Simplified Spring Wardrobe - The Items

Spring is in full force, this wardrobe has been in full force for almost a month now and I'm loving it so much.  Last week I shared about how I was craving simplicity - in a lot of ways- and one of the easiest and most needed ways to begin was to simplify my closet.  So I purged and stored and gave away stuff and now I'm down to much, much less.  This is not necessarily a capsule wardrobe (the idea in which I love and used as a tool when simplifying my wardrobe) but it is a simplified version of what I used to have.  Pretty much everything is mix and matchable and easy to wear.  So, for the curious ones -here are the items I ended up with.  Maybe this will help some of you visualize what your closet could be as well.

Spring is a little difficult to plan for, you can have 80s here one day and 50s the next so I needed to make sure I had plenty of layering options.  I don't have any crazy colors going on, I stuck with what I like - neutrals and shades of blue.  I don't have anything overly trendy, mostly basics with a few seasonal pieces - things that will work year after year.  I know that's not everyone's cup of tea but its mine.  Also, I should add that I actually did not buy one single new item, I had everything in my closet already but I know that is not realistic for everyone.  Creating a mixable simplified wardrobe may take some purchases and planning.  Start with what you have first and make a list of items that would help fill out your closet.  Then, use that list to slowly build the wardrobe you will actual wear and use.  No more wasteful purchases and stuffed closets and feeling like you have nothing to wear!

Its crazy how many outfit options I have going on here with these items.  Its almost unlimited.  Each row above has several combos just within that row (many I haven't even thought of) and then each row can mix-in with the next.  Having a simplified closet not only allows you to have less but somehow creates even more options.  Everything flows and is easy to put together.

Having a good idea of what you like to wear, taking control of that messy, overstuffed closet and working your way to being a good steward are all things I was aiming for in this closet overhaul.  I'm sure I will learn more as I go and this whole simplified way of doing things will evolve.  But, I can honestly say I'm so loving this.  Having less actually forces you to be more creative - in a lot of areas of your life and creativity is that fuel that we all need sometimes and allows us to grow.  

Personally - (and this is going in a totally different direction now but somehow in my mind still connects)... I know in the times when I am left with little in my spiritual life is when God works in awesome ways to prune me into something better.  We get ourselves out of the way and turn to God alone.  We don't need a bunch of stuff, we just need Jesus.  

I hope that some of these thoughts will help you on your way of getting rid of stuff, finding simplicity and letting Jesus fill your life.

 ...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

Ephesians 3:17-19

Room to Breathe - More Closet Talk

I have put a lot of work into these guest room closets lately, and let me say I'm so glad I did.  These closets could have easily been overlooked and remained overstuffed but now they are one of my favorite parts of the house - and bonus - they are totally functional now.  Let's look back and see how far these sweet sisters have come-

Here's the first before picture - before chalkboard paint and all - very blah.

 A little progress on the doors with the chalkboard & magnetic paint but still very messy, unorganized and crazy on the inside.

So I cleaned these girls all out and started from scratch on the inside - 

I decided I wanted to add a color to the inside of the closets so I pulled out the leftover paint I had laying around from our bathroom update.  I had more than half a gallon leftover so I have been wanting to use it somehow.  I loooove the way it turned out.  For some reason having a cute color greet me on the inside of a closet makes me happy and forces me to keep it organized and clean.  After you squeeze yourself into the nooks and crannies of a little closet to make sure you have painted every inch you will want to keep it looking good - trust me.

After purging and putting things in their proper place I was ready to start filling these closets back up.  I have really wanted to make one of these closets a craft closet - so that's just what I did.  I moved everything craft oriented into one closet along with some games we had towering in our laundry room -

Haha, this picture always makes me laugh.  It's just so crazy looking.  Anyway, a lot of the items that we had here I moved to the closet.

It's amazing how much room you have when things are tucked neatly away.  I promise that I don't have a bunch of stuff laying around the house or stuffed in other closets after this closet clean out.  Everything either found a place or was thrown out.  

I slid all of our artwork that has yet to find a home under the guest bed so it is now out of sight, and was able to move in my little craft cabinet out of the room and into the closet - and made a little printing station too. 

The other closet just remained a nice storage space for coats, a few baby items, our vacuum and carpet cleaner and an old boot warmer - something everyone has right?  

All of those crazy sheets and such were folded and tucked away into this awesome box I have.  I found this at the flea market years ago and fell in love with it.  Justin just about dropped his jaw when I told him I paid $50 for it.  I know, I know it's an old beat up box - but to me it's so much more than that so he let me keep it.  He's such a sweetheart, isn't he?

After it was said and done, I paid $35 for all of the paint and spent several hours cleaning and re-organizing and now I feel like I can breathe again when opening these closet doors.  I even like leaving them open sometimes so I can see the pretty color inside.  That's crazy talk to me - leaving a closet open. Usually that's the opposite for me.  The closets are simple, functional and much prettier.  Simplifying is where it's at.  

One day I would like to take the craft closet up a notch and add some more organization type elements but for now, I'm basking in the simple organization we got going on.  So anyone else with me today?  Have any organizing and simplifying projects you are working on or need to work on?  Share it with us!!

Have a great week!