children's shelter and ask relatives to give |
| a sibling or a cousin like it? How about consigning it to | | | | your kids a savings bond for their college fund for their |
| an antique store? | | | | next birthday. |
| 5. Clothes Horse. If you still have your prom dress from | | | | Is it really possible to create small space savvy in a big |
| 1952, believe me, you won't be attending another prom | | | | stuff world and live simply, but well? Absolutely! Artfully |
| soon. Make a pillow from that beautiful fabric you love | | | | pare down to only what you really love and need and |
| so much and donate the dress to the local animal | | | | release the rest to the universe to be used, loved, and |
| shelter to spruce up Fido's cage. | | | | ummmm...stored... by someone else. |