During the month of April, I’m encouraging my readers to participate in a 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge (read more here, if you missed my announcement about this challenge last week). Every week day morning at 9 a.m., I’ll post the daily project and every evening around 6 p.m. EST, I’ll post an update and link-up.
How did your Day 3 Project go?
I’m a little late in getting this posted because I had a doctor’s appointment this afternoon that was supposedly at 2:45 p.m., but ended up being quite a bit later than 2:45 p.m. 🙂
And I’m a little embarrassed to show you my pictures for today because our room is in need of a makeover. However, I’m all about keeping it real, so here goes…
What it looked like when you walked into our room. Yikes!
And the other side of the room. Yes, we have a young child who has taken up temporary residence in our room right now. 🙂
Recently, before I leave on a trip, I’ve started piling together things I want to take and need to take. This chair has become the catch-all for my next trip pile. Not sure that this is the most organized method out there, but it’s been working pretty well — even if it looks rather messy!
After some cleaning and straightening, things looked much better. And we have promised ourselves we’ll be buying a new bedroom set sometime in the next year since we still have the free bed frame we were given when we got married. It just keeps getting shelved for higher priorities.
The trip pile has now been moved to the suitcase. 🙂 And yes, we do plan to do something more organized about the TV situation… I don’t usually realize what a mess of cords it looks like until I post pictures on my blog for everyone to see. Ahem.
Join in the Chatter
::Want to blog about this challenge? If you’re blogging through this challenge with me, be sure to leave your link to your direct post on linky below. Plus, if you’d like to post your daily posts to the 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge Pinterest Group, just shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com) and I’ll invite you.
::Want to follow along on Twitter or Instagram? I’ll also be sharing some of my cleaning pictures on my Facebook Page, my Twitter account, and my Instagram account. I’d love to have you do the same or join in the discussion on Twitter and Instagram. Just follow hashtag #Cleanin30 to see what others are tweeting and Instagramming about this challenge!
Denise says
Great job! The first year we lived in our house, our TV was on our floor in a living room without couches….so we sat in our camping chairs to watch our TV. Makes for a good story and a funny memory. 🙂
Have a great day!
Heather says
Your room looks lovely all the way around. There is only one thing that makes me scratch my head a bit. Where do you lay your book, alarm clock or bedtime drink? Even messy, you have nice taste in colors and the simplicity appeals. If you decide to do something with the tv though, scoot that chair over by your bed! Lol!
Crystal says
We don’t have any place right now — so it’s usually the floor. 🙂
Kimberly says
I could not bring myself to post the before picture of my bedroom, although I did take one. It would have just been too much! I am proud of how it turned out though.
Organize365 says
I am LOVING this challenge! As a professional organizer, this is right up my alley.
However, I have blogged today about the different stages people go through in organization.
1. Overwhelmed
2. Looking For Systems and Routines
3. Maintenance and Repair
Crystal you are an amazing example of living a frugal and clutter free life. I strive to be more like you in these aspects every day!
🙂
Lisa
Carol Daufen says
Re your pending new/new-to-you bedroom furniture. We are kindred spirits re the minimalist thing. Thus, when we recently ‘renovated’ our bedroom furniture, we sold our 15-year-old clunky, oversized Bassett furniture and opted for smaller, sleeker nightstands from Target (mission style) and two reasonably priced armoires (Sauder brand purchased from walmart.com and assembled FREE of charge by Walmart!) versus traditional space-hogging chest of drawers and dresser w/ a mirror. And, we opted for a no frills platform bed–no box springs needed! Would be willing to send photos (even though the photos don’t do the room/furniture justice) if you’re interested in the finished look/idea.
KED says
We are currently on a Spring Break trip as a family 🙂 We also had a trip pile that I began gathering about a month prior to departure, I use a bank box for mine!
ClareC. says
Thanks for the encouragement to finally get some clutter cleared out from my bedroom. My husband was thrilled with the results. Love that you have a little one sharing your room. None of my 4 really need to do that anymore and I miss it sometimes…
Theresa says
Day 3 was more of a challenge. Nothing seemed to be going the way I wanted it to. The bedroom didn’t get completed until this morning, but it is finished (at least surface cleaned)!
I did manage to clean the living room and kitchen before bed. It feels so nice to wake up to clean living spaces!
Melissa says
Our master bedroom always seems to take a backseat in the priority department too. We have 3 mismatched ancient dressers and an old beat up bedside table and a brass headboard that looks straight out of 1982. We also have 3 bookcases and 2 large IKEA storage closets crammed into our room. Needless to say, our room isn’t winning any beauty contests at the moment. I did manage to dust all that ugly furniture yesterday though as part of my project for the day! 🙂
Sara says
My Older 3 And I Picked Up All 4 Bedrooms, Washed Sheets And Lovey Blankets, And Vacuumed! This Challenge HAs BEen Great For Us Since It Feels Like OUr House Is Always A Mess And Can Be Overwhelming To Clean It All Up At Once.
Liz says
Your post is why I absolutely love your blog. Thank you for opening up your home to us readers!
We also have plans to update our bedroom furniture / bed frame…but totally agree that it is way down on the priority list.
Crystal says
Aw, thanks so much for your kind encouragement!
Mary Ann says
I haven’t done today’s project yet but I have already taken the before picture and hope to finish the project before bed tonight!
I haven’t done much decorating in our room yet and with some clutter and an unmade bed, the before picture looked pretty bad to me. But a fixed bed and clothes put away will make it look much better!
Thanks for the challenge! I’m finding myself more motivated to do other little cleaning tasks around the house each day!
Nicole @ Amazing Frugal Mom says
Our bedroom looks pretty similar…the master bedroom is usually last on the list of things to update in the home!
Shelly says
I had a lot of decluttering to do today in our bedroom. It was mostly papers that needed to be recycled and some books that need to be put away. The cleaning wasn’t bad at all until I cleaned under our old radio and nightstand. Oh my the dust and hair I found. Yuck!
Sarah Robbins says
I wish I lived closer to come help you with a makeover! I love home decorating. A couple suggestions:
-Your room is kind of small so I would go with more neutral, natural colors. Maybe medium wood furniture with a white or gray bedding set. It will make the room look brighter and bigger. If you get something classic, you can keep it forever and just paint it if you change your mind. We bought our bedroom set secondhand for under $200 and refinished it in a nice timeless natural look.
-I would recommend getting a long dresser or chest at a second hand store (I’ve never paid more than $50 for solid wood dressers) and paint it a nice creamy white color. You can put your television on it; the size will hide your cords and you can use all the drawers for your upcoming trip storage. We have several dressers that have empty drawers, but the storage is always nice when you need it (temporarily, so long as you don’t fill it with “stuff”.)
-I’d also paint the walls. They look like standard white, but a warmer neutral would perk things up.
Let me know if you want more suggestions. I love a room makeover.
Carrie says
I don’t think she asked for suggestions. I like Crystal’s style. It is very peaceful and calm. I like the fact that there isn’t a lot of clutter in her house.
Sarah Robbins says
I wasn’t trying to be rude. She posted this on Facebook:
“I’m a little embarrassed to show you these pictures, but since I’m all about keeping it real, here goes…
{And yes, I welcome bedroom makeover suggestions from all of you decorating pros. Because clearly, I need them!}”
I’m not a decorating pro, but lots of my friends have me help them. I would never criticize someone else’s style without being asked. We each have our own unique tastes that work for each of us and our families. I was just offering ideas since she asked for suggestions.
Carrie says
I didn’t see this on Facebook. Thank you for the explanation. It seemed odd to me that you were telling her all these ideas without her asking. So sorry.
Crystal says
I welcome the suggestions — though thanks so much for your kind words on the simplicity we’ve got going on around here… including a chair for a TV stand. 😉
Raisa says
Love it! You’re awesome! Thank you for showing this and keeping it real! <3!
Charity says
Aww, I don’t think your room looks bad. Our room is about function, not style, so yours looks pretty to me. 🙂
Lana says
The bedrooms were already clean so I went through 2 closets and a friend come over and took home a whole trunk full of left behind suits, tuxes that had been outgrown and formal dresses left behind by our daughters. She was thrilled to have her children outfitted and I was thrilled to see all of that stuff go and know it will be used.
Julie C says
Yes, Sarah mentioned my idea of putting everything in cubes that you need to bring on your trip. How about another set of upcsale cubes like you have at your back door and Your way rectangles to go inside the cubes? It would be so cute! Shall we offer to do your makeover Thirty-One style? So fun!
You could put your tv on top of the shelving unit.
I love to decorate; it would be so fun to join you!
Renee says
A humble, easy decorating tip, from a non-decorator: If you measure the length of a curtain rod and double it, that’s the width of curtains needed on that rod. Scrunching up the material on the rod makes it look full and luxurious. I love the materials and colors in your room!
Jessica @Proverbslady.com says
I have the same problem under my desk and next to my bed with the mess of cords. I’m not sure what the fix is for this. When I try to tuck them away I wind up needing to move an electronic and then they just get pulled out again.
Kelly says
Since I had already worked on de-cluttering our bedroom yesterday, I focused on our closet and got so much done. I filled two bags to donate, threw away odds and ends, and organized my clothes to get ready for summer.
I also cleaned under the bed and worked on two dresser drawers that have collected odds and ends.
I need to find a cute basket or box for books that I read occasionally (devotionals, cookbooks, my journal, etc.) I want to have them close by for easy access so I have been keeping them in a tote bag between my bed and nightstand. It looks messy, though.
My girls’ bedrooms need so much work but they are horrified at the thought of getting rid of anything. I have joked that they are future stars of the Hoarders show! ; )
Sarah Robbins says
I did our closet, too. It was a huge mess from moving. Everything that didn’t have a place in our house just collected in our closet. After I cleaned it, the children spent all day playing in there because there was so much room!
Katie says
I feel like we have a whole new bedroom after today’s task! My husband came home and was so surprised and happy to see everything so clean {which makes it all even more worth it!} 🙂 The before pictures I took are S U P E R embarrasing…but like you said, just keepin’ it real! 🙂
Katie says
Oops i spelled it wrong— **embarrassing
Theresa says
I am glad I’m not the only one embarrassed to put up my before pictures. It is keeping me motivated though! (I tell myself people won’t really believe the state of disarray I am living in without the before pics.) 🙂
Katie says
I feel like we have a whole new bedroom now after doing today’s task! The before pictures are embarassing… My husband was so happy and surprised when he came home to see everything so clean!
Lissa says
I like that you keep it real! I have a mess of cords too… 🙁
Rachel Davis says
Ooooh, I love your bed frame (and your bed set, by the way!) We’ve been married 15 years and still are with box springs….never had a frame. I’m hoping for one like yours someday. 🙂 And our living room looks like that tv area…we are trying to figure out how to build something to hide the wires!
sue says
if my bedroom looked like yours, I would never clean it. Mine has so much clutter on chairs and desk that you can’t even tell that there is a chair or desk under it.
I’ll come clean your bedroom anyday if it’s just a small pile of stuff, a few cords and a wrinkled bedspread 🙂 !!!
You’re amazing to be able to do all that you do !! 🙂
Becky says
lol, I was thinking the same thing. My room is a big mess 🙂
Becky says
Are the link ups only if you have a personal blog? I took some pics of my bedroom before and after but I don’t have a blog.
Brooke says
Looks good! I had such high hopes for doing every bedroom today, hate when sickness drags you down, but I’m thrilled I got at least a little bit done!
Sarah says
For your “next trip pile” you could find a cute basket to put those things in. I learned from a friend that everything, even the pile from the kitchen counter, looks nicer in a basket 🙂 I also use this trick if I need to clean up a room ASAP. Odds and ends get placed in a basket to clean the room up for unexpected company and then I put them away later.
Crystal says
I LOVE this! Thank you!
Teresa says
I use a laundry basket. I pretty much put everything I need to take in the basket, then as I pack it in my bag, I can double check it against one of my many lists (:
Erin @ My Mommy World says
I think your bed frame is pretty!
Jenny says
Good job! I might suggest to mount the tv to the wall. The brackets are now inexpensive and it keeps kids away from it… It also makes it easy to see in bed (:
Crystal says
Thanks so much for the suggestion!
Becky says
A tv mounted on the wall is a great idea!
Angie@ Creating Our Home says
I also have a daughter that has moved herself into our room. I feel better knowing we are not the only ones! 🙂
Angie@ Creating Our Home says
Crystal- I accidentally linked Day 2 on the #1 link. Would you be able to remove it? I tried and it didn’t work for me. Maybe I am not doing it right?
Thanks! I don’t want to hog the linky! 🙂