Sure, everyone’s space is as unique as the person- but it may surprise you that there are about 4 common clutter culprits that can be a great first step in getting your place under control.
BOOKS:
What they mean to us and why there are too many-
- We heard about the NY Times Best Seller and “we will get around to reading it”
- Shelves full of books reflect my “love of knowing so many things”
- The stories, poems, or photographs in the books hold special memories
- It looks great to show off your “library”- it looks “smart”
Steps you can take to control the clutter-
- Take inventory and share the love of reading by donating: community centers, nonprofits, hospitals, adult day care, child day care would welcome books that are in good condition. A quick google search will list their criteria. Pack up the books in easy to lift cartons so you won’t delay the delivery
- As you pare down your collection- keep only the books that really mean the most to you. Take a moment to think about which books really represent your favorite interests/subjects -choose what reflects who you are in the best way possible. As you reset the books you really want to keep- it will become a lovely reflection of the “volumes of you”- and it becomes a wonderful exhibit that will be super motivating!
- Unless they are rare, 1st edition books, maybe even signed by the author- be discriminating about what you really want to keep. Books of value can be appraised and you might opt to cash in on the treasures you had on the shelf!
- Book displays can become art on the shelf. Try arranging the books by the spine colors and size. You can stack books vertically and also horizontally. Enjoy the visual of how adding space puts a spotlight on the titles and subjects in a much better light
- Cookbooks and other “instruction books” can definitely be given up-“google has every recipe site at your fingertips!”- let it GO
CLOTHING:
What we tend to say to ourselves-
- This will come back in style
- I will lose the 20 pounds so this will fit again
- I paid a lot for this item-I’ll wear it again someday
- This was a gift and I feel bad about not wearing it yet
Steps you can take to control the clutter-
- A closet is a big job- but it can be done in sections that make the project more manageable. Start from the bottom up- shoes, then lower hanging items or those on shelves, then the hanging items last.
- Shoes: sort the shoes by function (casual, every day, seasonal, dressy) and immediately discard those that are: beyond repair, aren’t comfortable or very out of style.
- Sweaters/shirts/folded jeans/casual clothing: anything stained, ripped, missing buttons or have broken zippers – its time- get rid of them!
- Hanging items: Categorize the clothing together by type-dresses, suits, jackets and pants. Now take each category GET SELECTIVE- if you haven’t worn it in over 2 years- its time to go! If your items are in good condition-DONATE DONATE DONATE- organizations like “Dress for Success” “Goodwill” and “Salvation Army” will take most clothing (except for underwear and swim suits) and your discarded clothing will be treasure to someone in need.
KITCHEN “EXTRAS”-TOOLS, MUGS, PLATTERS:
What we tell ourselves:
- I love to entertain and need all of these
- My collection of mugs remind me of so many people/places/times
- One day I will start making bread/smoothies/cookies/cakes-whatever…
Steps you can take to control the clutter-
- What appliances to you REALLY use and what’s always IN THE WAY
- Gourmet gadgets are tempting but how often to you really use it?
- Pull out all the mugs- some are tea/coffee stained, some are chipped, and do you really need to have a mug with your college/club logo on it to CHERISH the memory?
- Platters can take up a lot of room and unless you could use them in another way (as a coaster to a bunch of small house plants)- LET IT GO
- Pack and Store any seasonal/holiday dishware-in a different space
HOME OFFICE (paper/supplies/tech OH MY):
What we think about:
- I need everything to be within reach
- It’s wasteful to toss anything that I bought
- All these supplies make me feel productive
- I love my PENS, POST-IT NOTES, FOLDERS, PADS, SCISSORS…etc
- Steps you can take to control the clutter-
- Consolidate!- gather all the “stuff” and categorize the piles (pens/pencils/highlighters/markers)- TEST ALL THE PENS- if they are all dried out- DUMP THEM. Now seriously cut down the collection to 5 of any one thing NO ONE NEEDS 45 PENS IN A CUP ON THE DESK
- Sharpen the pencils, stack the post-it notes, corral the clips- and put them in a desk drawer organizer with sections. ONLY KEEP WHAT FITS IN THE COMPARTMENTS
- Any full boxes of supplies: tape, staples, pushpins, rubber bands, reams of paper, folders- in a closet DESIGNATED FOR THE OFFICE AREA ONLY- and make it a habit to NOT BUY anything until you stop and “check on your office inventory” first!
- Get a shredder and use it regularly to control the paper flow
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST STEPS
IN THE JOURNEY OF A CLUTTER FREE LIFE!
-Dorian Stern is a Professional Organizer who can help you love space instead of stuff
