It will take more than reading one blog post to realize how clutter is affecting your life and taking away from your freedom and creativity. It struck me as I walked into my kitchen the other day, that for the first time, instead of seeing a cluttered counter, I saw sunlight streaming in from the kitchen window. In that moment, I knew that I would never live with clutter again.
While a major overhaul of your “stuff” may be necessary, you don’t have to spend days and months uncluttering to enjoy the light. Start in a room where you love to spend time, and empty it out. Yes, all of it. Make the room as empty as it was the day you moved in (or emptier). This will mean cluttering up another adjacent room, but it is only temporary. This shift in stuff will help you to appreciate the space in the empty room, and the potential of how you will live with less in that space. Equally important, you will have full view of everything that has been cluttering up your space and time.
Assuming the room you take on is your kitchen, after you empty the space, take one of the following approaches to clear the clutter for good!
Fast Track
- Clean your kitchen from top to bottom. Get it all – cabinets, floor, counter tops, sink, windowsills, and windows.
- Clean the inside of your stove and refrigerator.
- Once the room is spotless, move in it. Walk around, sit down, stand up, and see how the clean, clear space feels. Do not move to the next step until you fully appreciate the emptiness of the space and how that allows you to think more clearly.
- Now it’s time to decide what “stuff” to bring back into the room. Don’t put anything on the counter top unless you use it frequently. For instance, I used to keep a blender on the counter, but now it has it’s own place behind closed doors.
- Dump the stuff you never use. If you have a George Foreman Grill stuffed in the back of a cabinet, but you don’t eat meat anymore, it’s time to let the grill go! (I bought a rice cooker that I was sure would revolutionize my life. Within a month, I was back to cooking rice in a pot and gave the rice cooker away.)
- Check your food too. Are there cans of soup you bought, but never use? Check the expiration date and donate to a local food bank.
- Box everything up that isn’t going back in the kitchen and donate it. (If it helps you to bring less into the kitchen, box everything up, seal it with packing tape and leave it in your garage or basement. If you don’t miss it after 30 days, give it away.)
Nice and Easy
- Follow steps 1-3 above.
- Do not bring anything into your kitchen until you need it. If you can live with the clutter in the other room for a week or longer, you will really “get” how little you actually need. If you haven’t brought something into the kitchen after 7-10 days, let it go.
- Box everything up that isn’t going back in the kitchen and donate it. (If it helps you to bring less into the kitchen, box everything up, seal it with packing tape and leave it in your garage or basement. If you don’t miss it after 30 days, give it away.)
You can apply these steps to any room in your house. It will be so important to physically remove the things that you don’t need, but think you want, for at least 30 days to see if you really do want them in the house. You will likely forget all about that vase that sat empty on your windowsill or the 3 extra whisks or wooden spoons.
Decide what you want more of, and make room for it. If open space and streaming rays of sun inspire you to be creative or help you live a better life, than keep working towards less stuff and more light.
What room will you tackle first?
Great post. I think I might try this with my clothes. I’ve had a really hard time reducing the size of my wardrobe so maybe if I take everything out and only bring back in the pieces I actually wear as I wear them, I will get a better sense of what I really need as opposed to what I think I need.
Amy, let me know how it goes! Sounds like a great idea.
What a cracking post Courtney. I’ve seen the light!!! I am decorating at home this coming weekend so this is synchronicity for me as I have to clear out ‘stuff’ to update the home. You’ve proved to me that letting stuff go to let light flood could light up my life. It’s such a wise and sensible course of action. If I’m not going to do it now I’m not going to do it all is what it says to me. This could be an interesting weekend indeed!
i certainly need to do that!! thank you for the reminder Courtney 🙂
I did this exercise with my office a few weeks back. Ah-mazed, I mean, ah-mazed at the amount of CRAP I had in the office. I only brought back the stuff I needed. I discarded the balance of the CRAP with malice…
This is a great tip. It works…
Todd – My office is next on the list! Glad to hear it was a success for you!
I love to declutter! We’ve been “lucky” to move across the country (2 different homes in 6 months). When you have to pack it all, you suddenly realize what you “really” need! Otherwise it’s a lot of packing, unpacking (and possibly more expensive moving bills!) We thought we were minimalists before the moves but we’re doing even better now and the house is easier to clean, is calmer and feels bigger!
Susan, wow…two moves in six months! That had to be revealing in terms of what you have and what you need. It’s amazing how space, time and even money seem more abundant when you stop shopping for sport!
I just recently discovered your blog! Thank you for the inspiration! In the spirit of keeping less and spending less, are you familiar with bookcrossing.com? It’s an online community that exists to set books free in hopes that someone who would like them will find them. You register your book, label it and then leave somewhere where you think a reader will find it. I have left books in hospital waiting rooms, concert halls, bakeries, and so on. It’s a lot of fun and a nice book-loving community.
Becky, So glad you found me! I haven’t heard about bookcrossing.com but it sounds cool. I am going to check it out! Thanks for the suggestion.
Courtney
Courtney, this is a terrific post AND just what I needed to read this morning! You see, I’m sitting in my office, and that is where I have a clutter problem. Being a recipe developer and food writer, I don’t clutter my kitchen–it’s my laboratory! And the rest of my home is in fine order. But my office is where piles of paper appear out of nowhere. And that is what was on my mind when I woke up this morning, then I read your post. Hmmmm. Guess it’s time to tackle it, but AFTER I deal with the load of organic peaches I’m getting this morning!
Courtney, this is a great idea – I am going to try the “nice and easy approach” in my kitchen and as I’m short of space I will do it a few drawers/ cupboards at a time, many thanks x
Just found this post, fantastic. Seems so simple and obvious, but I hadn’t thought of it. Clear it all out, then add back… instead of sorting through one drawer or cupboard at a time, which has been certainly tedious. Thank you. 🙂
I’ve been decluttering my whole house for the past month, digitizing school papers and art I’ve kept since preschool (my kids are now 12 and 14), throwing out old paperwork from a business we used to have, selling toys and electronics my kids no longer use, donating boxes of books I’ll never read, and so on. A family with children goes through many stages, and I feel like I go through it every year. I was saving my kitchen for last, being a seasonal canner. And my kids used to pack lunch, so I’ve got a ton of tupperware geared for lunchboxes. I’ve got an entire deep drawer in my kitchen just for lids. I don’t like storing things with the lids on because I’m afraid it might trap moisture and get moldy. Getting rid of kitchen stuff is going to be by far the toughest thing I do. One of those “I might need it some day” deals. But I can’t wait to get started.
Digitizing is a great idea! I started doing this my my students’ projects – taking digital photos and creating powerpoints with them – instead of keeping the actual projects as samples, which take up a lot of space or fill boxes. I say the same thing “I might need it some day” about most everything I have, which has cluttered my whole house. But the kitchen will be a good place for me to start because it’s the smallest room in my house other than the bathrooms. You’ve inspired me to start!
OK, Courtney…this all sounds good and I need all of it, but I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed and even though I’ve started getting rid (donating) some of my clutter, I’m having a hard time really getting started. I’ve thought about all the areas of my home that need work and my mind keeps jumping from room to room and when I work on one room it just fills up another. I have good intentions, but just have a hard time giving it away in case I might need it later or when I think of how much money I spent and now feel foolish for wasting the money if I don’t keep the items. I know you say to just start in one room, I’m just having a hard time choosing which one. Help!
Susan, All of your concerns are very valid and experienced by most who go through the process of simplifying. Hopefully the following advice will help:
1. You didn’t collect your stuff overnight and you won’t get rid of it that way. Start slowly. One drawer or one shelf at a time. Maybe a closet if you are feeling ambitious. Baby steps are a great way to build momentum.
2. To address your concern of “I might need it later”, put the items in question in a box, seal it shut with tape and put it out of site. If you don’t open it for 1-3 months, donate it. If you are anything like me, you won’t even remember what was in the box.
3. In terms of feeling bad about the money you spent, let that go. Punishing yourself for doing something you didn’t know was wrong for your lifestyle seems silly. Let the stuff go. Let the guilt go and let the real living begin.
Good luck!
Susan,
I am a “senior citizen” & have had a challenging time of getting rid of things I’ve acquired over a lifetime…until about 5 years ago. Like you, my mind jumped from one room to the next & I couldn’t settle on one area at a time. What has helped me is to have a goal to get rid of a certain number of ITEMS each day. Just pick a number…5, 10, 20, etc. Get a box or bag and each day put your chosen number of items in that container…no matter which room you’re in. Or try CATEGORIES….papers, books, plastics, clothing, shoes, accessories, electronics, nick-nacks (sp?), personal care items, etc. You could even write all of these categories on pieces of paper and put them in a container (much like the ‘job jar’ we had for the kids years ago) & pick one each day. Make a game out of it. So maybe the first day your pick says 10 books. Second day 10 accessories. Third day 5 electronic items. You get the idea. Just as a person does not gain those 20 extra pounds overnight & cannot expect to lose it all at once…one does not acquire clutter all at once & cannot reasonably expect to get rid of it all at once (unless you torch the place!).
As far as “I might need it SOMEDAY”…first of all “SOMEDAY” is not a day of the week…chances are when/if you need that item you won’t remember where it is or even that you have it and will then either go buy another or do without. In the meantime, you’ve stored it, cleaned around it, insured it, tripped over it, etc.
Regarding the guilt and/or stupidity you have over spending hard earned money on certain items….when you dispose of the offending item/s you also dispose of the guilt. Maybe someone else could use the items that have worn out their welcome in your space. Finally, know that de-junking is a journey, we all die with something in our
“IN BOX”….we just don’t need to overwhelm the next guy by having TOO MUCH stuff left in our “IN BOX”. Good luck to you!
Susan,
When you said “…when I think of how much money I spent and now feel foolish for wasting the money if I don’t keep the items…” I understood how you feel. What I came to realize is that I’ve already wasted the money by not using or enjoying the item in the first place. It is much less wasteful to give the item to charity or to someone who will enjoy it. When I feel like you do, I have to realize that my fear of facing my mistakes is keeping me from correcting them. I have made a lot of bad decisions about a lot of things, and until I take steps to correct those decisions in a meaningful way, I can’t move forwardness.
I gave my sister some very well made measuring cups and spoons as well as well as some clothes and it really helped let go of my guilt. My friends have benefitted as well. The local charity has, too. These items that I either have too many of or never use need to go to those who need and/or enjoy them instead of never being used or worse making me feel guilty every time I look at them. Guilt is there only to remind us that we need to take possitive action toaddress and correct the mistakes of the past. Give these items a new home where they will be appreciated.
Oh I could do this with my kitchen!!! It’s tiny & we’ve got too much stuff for the space! But we’re in the process of changing our eating habits after finding out my other half is intolerant to yeast, dairy, gluten, wheat, barley/malt & a couple of other things. So now we’re likely to be cooking more, it’d be a great time to start (or maybe it’s too much change all at once? – I’ll ponder but definitely going to take action!) thank you for the inspiration 🙂
Having moved from our family home of 17 years and into rented accommodation, i am so with you on this. When we move into our new home I am only going to put what i actually use inmy kitchen. From there I will work on the other rooms too! Great Blog :0)
Hi Courtney,
I am new to the journey of minimalism and after hearing your name mentioned from “The Minimalists”, I have been very inspired by your blog and tweets! I am also from Salt Lake ad blogging about my journey to minimalism (as well as parenting, healthy lifestyle, etc…). Thanks for the continued inspiration! Have a great day 🙂
-Laurel
Hi Courtney,
you make it sound so easy.
We have lived in our home for 36 years, brought up and watch leave 3 beautiful daughters.
I didn’t work when the girls were little, so I felt I was on top of everything but once I rejoined the work force, the clutter got out of control.
I have read the books, “remove the items to their rightful place” but that place has clutter too!,
It seems beyond my ability to declutter . We are moving in 3 years time and it scares me witless.
I don’t seem to have the time or energy to find the 10 items to remove each day as suggested.
Very overwhelming..
Regards
Linda
Linda,
I know that scary feeling. Now that my mother’s died, I live alone on property that’s been in my family for over a hundred years. Yeah. A hundred years of clutter. The weight of all that overwhelmed me so badly I was crippled by it. All I wanted to do was come home, get in front of the tv, and ignore it so I didn’t have to think about it. I spent years doing that. Still slip back into it. It’s so hard to find the energy to do ANYTHING when you feel like it’s all such a weight crushing you. It was dragging me down so much, the feeling of all that stuff and what a monumental task it would be to get rid of it, and it was all up to ME. I felt like I shouldn’t even start because it wouldn’t make any difference. I was only one person. How could I really make even a small dent in that big of a job?!
I started with my spice cabinet. Really. It’s small and doable. Once I did that, I felt so good I tackled my bathroom cabinets next, then I was ready for the closet (done in two parts: clothes first, “stuff” last). I did this over the course of a week. It’s okay if you take longer, say three weeks, one area a week. You have 156 weeks before you move. If you get one area done a week, even if you take some weeks off, you’ll be ahead of the game. Or think of it in terms of months: you have 36 months, so one closet one month, the bedroom outside it the next month, the east end of the living room the third, west end the fourth, and so on.
Try it. Just the spice cabinet this week. But before you do, PROMISE yourself that you will be happy with yourself for getting that done, promise that you will give yourself credit for gathering up the strength and energy to do it despite being exhausted from fighting this for so long.
Do the steps above. Clear out everything, all the little bottles and packets. Wash down the inside of the cabinet, even the door. Put back only the things you use, then put the rest in a box in the garage. Keep in mind that spices and seasonings really lose flavor after a year, so if you’re thinking of holding on to that nine year old jar of turmeric like I was, don’t.
Taking everything out, then putting back in only the things you really want really works for me for a few reasons.
#1. It seems like so much trouble and effort to physically move things out. And it takes a lot of effort to decide what to get rid of. Why do both at once? Do one part first in an easy way ~ mindlessly just move everything from one place to another. Then do the second part ~ maybe by imagining you’re shopping at a garage sale, only picking what you really would pay for, then put that back in.
#2. Things look differently when they’re outside of where they’ve always been. They seem easier to get rid of, maybe because they look not so familiar or “usual” when in different surroundings? Like I’ve broken a connection just by moving them. Just this simple act makes it so much easier to get rid of some of them.
#3. Cleaning the area is so much easier – you can’t really clean an area with a bunch of stuff in it. And looking at a clean area is inspiring. It makes you not want to clutter it up again.
The box trick is also fabulous. I’ve been doing that one for years. Out of sight, out of mind. Putting it in a box in the garage takes away the fear of making the wrong decision on something only to not be able to get it back. And once you forget what’s in the box (and believe me you will more often than not), it’s easier to get rid of.
So go, Linda. Start with your spice cabinet. You can do it.
Love,
Another Linda
Thanks Linda , I will give it a try. Look out spices !!!! I glad I not the only one who feels like this. Let the challenge begin
Good for you, Linda! How’d it go? Wonderfully I hope! (I really think you did do it, but just in case you or someone else reading along didn’t yet – that’s okay. Getting started with the first step of anything is always so difficult. You’ll do it when you’re ready.)
Nope, you’re not the only one who feels like this, Linda. More people than you think do. I talk about this to friends a good bit. If it’s in a group, they’re all quiet except to congratulate me. But if I talk to one person at a time, they admit to their own clutter and how they have a hard time with it, too – feeling feelings like we’re talking about. It’s as if it’s a dirty little secret that no one wants to admit, but they do when they know it’s safe, when it’s just me and them and I’ve just admitted to my clutter problem. I’d say it’s about seven out of ten people who admit their own. So no, you’re not alone. Not by a long shot.
Love,
Another Linda
PS: One more tip – find a grocery store with a bulk spice aisle. They’re much cheaper, so it’ll be easier to chunk old ones if you know you can replace them for a buck instead of five dollars. That’s what helped keep my spice cabinet stuffed – not wanting to throw out that three year old bottle of cardamom that was 3/4 full because I’d spent six bucks on it. No more!
I posted a few days ago how I counted over 40 places to sit in my house
(I live alone/ my dogs have their own beds).
Last night I gave a nice leather couch to a friend who NEEDED a new couch.
She loves it and I am enjoying the SPACE and LIGHT that the big brown object was blocking.
I vacuumed and mopped and now looking around at what else I can donate/sell!
My baby step started with a 72″ unused item needed by someone else.
Thanks for continuing to inspire!
I needed to see this today. I’ve been reducing clutter and donating boxes of items and clothes for months (losing weight helps), but I’m still buried in paper. I’ve started letting go of furniture by giving to friends and family and consigning at a local shop. One of my motivations was when my young granddaughter told me that if I’d get rid of some stuff we would have more room to play. Ouch!! I feel so much better every time I empty a stored box or take out a box for donation. I’ve also used the “if I haven’t worn it in 6 months, I don’t need it. And every time I buy a new piece of clothing, I must get rid of one. It’s a work in progress.
Courtney,
Love these ideas for minimizing, very inspirational:)
I’ve started letting stuff go. I’m just tired of the clutter. One thing I’ve realized… you don’t wake up one morning and instantly become a minimalist. At least I don’t think so. I wanted to declutter. I started with my clothes. I didn’t take everything out of my closet. I just flipped through the hanging clothes. Did the same with clothes in my dresser, shoes and purses. (Keep, Donate, Trash, I Can’t Decide) If I had any doubts about a piece – it got to stay for me to revisit the next month. I didn’t waste time agonizing about it. I’ll let it go eventually. Each month I cleared out more and more. This week – I took inventory of my clothes and questioned everything. How many pairs of socks does one person need? I grouped like items together and photographed them. Really sparked the need to pare down the number of items I own. And the thoughts are spreading to other rooms. I feel good about donating to my local women’s shelter. They have a resale shop and the funds help so many women and their families. Don’t hoard these things. Release them to bless someone else.
I did the same thing! I didn’t take whole closet out. Instead, I took out what didn’t fit on me, ones I didn’t wear for years, etc. I stopped when I felt it was “enough” for the time and revisited whenever I felt like going through again. By result, I had a few items I had really difficult time parting with for another year or two. But eventually they were all gone. 🙂 Now I probably have 20-25 pieces.