I’m trying to get rid of things that require dusting. This week’s home organization project was all about reducing the amount of dusting and nagging I do. I love having picture frames around filled with family photos but they are dust magnets and collect – you guessed it – a lot of dust. My kids do the dusting as part of their weekly chores – and generally skip over the picture frames – so the picture frames are – rather dusty.
Fewer frames = less nagging. That’s my new math.
The frames got stashed away until the chore doers no longer live here. I may get them back out but maybe not. It’s nice having clear, open spaces.
- This week’s project. Framed photographs and picture frames.
- Small. Easy – most of the frames are in the same area.
- Clear and clean. The artwork around the piano got rearranged with the mini-office re-do and the other table is really empty.
- Get set. Honestly, I could have donated some frames but instead they’re stashed in our top kitchen cupboards. The cupboards are hard to reach so I don’t have any kitchen items in them.
- Stop buying. Do not let me buy another picture frame again, please. We really don’t need any. If I wait long enough, I will forget what mine look like and then it will seem like they’re new when I find them again!
- Less is more. It is more. I love the open space and fewer items around. It feels really good.
This week was easy and I needed it. My daughter and I did my closet on Sunday. It took awhile and I’m getting rid of more clothing than I’m keeping. It was absolutely hysterical hearing my 15-year-old’s comments about certain items of clothing. I may have to model them for you!!
How do you feel about framed photographs? Do you have a few or many? How often do you dust?
Go Gingham related links:
Ottoman slipcover hides shoes, socks and whatever else my kids stuff under there!
Piano Lessons – they’re an indulgence at our house – time and money
Frugal family fun – more ideas that won’t break the bank
52 weeks of home organization
As part of our New Year’s resolution, we’re cleaning out a different area of our house every week this year. Find all of the “weekly home organization projects” – or click the image below.
Go Gingham 
There are 2 picture frames,2 crystal pieces, and a clock on the mantel right now. At one time, I had a display similar to yours on the entertainment center. Finally realized that all those frames gathered dust, as you did. I treat the crystal as if it were sculpture, they do not have any dust-catching silk flowers in them.
I will be dusting the mantel and entertainment center on Saturday and Monday. The forecast is for widespread dust on Sunday; at least it won’t be quite so much to get up if I hit it Saturday, too.
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Karen, I am always impressed with your scaling back and having less.
It’s funny how much dust can get collected on household items – especially when dust is in the forecast.
Thanks for sharing, Karen!!
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Nothing I love more than family photos in frames. However, like you, I’m tired of all the dust. I rid myself of many frames when we moved last year and I’ve stashed the photos in my scrapbook box. Hopefully I’ll get the photos in scrapbooks before I’m too old to remember who the folks are in the photographs.
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That is the good thing about moving, Vanessa! All of the editing of stuff.
I try and take notes about who’s who in photographs and how old/what year people were – in case I ever get to putting them in scrapbooks. We’ll see….
Thanks for writing in!!
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We got rid of quite a few photo frames a few years ago. As a professional photographer, that was a challenge for me, but it is definitely nice to cut down on the clutter. These old houses already lean toward clutter with all the woodwork. I love the woodwork, but I don’t need to add all kinds of other decor. I can just let the woodwork and a few larger photos be the centerpieces. Plus, we forgot to have kids to do our dusting. We KNEW we were forgetting something! 😉
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Erin, you have an excellent point – these old houses are rather dusty – even without lots of frames. I don’t know where all of the dust comes from honestly! Cutting down on the frames has definitely cut down on our clutter. Way to go for with your de-cluttering!
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Sara, I have a broken chair leg. The chair was curbside free, and I have used it everyday at my vanity in the bathroom. So, I am okay with paying to have it repaired. Any suggestions on who, or where, to have it repaired? I don’t know where to start.
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Well, I’ve never actually taken a chair to be fixed but would try this place: http://greenfurniturehospital.com/
I’ve never used them but have driven by it for years!
Can’t wait to hear how it turns out….
🙂
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That is so funny, because I am taking the chair to them tomorrow. Most people want a minimum of $50, which is crazy, and they started at $75. But I talked to the main guy, who said to bring it in and maybe he could tell me how to fix it myself for free! I will definitely let you know what happens, (or at least less than $50).
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