organizing a small condo bathroom

I've been moving into my new little condo which, of course, has a new little bathroom. I like a bathroom that is bright and uncluttered, so as to evoke a sense of calm when getting ready in the mornings. So organizing solutions for all the stuff needed can be tricky.

For tight spaces like these, I love these IKEA hooks that fold up when t in use, so I'm not continually banging into them. Two of them worked well in my bathroom to hang up towels in use. 

And for storage of extra towels, this antique crate that I picked up when I lived in Calgary does the trick nicely. No need to install shelving and mess up my lovely white rental walls this way. 

Facecloths fit nicely on the back of the toilet in a wire basket. 

And make-up and other goodies are in pretty baskets in drawers, ready to pull out when needed. 

Pretty and simple storage completed! On to the next room...

simplifying life

This weekend I moved up the road to Burlington into a little one bedroom + den condo. I've downsized from a 3-bedroom townhome to a 700 sqft all-white lovely little gem. It's bright with south facing sunlight, and in a residential community that feels welcoming and perfect for a nightly stroll. I decided to move because little old me doesn't need to take up so much space in the world, and I'll also save lots of money. As I wrote about in this post, why consume more space and stuff when it's been proven around the world that we can live a happy life without it?

It's also a deliberate attempt to simplify my life. I've really been struck lately at how rushed I've been. A fun but demanding job, traffic, meetings, projects and so much in general to keep up with has allowed stress to creep up on me, and I need to slow down. Simplifying my life in lots of ways will help, including living well, within my means, in a home filled only with things I love.

So now I'm unpacking and working on settling into a small space in which organizational and storage tricks will be put to the test! I've been perusing blogs and Pinterest and found some inspiration - follow my 'Small Living' Pinterest board.  I'll let you know how it goes!

natural design: driftwood DIY ideas

If you are lucky enough to live in an area where you have access to driftwood, pick some up! There are so many decorative, functional and organizational things you can do with driftwood, and it won't cost a cent. What a great way to bring a little bit of nature into your home.

These first ideas are great for the upcoming holiday season, but there are lots of projects below that will inspire you year-round. Enjoy. 

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natural design: ideas to bring the outdoors in

Bringing elements from nature inside is one of the easiest, cheapest and most sustainable ways to decorate. Bringing the outdoors inside for the winter can help make us feel warmer, less stressed and more at ease. It's a reminder of what's to come while we patiently wait for the seasons to change once again! Living plants, sticks, leaves, wood or other natural materials all help to connect us to the earth and give us a peaceful harmony that only comes from taking a deep breath in the great outdoors. 

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Jute Home

Centro Garden

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Design Sponge

Jute Home

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See this post for more natural design inspiration.