Room for Living

We finally did the big move round in this crowded downstairs space! This part of my Spring Clean I was really dreading, but maybe that just helped me get it all done earlier in the year.

I loved the toy area like this, such a visible presence in the room. But it has been an issue with toys falling down behind the radiator - not to mention two shelves being mostly inaccessible. And the huge TV unit really really did need to go.


So, all change. :) You know that stage when things look worse before they get better? We did that a couple of days ago. This is just at the point when I felt the tide was turning and I could once more cross the room without injury.

This little table surface is so important to us, for drawing and reading, for setting up scenes at a nice height. I couldn't decide quite how to have it in the new space. But this, well, it kind of works. If only I could get rid of the horrible gas fire we never use!

The kitchen/role play area is now here.

The sofa now has a good view of the PC screen for DVD and Youtube watching, hoping to wean us off the actual TV - not for philosophical reasons but for the sheer space it would give us to get rid of the old screen.

Toy shelves - more accesible for play now.

The window is no longer covered, which means the room is so much brighter. Downside, I now really HAVE to clear the window ledge of junk! The big bookcase has had a total makeover and oh I love it, everything so accessible and beautiful and so many little bits of unschooling inspiration strewn around on there.

But *phew* what a lot of cleaning and tidying we did. :) *proud moment*

Note, yes, I did honestly think that by making the photographs display slightly smaller I may be able to pretend my house is not actually so messy and full of stuff as all that. On balance, I think it failed at disguising how far we have to go to simplicity! ;)