That photo is for everyone who has ever sent me an email asking me how I ‘get it all done’. The truth is there are things I simply never get around to dealing with and they all end up in the spare room or attic. But no more!
The plan is that Mr Kat and I will have a proper home office in the attic room and Monty will move into the spare room to be joined by Betsy when she is ready to leave our room.
Of course before any of that can happen there are a lot of things to find new homes for. Quite a bit of it will need to be accommodated in the house (don’t ask me where) but the majority is going to leave the house one way or another. The attic formed part of our storage and as you can see I can barely get in there to photograph it at the moment.
I have spent this weekend sifting through the mass and listing items for sale on eBay. This week my mother is visiting to help us get through the clear out as quickly as possible. The aim is to create the office first and clear the spare room for decorating.
I am sad to see the baby things go if I am honest. We have pretty much every piece of equipment and clothing which has ever crossed our threshold and saying goodbye to it will give us our house back. Doesn’t make sorting the tiny babygrows to be passed on any easier though.
I know that with every goodbye there is a new chapter. It feels right to be opening that chapter now. To focus on our home and finally get around to many of those jobs which have been waiting five years for attention.
:: I am so excited about decorating these two spaces and breathing new life into our home.
:: I am excited about moving my workspace from the sofa to a desk.
:: I am excited about moving into the next stage of our life.
:: And I am excited about sharing all of this here, with you.
25 Comments
“@thatkat: Latest at Housewife: Behind Closed Doors – http://t.co/28qXZFi6 ” < V jealous you have a room to turn into an office
Ha, ha, we all have spaces like that. Our loft scares me. Did you hear the recent story of the old man whose loft collapsed onto him while he was in bed? He survived but it must have been quite a scare! My box room is getting filled up with junk. I think my next online job should be to register for the next NCT Nearly New Sale so I can get rid of some stuff. I think I am ready to get rid of my baby things now. If any more babies come along, I’ll get back to the NNSale and buy instead of sell. Good luck, I bet your new space will be fab.
I live in fear that I will be some version of that man in the future! Yes, the almighty NNS is the place to be – can’t wait for our next one.
You were so right about that photo. I am going to crack the spare/sewing room and then work on the garage. I need to make room for the train set which is 6 by 4! I am hoping to sell some bits and pieces to make enough money to buy legs etc for it.
Good luck with your plan. I wish I had someone to help and provide moral support
Big toys throw the whole house out of alignment but train sets do rock :) Sending hugs x
Good luck! We have a lot in storage at the moment as we are trying to sell our flat. I don’t know how much of it will be coming back in to our new house when we do move!
I loved it when our stuff was in storage and the house was permanently neat for viewers – couldn’t live like that for long but nice to see how the neat folks have it.
I’ve just spent five hours (!!) sorting out all our art and craft things that were spilling over onto the island unit in our lovely new kitchen that was supposed to just have a pretty fruit bowl on it. It had developed into a huge mound of stuff being added to daily and looked awful. I am actually embarrassed that we had so much stuff, I’ve made a big pile for the charity shop, got rid of loads and also realised we don’t need to buy anything else in the way of pencils, crayons, felt tips probably till the kids leave home!!!
It is easy to feel overwhelmed when the house has got into such a bad state and I’d got to the stage of complete inaction, but now I’ve decided to do one small area at a time and be really ruthless. Its amazing how much better it makes you feel when it is done. I’m sure you’ll all gain a massive benefit when your clear out is finished :)
Good grief! I bet your bomb shelter would have made excellent storage…
I started out like you are now – I have been in our “dumping room” downstairs that wasn’t used for anything.. then the upstairs back bedroom and in March 2011, I moved into a purpose built 4.5m x 5.5m shed / office outside. It’s been the making of me – getting the space I’ve needed has freed me and our team up to have the space we’ve needed to get work done, more quickly and to have some brilliant ideas. When you’re all cramped up, you can’t think straight. And when you can’t both move your chairs back at the same time, because the room is so small, it’s not good for anyone.
And we’ve not thrown away even a third of the stuff I intend to yet. That’s next on the list …..
I’d have to clear out the shed first…
I love the way even rubbish looks good in an instagram pic. At least you have started sorting, I’m not brave enough to open the door of the ‘scary cupboard’ yet!
Sadly not rubbish – all clothes to be sorted and dispatched. I love it: scary cupboard!
It’s amazing what taking a photo of a ‘clutter challenge’ can do. I definitely need to sort our loft out too. It’s the last major area, after tackling the garage, shed and bedrooms that I have left to do. Once you start to get rid of stuff and feel the benefit of the space it urges you to carry on. Good luck, sounds like you have a great plan put in action.
Sounds like you are doing really well! Good luck in the loft.
A JuicyTots friend Housewife Confidential posted these ‘before’ pictures of her spare room. I’ve seen lots of… http://t.co/FnDC17Lo
@ganderkids Two days ago it was an attic so full I couldn’t get in… http://t.co/ILc5pA3u
I know it’s difficult to part with things, but truly it is ‘stuff’. Your memories, photos and a few (only a very few) pieces are the important things to hold on to and pass down. (I’m speaking to the choir here, just so you know!)
Thank you Ellen. It is just stuff although saying goodbye to it makes the no fourth child thing a little more definite!
Having seen the updated photos you have done a grand job x
Thanks but all credit to Mr Kat and my Mother. I was on child and paperwork sorting.
We have had a great clear out and tidy today and I plan to just keep chipping away. I miss having a space of my own so I am jealous of the office.
I kinda wish it was a sewing room too :)
I love you for this. Thank you. I genuinely daren’t show any pictures of my house in case everyone decides never to buy off such a slovenly cow.
No one loves the after shots, the before is always much better.