Tidying with kids can be a bit challenging, but just like adults, every person is different no matter the age. I attempted doing the KonMari method with my six year-old son and it was an interesting experience. If you are not familiar with the KonMari Method, it was created by Marie Kondo who wrote the book “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying up-The Japanese Art of Decluttering” which has sold millions worldwide. The main concept of this method is to tidy by category (not rooms) and to only keep what “sparks joy” and let go of what doesn’t. So I chose to do the KonMari lesson with my son after he had finished school with no homework, so it happened after 3:00 p.m. and after he had some play time. I brought him snacks and drinks to have in his room to get his energy up. Be sure to include a child’s favourite snack or treats to boost their happiness to do the lesson.

You will have to give more breaks during the lesson with a kid, its definitely not the most enjoyable activity for them, but it really depends on the person. I taught my son the KonMari folding and he liked doing it once, but doing the folding for all the clothes to me won’t always be possible for kids to actually do. When I tried to get my son to fold again, he quickly lost his patience. If a parent has already taught their child at an early age to be tidy then this may be easier, however I am only starting to teach that now so for me its a whole new challenge. I think it’s important for kids to learn to be tidy so as they get older they will care about this and especially when becoming adults. As an Airbnb host, I have seen many adults who don’t keep their space clean and tidy and I am pretty sure they live like this at home. It’s better to teach these life skills now because it will help in the future. The KonMari method definitely will help as well, as it also teaches that everything you have has its own place, and you only keep what you truly love.

in the end my son was able to discard a good amount of clothes, which also included clothes that no longer fit him. His closet is only half-way full and he uses two drawers in a dresser for folded clothes, as well as a small trunk for more folded clothes that’s easy for him to reach. We also went through his hats and he let go of a few. His socks and undies have been decluttered not too long ago, so we didn’t go though that, but I think the parent can just go though this for the child as it will be mostly just letting go of what doesn’t fit. I think having a reward in the end of doing a KonMari lesson with a kid will make them look forward to doing the next category (which is books). Perhaps something small from the dollar store or a cool book will make them feel good about finishing their tidy lesson. I am starting to tell my son about earning an allowance, so he can work towards learning to save money. I have told him if he helps to tidy around the house he can earn some money and he was interested about that.

There is something about Scandinavian design that just makes you want to have your home look and feel this way. Scandinavian style homes look bright, minimalist, modern, simple and functional. The very first thing you must do to create this kind of space is to start by decluttering and try to avoid having too many storage boxes. Decluttering is a whole other subject that we will discuss in another blog. But for now here are tips on creating a Scandinavian home.

Create light in your room. By painting your walls white and allowing your windows to let the sun come in will help do this. Use white drapes to help let that light shine through (or no drapes), but of course this may be different in the bedroom as darker shade is necessary to get a good night’s sleep. If you have dark flooring, you can also change your flooring to be either white or a lighter wood but if you can’t do this, using a white or black and white area rug can do the trick.
                                                                       

Use neutral and muted colours. When choosing accessories or furniture for the home, choose more muted tones. It's okay to use some colour, but use it in wall art or smaller pieces like pillows or throws. Some furniture should be of natural elements. Bed linens should be white or grey and throw pillows can have some colour.


Choose a smaller sofa. It’s good to get a three-seat sofa instead of a sectional. A three-seat sofa allows for more space in the room, where you can add other seating if needed. It’s all about having more simplicity in the living room and having a huge sofa definitely does give that effect. Unless you can find a sectional that is smaller, than that can work. Make sure to give space to your furniture and let them breathe too.

Add greenery. Having plants in your home definitely adds life and makes the quality of air better for breathing in your home. Plants also add texture and that natural element that is simple. Succulents are becoming a favourite plant to have in the home, which just needs little water and light for them to last long.
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Make a gallery wall. Having a collection of art or prints is a great way to add that creative touch to your home. Be sure to mix up the frame sizes and art to display or you can keep it classic and have big frames aligned on the wall. Use nature inspired pieces of art, Scandinavian design always likes to show that element with also black and white pieces. If you want to display family photos, it is better to display in photo books, which are great for coffee table books.

Use patterns and texture. Patterns add more style and character to your home, but don’t go overboard with using them. If you add patterns keep the colours within the same colour family. Also add texture through out, by using different materials like a wooden coffee table to plastic ceiling fixtures, linen drapes, and mix-matched chairs, you can have fun combining many different textures.

Use accessories. Adding small white or black candles and vases are nice small touches and of course adding the natural elements again in these.

Declutter your home. Be sure to take time to do this, it is a process in itself, but necessary to achieve the Scandinavian look. Stay tuned for tips on this.
Now start creating that Scandinavian home that you will love to live in.
Image credits: Top image via Pinterest from blog.froy.com, second image via Pinterest from Homeyohmy.com.