Decluttering… or as they say “LESS IS MORE!”
In its most basic form, clutter is anything that causes you stress by merely existing. Whether it is out of place, broken, unnecessary or unwanted, clutter turns your home from a peaceful sanctuary to a storage unit. There is a difference between eclectic and chaotic. Enjoy those select pieces of art and lovely furniture… but don’t have every square inch of your wall covered… and have to make a pathway through your living room or bedroom. Don’t be a “hoarder!”
Your house should be a home that reflects you and everything you love in this world. Fill it with memories of trips, family heirlooms and items that bring you joy. You don’t cook food you don’t like or wear clothing that is uncomfortable. Why hold onto things that don’t bring you happiness anymore. People are starting to realize that if you quiet the noise, live with less, be a little more thoughtful, the benefits are instant and almost immeasurable. Try to go a little “minimalist.”
The decluttering process can feel overwhelming at first… start with your wardrobe and do a closet purge! Examine the garment; does it have any wear and tear? Does it still fit? When did you last wear it? The rule of thumb is that if you haven’t worn it in the last year or two… turf it! Don’t be hanging onto those jackets with the huge shoulder pads like Joan Collins (she could have played football in them) or those parachute pants like MC (“U can’t touch this”) Hammer (believe me, I don’t want to)! The likelihood is that they are NOT coming back in style anytime soon. And be honest with yourself… you may like an item but if it doesn’t make you feel good or look good you aren’t going to wear it. I speak from personal experience. As we age our body changes and our taste changes also. What fit, and what we liked 4 or 5 years ago does not remain the same. I’m not talking about those classic pieces like your LBD, your favourite white T, black flats, etc. I’m talking about those trendy impulse buys that go out of fashion almost as fast as they arrived. Be brutal… you will be happy with the results.
So start with your closet, and as you go through turn the hangers one way so that you can instantly tell how far you have gotten with your decluttering.
- Put the “keepers” back in the closet
- Put the discarded items in bins labelled “to donate” and donate to The Battered Women’s Society or other worthwhile charities
- If you have too many special items (memories) that you can’t part with, put some out for display and put the rest in bins labelled “precious storage” to be recycled for display as you wish
- Put torn or damaged goods in a “garbage” bin to be taken away to recycling
Apply these same principles toward the rest of your house. Keep only complete sets of dishes and donate the odds and ends. Get rid of those appliances you don’t use or don’t function. Do the same with your bed linens and bath towels. Keep the sets you love and donate the rest. My new motto is “if you don’t USE it… LOSE it!” And if you are like me and you do have some collectibles keep them displayed in a couple of special areas so you can look at them and enjoy them but they are not overwhelming. That way we can honor past memories but keep the space in which we live for the person we are NOW.
Decluttering is a win-win for everyone. You get a serene, peaceful organized house. Your donations go to hose in need and are greatly appreciated. The garbage gets taken out… and you know exactly where everything is. AAAHHH! Peace of mind!
