I watched Minimalism on Netflix, a documentary about downsizing, getting back to basics and weaned away from excess consumption of resources. It made me walk around and see what in my house I could do without. I’ve been moving furniture around lately. A pal thinks it’s an OCD thang but it’s simply that I thrive on change. When I feel things are getting too stagnant, one quick way I’ve found to stir things up is to empty a room. Take everything out of a room and then one by one decide what to put back in it. Not what ends up being in the room the last 5 years because you don’t know where else to put it. Put back in the room only what you want in there, what serves a purpose. I make a pile of stuff to go to another room. When I’m in the process of doing that, suddenly my mind clicks wider awake and I begin having ideas of new furniture combinations.  

Most of my furniture is smaller, lightweight, easy to move and much of it on wheels: side chairs, hassocks, small tables and lamps, dressers full of fabric, desks full of project notes. Smaller pieces = lots of potential combinations.  When I share space, it’s important to me to have my own room feel like a sanctuary. A sanctuary where I have enough space to stretch out for yoga, work on projects, watch tv and go online, without leaving my room.

The room I was clearing out had all my crafting and sewing gear in it. I’d thought about it earlier and wondered if it would fit at the end of my bedroom, which measures 13 feel wide by 19 long.  I’m talking my sewing machine and all my hat making gear as well as the rolling rack I have of 100 dresses, ceremonial robes, tops and tunics I’ve custom made throughout the years.

I measured. I did the math. I’d need 6 feet square for the rack, which would also hide two rolling boxes of supplies. I could drape the rolling rack with decorative tapestry and use it as a room divider with a seating area in front of it. I moved a bookcase to cover the open end which was visible from my bed. The illusion was that I was just looking at a bookcase against the wall, when in fact it was “hiding” a secret space 6 feet square.

I moved 2 dressers out of the bedroom and into the living room where the sewing machine and hat making area formerly was. I set up a 20 x 48 table in the corner of the bedroom and draped it with a cool fabric. I had rolling boxes of  hat making supplies hidden underneath and the sewing machine itself on top. I put the cover on the sewing machine and moved it into the corner. I placed the tv in front of the sewing machine and a pillow sham fit perfectly over it, hiding the black screen in an otherwise pale blue and white corner.

I was worried the room would feel crowded but it does not. The space it took up was a seating area that was never used anyway. It doesn’t feel crowded, it feels cozy.  It feels like a haven. It feels like if I want to be up from midnight to dawn sewing or net surfing or rebounding to Netflix, I’m on the other end of the house where they won’t even hear me. 

I was really inspired by Minimalism on Netflix. I found I have a whole lot of furniture I am finally ready to be rid of. Much of it I’ve ended up storing and not using for 10+ years.  Now I want the space more than I anticipate a friend needs an extra end table. I can free up a lot of room in my  shed.  Maybe finally have that workshop I always wanted. We’ll see.