A glimpse of my “finished” old house inspires me not to give up!
I know spring cleaning is a thing, but for me fall and organizing belong together. September always gives me a burst of motivation to organize EVERYTHING. I love organizing in autumn because routines are firmer, I want my home to feel warm and inviting, and because there are only so many sleeps left before the holidays. (Don’t worry — I won’t talk about Christmas yet.)
That said, this year I’m also feeling especially disorganized. It seems like I’m constantly stepping over projects or taking things apart faster than I can put them away. Many areas of our house have been in temporary disorder while work is being done inside and out.
I’ll spare you the full list of messes; it’s part of the process. It won’t be perfectly tidy until the projects are complete. We began these projects because we want a finished space worth living in, so the temporary chaos is a necessary step. It’s not fun, but the end result will make it worth the patience and effort.
Many seasons of life feel the same. If you’re chasing a dream — building a house, writing a book, starting a business — you must accept the inconvenient steps along the way. Sometimes you start with a blank slate, declutter everything, or dismantle what’s no longer working. Those parts are usually messy and slow, but they’re necessary to build something better. When you finally reach the goal, the effort and discomfort will have been worth it.
I’m especially excited about our kitchen remodel. We’ve been choosing cabinet styles and finalizing the layout this week. Once the layout is set we can order the cabinets so they’ll arrive on schedule. I’m not only looking forward to a pretty, clean kitchen, but also to drawers that won’t fall open on me — it’s the little conveniences that make a space feel finished and functional.
Are you in the middle of some fall disorganizing?
Sources and FAQ:
Wood-framed chalkboard (similar) / Days-of-the-week magnetic clothespins (similar) / Magnetic pencil cups (similar) / Chalkboard print / Kitchen sources / White metal and wood stool / Paint colors / Shiplap info / Flooring FAQ
If you need extra motivation to declutter and simplify your home and life, I wrote a book called Make Room for What You Love. It was written while we were transitioning from a more orderly home into a new phase, and it gathers the tips and encouragement that helped me form better habits and get our house in order. I hope it inspires you, too.