Whitney Leigh Morris 5/5/26 Whitney Leigh Morris 5/5/26

Favorite Audiobooks for Kids

Who doesn’t love children’s books? Beyond being a source of endless joy and meaningful discussions in our household, this category of literature holds a special place in our work-lives as well. My spouse is a public library worker, and I volunteer with a local independent bookseller. In the past, I worked at a children’s bookshop, then moved on to specializing in children’s book art for illustration galleries and museum exhibition design.

Our family prefers physical books, but audiobooks also get a lot of love in our home and when we’re on-the-go. Since we prefer to do as much as possible without screens, we rely heavily on the library’s Libby App, and on the Yoto Mini. Here are some of the Yoto cards the kids have been listening to lately. I’ve included a few links to past favorites on other platforms as well.

Recommended
Make Believe : On Telling Stories to Children by Mac Barnett (a new publication for adults)
Looking at Picture Books: Conversations on How Picture Books Work (for adults via Substack)
Sarah & Duck
Season Isle
ABC Adventures (Pre-K)

Note: Our little business sometimes earns a small commission from select links.

Whitney Leigh Morris 1/21/26 Whitney Leigh Morris 1/21/26

Simple Home Water Solutions: The Best Water Softener

Note: This post was kindly sponsored by Culligan. All visuals and words and experiences are my own.

When it comes to the products we use at home, our approach has long been to keep things simple, efficient and sustainable.

Above: Our multitasking (and only) bathroom, which is also the laundry room.

This isn’t always as straightforward a task as it might seem, as unexpected scenarios popping up during ever-busy days can create sudden hurdles.

Above: Ingredients for cleaning solutions and household DIYs in upcycled + refillable jars on a repurposed plate rack above the bathroom / laundry room door.

For example, when we first moved into our home, I noticed that our faucets never scrubbed fully clean, our appliances and fixtures weren’t operating as smoothly as promised, and our shower windows were cloudy.

Above: The washable cleaning wipes and rags we use in lieu of paper towels and single-use mop pads.

The layer of film gathering throughout our home wasn’t the only unexpected new issue popping up at that time. All of us noticed that the appearance and texture of our skin was changing, too. Our complexions appeared dull and dry, and none of our carefully selected skincare routine products were saturating as they once did.

Above: An all purpose cleaner bottle refilled with water and concentrate, and a refillable bottle of laundry detergent.

Similarly, the consistency of our hair felt off. For those of us with longer styles, the top layers became frizzy and dry, while the lower, longer layers looked weighed down and felt almost wet to the touch. At first I suspected it was a post-partum hormonal issue, but then I realized that my oldest child, who was six years-old at the time, was experiencing the same issues.

Above: Refillable shampoo + conditioner in upcycled glass jars, bar soaps, and a plastic-free, refillable safety razor on the plant shelf in the shower.

I suddenly found myself scrambling for quick solutions to each problem throughout the house.

Above: My hair before the switch. The ends constantly looked wet and waxy, while the top layers looked frayed and dull.

What we didn’t want? More cleaning solutions and tools. Constant descaling of our coffee maker. New and costly multi-step skin and hair care products. Deep cleans of our shower head and faucets weekly.

All of a sudden there was more stuff to buy, store and manage, but the root cause of these issues was still there: hard water.

Above: We had water spots on our glass hutch doors, windows, mirrors, and glassware throughout the house, plus buildup on our custom + DIY faucets and showerheads, and in our small and large appliances.

Eventually, with the help of the experts at Culligan, I realized that all of those problems could be solved with an efficient and reliable water softener.

Above: Jars and carrying gear above the bathroom / laundry room hutch.

Within a week of installing a Culligan Aquasential® Smart High Efficiency Water Softener system – which is the world’s most efficient water softener, designed to use less salt and water with every cycle – I felt the difference. My hair stopped looking stringy, my uncomplicated two step skincare routine began working again, and we returned to using our refillable, multipurpose household cleaner for almost everything. Plus the products and results all lasted longer.

Here are some of the benefits of a Culligan Aquasential® Smart High Efficiency Water Softener system:

Reduce hard water buildup, allowing water-using appliances to operate more efficiently
Protects faucets, fixtures, appliances and plumbing from hard-to-clean mineral buildup
Improve dry skin, dull and weighed-down hair, and itchy scalp with every soft water rinse
Spend less time cleaning, as there’s less buildup on sinks, tubs, shower doors, etc.
Reduces water stains / spots and chalky faucets
High efficiency – uses less water and energy compared to other water softeners

For folks seeking simple, efficient home water solutions: the experts at Culligan can help . They can manage everything – from testing the water to recommending the right solution, handling installation, and any future maintenance.

Turns out we didn’t need more.
We just needed better.

Whitney Leigh Morris 12/5/25 Whitney Leigh Morris 12/5/25

Rightsized Vintage: December Edition

While our mailboxes are being flooded with messages to shop more, buy new and scale bigger, I’m sending out this quiet reminder: You don’t need to live large and lavishly to live comfortably and confidently.

If you’re seeking a specific item for your compact space and can’t seem to craft that item yourself, sourcing secondhand is a stellar way to support small businesses, keep items out of landfills, and add character.

Below is a simple collection of pre-loved goods that can be helpful for tricky interiors. And since these pieces are from independent sellers, it’s easy to request used + upcycled packing materials.

Please note that I sometimes earn a (very small) commission from sales of used pieces.

Whitney Leigh Morris 7/8/25 Whitney Leigh Morris 7/8/25

A Summer’s Day to Night in a Multitasking Space

This post was sponsored by Terrain. All photos & opinions are my own.

As is the case in most smaller homes, every space here — whether indoors or outdoors — multitasks. Here’s a glimpse of the most frequently used, and most versatile, spot on our porch:

Above: Reclaimed Work Table with drop-down sides.

By day, this is a potting zone, largely open to the elements, but shaded from the hot sun via the reclaimed pine ceiling (and blissfully protected from the mosquitoes thanks to the screen). Come evening, this is a conversation bar — a spot where we can gather with neighbors and friends to connect and brainstorm without disturbing the kids in their shared bedroom off of the kitchen.

Above: Cotton Tablecloth + Stargazer Strands

As usual, this area is comprised of a mix of thrifted, hand-me-down, and repurposed items. Everything is supported brilliantly by an expandable recycled + reclaimed potting surface from Terrain. The table’s combination of two drop-leaf sides and a back rack with shelf make this design particularly friendly for smaller spaces in need of increased versatility. (It would be a wonderful piece for a deconstructed kitchen.)

Above: Slip-on clogs (made from recycled materials) by an adjustable secondhand stool.

I customized the table by attaching a secondhand tension rod paired below the built-in shelf to create a spot for hanging tools and linens.

I also added a small, thrifted towel rack with repurposed curtain clips to the face of the table for a spot for hanging our family’s gardening and work gloves.

Above: Eartha Pedestal Planter and a thrifted towel bar turned into a rack for my Long Gloves and other garden + work gloves.

The end result is a spot that can easily transform from utilitarian work zone by day to a hosting zone by night, regardless of the weather.

Here’s to making every space count — inside and out.

Above: A Copper + Brass Tulip Sprinkler watering the upcycled garden space just beyond the porch.

Pictured:

Whitney Leigh Morris 6/26/25 Whitney Leigh Morris 6/26/25

Rightsized Vintage: June Edition

While sharing tips and stories regarding interiors feels pretty ridiculous at this moment in time, I think there is something important to it. Embracing smaller spaces, repurposing, choosing local, handmade and/or used goods, and sharing resources are all ways to look out for each other and out one shared home. We can make the most of our compact homes by being deliberate about what we acquire and getting creative with whatever space we have. Sourcing secondhand is a delightful way to add character to our homes, enjoy previously used goods and shop small. (And don’t forget that you can message sellers to request used packaging materials if they’ve got them.)

Please note that I sometimes earn a small commission from sales of secondhand pieces.

Whitney Leigh Morris 5/1/25 Whitney Leigh Morris 5/1/25

Rightsized Vintage: May Edition

I usually share my Rightsized Vintage collections of small space-friendly, pre-loved goods via my newsletter, but I feel like this particular edition is fitting for the blog…

Please note that I sometimes earn a small commission from sales of secondhand pieces.

Whitney Leigh Morris 4/28/25 Whitney Leigh Morris 4/28/25

Starting New Garden Spaces

Post sponsored by Terrain

Gardening feels different for us this year.

We’ve been learn how to better grow and nurture plant life here in this sandy soil.

*Pictured:* *Enamel Jam Cup* *with mint from a raised garden bed.*

This is not just for ornamentation, even though it’s remarkable to see what was once an open stretch of field studded with trees, shrubs and garden beds.

It’s also for the benefit of pollinators, to restore wildlife habitat, and to feed our multigenerational household and members of the surrounding community.

These are all acts of local resilience, with attention paid to the larger-scale importance of protecting and restoring the health of this entire planet — our one shared home.

*Pictured:* *Gardana Clogs*. These waterproof shoes are made in France from a mix of recycled plastics and hemp fiber; the sugars present in the hemp lend them their unique color. Hemp plants absorb carbon from the atmosphere and minimize fossil fuels that are normally associated with plastic production.

With a renewed and revised approach to gardening, we’ve got a lot to learn and unlearn. Sometimes we marvel at the success of our harvests, and other times we’re disappointed with our failures. But either way, we’re trying, then trying again.

We’re establishing various types of gardens around the house: A potted garden in a gravel enclosure, a veggie grow zone in covered, raised beds surrounding the main entrance of the house, hydroponic vertical towers, and tree-dotted parameters for privacy and shade.

For all of this, we’ve thrifted several pieces, such as pots, furnishings, and outdoor accents.

*Pictured:* *Citronella, Rosemary, Thyme Garden Sticks* *(to discourage mosquitos) in a secondhand pot filled with gravel.*

*Pictured:* *Citronella, Rosemary, Thyme Garden Sticks* *(to discourage mosquitos) in a secondhand plate rack used to store handmedown plates and saucers for use beneath garden pots. Also pictured:* *Long Floral Garden Gloves*.

We’ve also been borrowing some bulkier gear, like wheelbarrows, rakes, and post diggers. And to top it all off, we’ve peppered in a handful of beautiful and practical gems from one of my long time garden resources, Terrain.

Pictured: Flower Power Cotton Socks. Made from a soft cotton blend and dyed with natural botanicals, each pair of these colorful crew socks is handmade and entirely one-of-a-kind. Our newest rescue dog, Henson, immediately chewed a hole through one. I repaired them, of course. Not only do we aim to repair items rather than replace them, but these socks are so delightful and unique that I want to wear them constantly.

*Pictured:* *Serving Tray with Mesh Cover*

I’ll share more views from the garden as the season progresses…

Whitney Leigh Morris 4/14/25 Whitney Leigh Morris 4/14/25

The best change we’ve made to our home since moving in

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Culligan. All photos and opinions are my own. Our family has enjoyed the benefits of our Culligan water systems for years prior to this partnership.

What’s the best change we’ve made to our small home since moving in? Culligan Water.

We spent ten happy years in a tiny cottage in Southern California, where we shared a garden, utilities and other resources with several next door neighbors. For our next phase of life, we were determined to share space and resources in similar ways, but in another location that better addressed the needs of our family. Ultimately we ended up crafting a multigenerational set up by building and settling into a 900 sqft guest house in the Southeast near our extended family.

For this new little residence, which I designed with a sustainable architectural firm, we had hoped to source our water from the main house. But our plan didn't work according to plan, as it would’ve required more land disruption than we’d estimated, along with costly adjustments to existing structures. In the time we spent researching alternative solutions, we had no professional system in place to treat our well water. It tasted a bit off, but other than that we didn’t give it urgent thought, as we didn’t initially realize just how much of an impact the water quality was having on our house and wellness.

In this newly constructed space, the surfaces and windows never seemed to wipe fully clean, and our barely used fixtures were already clogged with grime that impacted everything from the flow from our shower-head, to the collection and usability of the water in our condenser dryer. More importantly, our (then) 6 year-old was suddenly getting headaches for the first time in his life, and a rash on his skin was getting gradually worse. At the same time, his hair was growing dull and heavy. Mine was too. My typically thick and wildly bouncy strands perpetually felt damp to the touch, and I began experiencing new problems with my complexion. Our family spent time, money and energy trying to solve all of these issues through a diverse array of new products that we didn't actually need. It turned out that the solution to everything was simply to treat our household’s water.

We used a testing kit to learn what was in our water and gather facts to inform our decisions. Culligan offers a free and professionally done in-home water test – their experts will walk you through the results and recommend solutions for your water. For those who prefer to start with a DIY format, Culligan also has home test kits, including a PFAS test kit, a city water test kit, and a well water test kit. See more information about Culligan’s water testing here.

Once we better understood the problems with our well water, we worked with our local experts at Culligan to decide decided on two solutions best suited to our needs:

For the efficiency of our household and to address mineral build up, we selected an Aquasential Smart High Efficiency Water Softener.
For cleaner drinking water, we picked an Aquasential Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System.

Both systems have now been in place for two years. As it turns out, that they were, by far, the best improvements we’ve made to our little home since moving in.

Here’s why.

About the High Efficiency Water Softener
Did you know that you can:

improve your household’s energy usage
enjoy longer-lasting soaps, detergents and deep cleans
get your linens to stay brighter + whiter + softer
prolong the longevity of your water-using appliances
prevent waste by avoiding likelihood of appliance repair or replacement … all by avoiding hard water?

That buildup we were seeing in our condenser dryer drawer, the clogged shower heads, the filmy surfaces of windows and counters, the grimy dog bowls, and the complications we experienced when growing greens in our hydroponic farm towers were all due to hard water.

Once we installed the water softener and scrubbed away the buildup, the problems went away. With the cloudy film on the windows wiped clean, only the delightful dog nose smudges and kids’ fingerprints remain. Soft water goes a long way towards keeping your home cleaner for longer.

Similarly, the issues of troubled skin and unhealthy hair were alleviated after the softener system was installed. Thanks to the soft water that’s gentle on our hair + skin, we're now back to our minimalist haircare and skincare routines.

Now, our deep household scrubs, DIY cleaning solutions, and formulas from the local refillery all last longer. And our linens stay bright and happy whether we dry them on the line or in the compact dryer. Plus, I love knowing all of our machines are operating more efficiently with soft water.

Aquasential Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System
As a sustainable small space designer, everything in this house was selected with careful contemplation. Perhaps no space was more considered than our kitchen. So when we realized we could benefit from having a reverse osmosis system in place, I was concerned that the system wouldn’t couldn’t be accommodated within our compact specs, as I hadn’t planned for it.

Thankfully, the Culligan system fit conveniently under our small, custom sink. Plus it worked with existing faucets and other fixtures, so no aesthetic or designs needed to be compromised in order to provide us with the filtration system that reduces 90+ contaminants while providing us with delicious filtered water straight from the brass tap.

We’re two years in, and the only thing I wish we’d done differently is installing the water systems before moving in. It would’ve prevented much confusion, discomfort, and waste. But now that I know, it’s my hope that sharing our experience will help others make more informed decisions about their household’s water. To learn more about your home’s needs and Culligan solutions – schedule an in-home evaluation with your local dealers.

Whitney Leigh Morris 2/27/25 Whitney Leigh Morris 2/27/25

Create the Look: A Small, Sustainable, Multipurpose Corner

Sharing tips regarding interiors feels pretty ridiculous at this moment in time, but I think there is something important to it.

There are so many ways to approach our homes mindfully. We can make the most of our interiors by being deliberate about what we acquire, curiously exploring items we can reuse and repurpose, and getting creative with the space we have. Embracing smaller spaces, repurposing, choosing local, handmade and/or used goods, and sharing resources are all ways to look out for each other and out one shared home.

While used finds like the ones pictured here in our home and those curated below are such gems, there are plenty out there. Remember that homes have only ballooned in square-footage within more recent years, and that newly manufactured “apartment” furnishings are by no means novel concepts. There are so many clever designs that have long been circulating out there - let’s find and use them.

Please note that I sometimes earn a small commission from sales of secondhand pieces.

Whitney Leigh Morris 1/22/25 Whitney Leigh Morris 1/22/25

5 Ways to Invite the Outdoors In via Thoughtful Design

Whether you’re starting from scratch or responsibly re-imagining your space, here are five ways to create intentional and enduring interiors with the help of biophilic design.

Note: Thank you to Marvin for sponsoring this post and supporting our small business.

The arrival of a new year often inspires folks to streamline their homes, providing a simplified and organized slate for the months ahead. But this cycle of discarding (and ultimately replacing) goods is not ideal for our wallets, nor for the planet. So when I help my clients and readers declutter and/or update their spaces, I hope to help them do so for the long run.

My north star for designing and organizing with intention is nature. The idea of living inner-connectedly with the outdoors has always inspired me, as I believe that nurturing our bodies, our minds and each other cannot happen completely without remaining rooted deeply in the natural world, whether in a city or rural setting. Focusing on bringing in organic and natural elements (rather than on-trend home goods) can help us craft timeless, durable, and healthier spaces.

Each of the four rooms in our 900 sq ft cottage is meant to pull focus to the natural world around us and spark our innate instinct to interact with it. Whether you’re starting from scratch or responsibly re-imagining your space, here are five ways to create intentional and enduring interiors with the help of biophilic design.

MINDFUL SELECTION OF INTERIOR MATERIALS

Selecting natural and non-toxic materials that are rich in earthy textures and acquire a natural patina over time is important when crafting a biophilic interior. Not only do these materials keep our indoor air and surfaces cleaner and healthier, but they become visually richer with age, freeing us from the worry of character-filled wear over time.

Here are some examples of natural materials that have a huge impact on how an interior looks, feels and functions:

Lime Paint
Our primary bedroom walls and ceiling are painted with a mossy green Lime Paint, which is free of solvents, and toxic chemicals, and is composed of all natural material and mineral pigment that provide a durable, breathable coating. Lime’s high pH makes it a naturally mold and mildew resistant finish. Plus the textured look and feel of the brush strokes help conceal nail holes and similar markings.

Tadelakt
Tadelakt, the plaster we used in our only bathroom (which is also the laundry room), is an ancient plaster finish that originated in North Africa. It is composed of materials such as slaked aged lime, marble dust and clay, which come together in a water-resistant and durable finish. Not only is the finish stunning, strong and smooth to the touch, and visually interesting, but it’s also resistant to mold, mildew, and fungus, resulting in a healthier living environment.

Wood Windows
What better way to invite the outdoors in than by selecting a wood finish for the interior windows? Wood-clad windows offer a uniquely earthy feel in the exact places where the indoor and outdoor truly meet. In our home, we chose Marvin Elevate Casement windows, as their natural wood interiors and Ultrex® fiberglass exteriors ensure beauty and durability for years to come. We selected divided lites to best suit our cottage design aesthetic, and to help keep the birds in this wildlife haven safer.

Wood Trim with Natural Whey Stain
I love the look of trim that’s hand-coated with a natural whey stain made from minerals, and natural pigments. Such stains are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic formulas, and allow the grain of wood to shine while keeping tones within a unified spectrum of hues.

Natural Wood Floors & Shelves
Our wooden floors, shelving, nightstand tops, headboard ledge, and sink vanity are all made with ethically river-recovered, character-filled pine and cypress board remnants. While we lightly sanded the wood in order to remove deep-settled dust, everything except the headboard ledge was left unstained and natural in order to preserve the color, texture and matte finish of the wood. This way, nature takes the lead over trends, so we can be confident in the earthy and timeless aesthetic of our decision for as long as we live here. Each of the 500+ boards has a story to tell from years of impact from insects and sap, and every piece has naturally-occurring curls, knots, arching grain patterns or vertical pinstripes.

DIY FUNCTIONAL DECOR

When it comes to design, one of my greatest interests is brainstorming creative ideas for troubleshooting and enjoying small, shared, and unusual interiors. Time and time again, I’ve found that the best tools for our funny little homes are not, say, store-bought plastic drawer organizers that can be used for little else (although many repurposed items can be used in their place). Instead, the most ingenious items for our awkward spaces are often the ones we craft — however inexpertly — to suit our precise needs, tastes and specs. And, thankfully, those sorts of things can often be deconstructed and reconfigured in new ways to serve numerous purposes over time. Foraged items can not only usher in a certain natural aesthetic, but can also provide function. Organic linen, hemp and jute can provide our rooms with rich texture and layers. Vessels made from reclaimed and repurposed wood, rattan, seagrass, and similar woven materials can be used for storage that hides in plain sight. Repurposing salvaged, foraged and vintage materials to suit our specific spaces and needs can enrich our spaces in a way that’s more flexible, sustainable and character-filled than mass produced alternatives.

USHERING IN NATURAL LIGHT

Natural light helps eliminate dark corners, makes compact interiors feel airier, and can lift our moods throughout the seasons. Plus there’s no need to entirely overhaul wall decor for a fresh look and feel when nature is providing us with an ever-changing view. Here are some ways to usher in more natural light in a space of any size:

French Doors
French doors — whether used in exterior or interior frames — help keep a home feeling open and airy while still allowing for the division of space and privatization.

Pocket-Doors
When left open, pocket doors allow for uninterrupted light and airflow within an interior, without consuming valuable floor inches like a traditional door, or usurping usable wall space like a sliding barn door would. In our cottage, oversized double pocket doors generously connect the bedroom to the windowed and skylight-filled main room / kitchen. This provides a wrap-around, panoramic view of the wooded setting.

Mirrors
For anyone who wants a lower lift method of inviting natural light into their space, use mirrors. It’s a small hack with a huge impact. Just test the waters to see what I mean! Prop or suspend a small mirror in a darker corner where it can bounce light from an opposing wall’s window, let it sit for a few days, then remove the mirror to see just how lifeless the corner and wall look without it. The difference can be staggering! Opt for one larger mirror, or several smaller ones. Either way, you’ll instantly brighten up your space, which can uplift moods in darker seasons.

Unexpected Windows
We added small gable windows on the north and south peaks of the main room for extra natural light. As such, we needed no built-in overhead lighting in our main room / kitchen, which was a goal of ours given how artificial lights left on at night can interfere with the flight patterns of migrating birds. Thankfully a few smaller lamps can provide more than enough illumination in more compact square-footage.

VENTILATION

The most straightforward way to naturally improve our home’s air quality and pull focus to the outdoors is to keep our windows and doors open wide, when possible and safe. In our small space, the air flows through the house regardless of the direction of the wind, as casement windows on each side of the house make it possible. With Marvin Elevate casement windows like ours, each operable window has an optional screen that can easily be popped in or removed from the inside, making maintenance and installation easier in our situation.

PLANTS

Other than mirrors, plants are perhaps the easiest way to bring the outdoors in. For small households with little room for potted plants, consider tiered hanging options or wall-mounted vessels when possible. For folks who like to switch up the look and feel of their home often but want to do so responsibly, weekly market florals or locally foraged greenery can change your home’s color scheme instantly, and can also provide either a wild or polished look as desired. And for anyone on a tighter budget, try propagating! With a few reused jars, a pair of clippers, and a bit of guidance from interior plant stylists and experts like Hilton Carter, you can create a lush and green interior. (As always, keep the safety of pets and kids in mind when it comes to selecting your plant varieties.) We place our potted plants near our windows so they can live their best life indoors, whereas we arrange our clipped branches in more shaded corners to help them last longer.

This post was kindly sponsored by Marvin. All opinions and visuals are my own. We appreciate sponsors who believe in and support our small business.

Whitney Leigh Morris 1/9/25 Whitney Leigh Morris 1/9/25

Creating Your Own Small Entryway Solutions

This latest Create the Look post is is geared towards creating a utilitarian, customized, aesthetically-minded entryway in a small space with the help of vintage and salvaged materials.

But before we jump into it, please note: I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to constantly encourage people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should — for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments.

In our 900 sqft cottage, the front door opens directly into the dining room. Despite the multitasking nature of this area, there’s more than enough space for us to hide our door-side essentials in plain sight. (See my “Rightsizing” Newsletter for detailed photos and explanations.)

Here are pre-loved or small-batch items from independent storefronts that might help you bring a touch of extra storage and functionality to your compact entryway, too.

Please note that we sometimes use affiliate links for the vintage and handmade goods we’ve curated, which helps keep the twinkle lights glowing for our small business.

Whitney Leigh Morris 12/17/24 Whitney Leigh Morris 12/17/24

Create the Look: Upcycled Pulley Laundry Drying Rack

By request, here’s my latest Create the Look, which is geared towards enhancing the utility of our smaller spaces with the help of vintage and salvaged materials.

But please note: I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to constantly encourage people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should — for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments, and to feel inspired by their space.

So here are some pre-loved or small-batch items from independent storefronts that can help you bring a touch of extra storage and functionality to your compact home.

Please note that we sometimes use affiliate links for the vintage and handmade goods we’ve curated, which helps keep the twinkle lights glowing for our small business.

Whitney Leigh Morris 12/12/24 Whitney Leigh Morris 12/12/24

Create the Look: Cabinet-Side Secondhand Storage

By request, here’s my latest Create the Look, which is geared towards enhancing the utility of our smaller spaces with the help of vintage + handmade goods.

But here’s the thing— I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to constantly encourage people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should — for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments, and to feel inspired by their space.

So here are some pre-loved or small-batch items from independent storefronts that can help you bring a touch of extra storage and functionality to your compact home.

Please note that we sometimes use affiliate links for the vintage and handmade goods we’ve curated, which helps keep the twinkle lights glowing for our small business.

Whitney Leigh Morris 11/1/24 Whitney Leigh Morris 11/1/24

Create the Look: Vintage French Shopping List

By request, here’s my latest Create the Look, which is geared towards celebrating vintage goods and utility in our smaller kitchens with the help of these reusable, secondhand, French shopping lists.

I sometimes earn a small commission from the sale of select secondhand items.

Whitney Leigh Morris 5/8/24 Whitney Leigh Morris 5/8/24

Low Waste & Limited Budget: Upcycled, Removable Kitchen Counter Skirt

Low Waste & Limited Budget Home Decor Project: Upcycled & Removable Kitchen Counter Skirt

I find such joy in making adjustments within our little home (which is also my full-time office) in order to creatively improve our household’s day-to-day routines. But I have zero interest in wasting material resources, spending money or acquiring new items in order to switch things up. Instead, I strive to find ways to work with what we’ve got to make impactful changes. These little endeavors usually involve a bit of repair, customizing, crafting, and/or trial and error. Sometimes things play out perfectly. Other times the project ends up a complete disaster. But either way I delight in trying.

Recently, while shuffling things around the house, we stored some extra produce and cooking ingredients, emergency storm supplies and library books in the built-in cubbies of our kitchen island. I found myself visually overwhelmed by everything, which can happen easily in a smaller space with an open layout. I wished I could conceal the cubbies when desired without making any permanent changes and without buying new goods. Usually I quite like the cubbies, and they’re certainly highly functional. I’m glad they’re there, and that we didn’t opt for cabinets instead, as I appreciate the character and depth the cubbies offer. But every now and then — particularly when I’m working on creative projects for others — my mind and eyes need a reset, or at least a calmer canvas of sorts.

A counter skirt / kitchen island curtain seemed like a simple solution. And our younger beagle-mix rescue helped me bring the concept to life by digging a hole in the bottom of our flat sheet on our bed, leaving me with a lot of leftover linen fabric to repurpose. (She’s a menace, that dog, but we love her just the same.)

With a few Command hooks and a telescoping sash rod (we have two on-hand here because we find them as ever-useful as tension rods and s-hooks), I was able to swiftly install an imperfect but entirely passable counter skirt. No damage, no waste, no bulk — everything can be removed and reused as desired.

These simple Command hooks are only visible when ducking below the counter.

It’s not fussy or flawless, but it’s perfect for our home, priorities and needs, and that’s what matters to us here.

Items used:

Telescoping Sash Rod
Repurposed Flat Sheet (cut and sewn to specs)
Command Hooks

Whitney Leigh Morris 5/3/24 Whitney Leigh Morris 5/3/24

10 Low Waste Ways to Add Color & Texture to a Room

Even for those of us who work hard to ignore interior decor trends and stick to what we truly love and need, it can be tough to resist the allure of introducing new things. Our homes are our ever-changing art palettes— safe places where we should feel empowered to try out what brings us joy and utility, without fear of judgment or expectation. But given the realities of the climate crisis and the devastating impacts of “fast furnishings” and accessories, coupled with limited budgets and bandwidths, how can we switch things up responsibly?

Here are ten of my most commonly employed tips for bringing a fresh wave of color and texture to a kitchen, keeping budget and the wellness of this extraordinary planet in mind.

Borrow
If you don’t have a public library card, now is a great time to get one! Borrowing books about cooking, canning, gardening, and culinary reference guides can not only provide you with a wealth of new information and ideas, but the publications themselves will add layers of color and meaning to your space. I have a small collection of folding, secondhand bookstands and racks that I use to display volumes, both opened and closed. Public libraries encourage sharing within our communities, and borrowing items rather than permanently acquiring them can help us save funds and inches while preventing material waste, all without depriving us of the information and character we seek.

Peel & Stick
Installing a backsplash (and removing an old one) can be pricey and involve a large number of materials and packing materials. Whether you rent or own your home, consider a playful peel and stick wallpaper instead as a way of instantly transforming accent walls within your kitchen. (Just be sure to keep safety and humidity in mind when selecting placement.) I recommend taking a peek at the Love vs Design website, because they have delightful designs that can be customized for the exact color combinations desired, all in a damage-free format. (You can also get larger format custom samples, which is helpful for highly visual folks like myself.)

*Aboev: Some of my favorite* *Love vs Design* *patterns and colors.*

Visit the Farmers Market
Using fruit and leafy greens to adorn your kitchen is a great way of ensuring that your decor is ever-changing, all while reminding you of the healthy snacks and meals you can access throughout the day. Vintage bowls with citrus, hanging trays of apples, dangling hooks with herbs and bananas, water-filled mason jars of broad-leafed kale and chard, and repurposed yogurt pots with spinach and edible flowers are all ways of livening up your space with food and functional decor.

Paint & Stamp
A sample size of non-toxic paint can help transform a room, whether you paint an entire surface, add a few stripes or spots here and there, or stamp a pattern in an unexpected area.

Repurpose
Dangle stemware with a repurposed bookrack. Use an old basket or sifting tray create hanging, breathable produce storage. Use wall-mounted, folding drying racks to store, display and air out kitchen linens. The possibilities are truly endless, and the results will give your space a one-of-a-kind feeling that can never be found in a retail store.

Get Help from Hardware
Adding hooks in both obvious and unexpected places can help you exponentially increase the storage space in your ditch. Use knobs, pulls and hooks to craft endlessly flexible and functional displays of linens, utensils, mugs, herbs, etc.

Ditch the Packaging
Be mindful of the packaged goods you bring into your home. Product packaging is typically wasteful, loud in design, and bulky. When possible, refill pantry essentials and cleaning supplies in your own, preferred containers. This will not only cut back on waste, but allow you to customize the most utilitarian zones within your kitchen. When packaged items are unavoidable, research ethical brands with thoughtful containers.

Get Spicy
Display ingredients with intention. Slowly finding jars and containers to repurpose for your colorful spices and baking ingredients will help you craft displays that are as delightful to look at as they are to cook with.

Create a Canvas
Art isn’t just for walls. Thanks to unique secondhand frames and DIY hangers, as well as damage-free accessories like Command Strips, you can display art in a variety of ways on a myriad of surfaces. The front of a fridge or cabinet can become an art wall if handled carefully.

Maximize Windows
A window frame can be put to extended use (without being covered up!) with the assistance of tension rods and/or slim shelves. Where it’s safe to do so, consider using S-hooks to dangle everyday kitchen items in a window frame, or create a petite potted herb garden on a sunny ledge.

Whitney Leigh Morris 4/30/24 Whitney Leigh Morris 4/30/24

The Joy of Cracking Open a Can of Paint

Since the arrival of spring, we’ve slowly been infusing our little home with green and yellow.

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Whitney Leigh Morris 4/19/24 Whitney Leigh Morris 4/19/24

Making Things

The new book Making Things by Erin Boyle and Rose Pearlman has already been read multiple times and dog-eared by several of my family members. It’s a simple yet brilliant compilation of 100+ useful craft projects / tutorials that are accessible and yet entirely dreamy all at once.

What makes this particular book such a treasure is not just its clever ideas and beautiful visuals, but the way in which it encourages us to look around and use (and then reuse) what we already have on-hand, rather than calling on us to dash to the nearest craft store and stock up on pricey and newly manufactured materials that we might never employ to the fullest… or even open in the first place. Most of the items that Erin and Rose use and recommend to bring their genius and utilitarian concepts to life can already be found around the home, or acquired at a secondhand store or through a neighborhood swap.

It’s also worth noting that this book acknowledges and pays homage to the origins of many of the techniques used— something that stood out to me as being highly important and surprisingly rare.

Making Things reminds me that many of the capitalistic tendencies that dug us deeper into climate crisis can not only be avoided, but that life is truly so much richer when we don’t aim to buy our way through it, and instead forge our paths with creativity, community and responsible stewardship as our guides.

Armed with this book and the mindset buoyed by its contents, one could never truly be bored.

Whitney Leigh Morris 3/21/24 Whitney Leigh Morris 3/21/24

Create the Look: A Woodland-Inspired Kids Space

By request, here’s my latest Create the Look, which is geared towards crafting a gently woodland-inspired study + play space for children.

But here’s the thing— I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to earn income by constantly encouraging people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should, for environmental reasons,) live with less.

What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments, and to feel inspired by their space.

So here are some handcrafted items from independent storefronts that can help you bring the outdoors in for your little ones.

Whitney Leigh Morris 2/29/24 Whitney Leigh Morris 2/29/24

Create the Look: Upcycled Spice Rack Wall

Little adjustments within a home can save a surprising amount of space— like this secondhand spice rack, fixed up a bit, painted, and now living out its new life in the kitchen of our 900 sqft cottage. (When pressed for space, go vertical if it’s safe. The best, untapped storage options are often UP.)

By request, here’s the latest Create the Look… but I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to earn income by constantly encouraging people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should, for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments. And I want to be a resource for reliable ideas that can help you spend less time searching for your stuff, and more time with the ones you love.

So when people ask where I got something that’s in our home, I usually point them to similar handmade and vintage designs. As such, for folks who inquired about this little cabinet: here are some secondhand items and independent online storefronts with handmade goods that can help you recreate this look in a sustainable way that suits YOUR needs and YOUR style.