clean 'em off!

I LOVE a clear surface. I really do.

Though I consider myself an aspiring minimalist, there is still SO. MUCH. STUFF. hanging around my house all the time. Recently I went on a Pinterest voyage for all the minimalism task lists I could handle, and began with the easiest to implement.

I went room by room and cleared off each and every surface in that room. I mean tops of dressers/armoires/nightstands, shelves, coffee and end tables, dining table, counters, etc. Every single surface. I completed one room before moving on to the next, and in a matter of a couple of hours, my house felt calmer and like it could breather again.

In each room, I would clear off every surface and place all the items in one central location (my bed, for example). The first thing I looked for was anything that could be thrown away or recycled, and placed those items in their respective bins. Then I tried to find anything that was still usable, but for whatever reason I had not been using lately, and put it in a bag to sell or donate*.

*sidebar here: I have been so guilty of letting things easily pass through me and on to goodwill, but in reality, that's not at all an eco-friendly, sustainable solution. A lot of what we donate gets thrown away by the donation center, and what doesn't sell gets packed up and sold by the pound to developing nations. So not only do we pass our junk on to them, but doing so cripples their local economy. I am trying to commit to using goodwill as my last option for donating, but my first option for purchasing.

The next step I took was to see if any items still remaining could be relocated to some sort of covered storage, like a cabinet. Finally, anything that was left went back on the surface. These items were very few. All lamps stayed on their tables because I hate overhead lighting and love Edison bulbs. Two essential oil diffusers remained, and two I moved to different, less conspicuous or crowded areas.

Y'all, I love this exercise. I probably do it at least once a year. Jake actually walked in and asked if we were moving, so I did put a plant back on the kitchen counter. But other than that, my surfaces are still clear. Beautifully, gloriously clear. And ready to be used for the activities of living rather than simply as dust collecting storage spots.

So I'd love to know: Have you ever tried completely clearing off your surfaces? If you're further along in your minimalist journey, please share some tips! Or, does this sound completely crazy to you?? Share your thoughts in the comments below.