Rules are to be Broken

I don't think there is anything more outrageous than the so called "rules" of fashion or decorating. Who gets to say what is the correct thing for us to wear or the correct way to decorate the places where we live?

One of the best things about shrinking your life style is that small spaces don't necessarily lend themselves to trends and what's "IN".  It's a great thing about tiny houses and other downsized living spaces---they are perfect for breaking all the rules and decorating just the way you want.

When we were building our summer cabin, before we even decided to downsize our whole life, I knew from the beginning that I would furnish the little house with things that I enjoyed. I wanted things I loved and that I thought would be useful in the environment we would be living in. I didn't want a lodge, or a hacienda or any particular style. I wanted comfy and inviting. It took us three summers, (we lived in a travel trailer while we worked) to finish the cabin. During these three years, I often frequented estate and garage sales, thrift shops, etc. I didn't want all brand new.

A favorite project was collecting dinner plates.  I had decided loosely on a color scheme of blues and natural woods, touches of red and yellow. So, if I spotted a nice plate that had blue, I bought it. I have this great assortment of plates and store them on my open shelf on the plate racks. When company comes, I just say "Pick your own plate".  People seem to enjoy that, and I love it. No matched set of dinnerware. 

You certainly don't have to follow any set rules when you outfit your space.  Since I really do hate clutter, I have a rule or two that I think keeps my very eclectic spaces pleasant to live in or visit.

       

***COLOR.  Color is very important in pulling together a space. Not just one or two colors, but certainly not several colors that don't even compliment or match.  Color is more important than patterns or style. Different styles of furnishings and varied patterns will still work, if color is consistent.

***NO CLUTTER. Especially in smaller spaces, keep your junk in control and out of sight. Don't have your counter tops over populated with stuff (even though you use it), leave space to work and not be constantly moving something out of the way. If you have a nice long counter top, but you're usually working in a small area, after you've moved a half dozen things---you are wasting your time and your space. Don't throw the mail, keys and stuff from your pocket on a table,etc. Put like things in baskets, in cabinets, in drawers, on hooks or shelves, in anything that organizes and stores it---flat surfaces, counters and tables need to be visible, clear and usable.

Is More Enough?

I recently watched a documentary about the settling of the American West.  The first thing that stands out is the incredible dangers and hardships the adventurers into the wild and mostly unexplored vastness endured. I sincerely doubt that I, or the large majority of Americans today have the toughness of mind and spirit to make such journeys.

The second thing that really stood out to me was a commentary that when those that survived reached their lands of promise, they always began to clamor for the new territory to become part of the United States.  It struck me so clearly that it is in our very blood to constantly want more.

I do not believe that we, Americans, are empire builders. I don't think that we truly want to go out and conquer the world and gobble up land mass. I do think that we have this inherited desire for better than we presently have.  Even those like myself, who have embraced the idea that life can be smaller and simpler can't avoid that consuming need for making our lives the best. We want the most comfortable, efficient and unique small dwellings.  We didn't go out and pitch a tent and start growing potatoes.  We want less to be more.

Perhaps it is a human trait, but I somehow believe that there is some exceptional trait in Americans---we are dreamers and we reach out for the distant prize that will make our life better. The difference in those courageous pioneers that rolled before us;  they were willing to risk all, to give all to reach those treasures they sought.  So much of our present day population has lost all of that willingness to sacrifice and work for their goals.  Indeed, many don't even see why they should have to work for their prosperity.  Our success in acquiring "more" has weakened our character and strength of resolve.

While this diluting of the very blood that makes us Americans is a big disappointment to me, I'm still enough of a dreamer to believe in our spirit.  I truly believe that if a catastrophic disaster struck us tomorrow,  there would be those that survived who would immediately be gathering wood for a fire and looking into the distance, making plans to move forward. Even if we were reduced to nothing, I have no doubt that we would soon pick up our pursuit of more.