Spring is around the corner, and there’s never been a better time to start “spring cleaning.” A tidy and clutter-free home, or better labeled a curated home, creates an excellent foundation for everything else to run smoothly. Approaching clutter room by room, starting with the small spaces first, can have a great impact.
Think of decluttering or curating as a steady process. Therefore, never feel obligated to discard anything valuable to you. However, letting things go when we understand what we want is more manageable.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What is my goal? My why?
- What results would make this a success?
- How do I start?
Today, we will start with our bedroom closets. This part of the house is a great place to start; each family member can tackle their items.
Over the past few decades, closets have increased (in size), subconsciously prompting us to fill them. Few find it easy to keep them organized; many are overwhelmed with clutter. The question is, did the consumer make the market, or did the market(ing) change the consumer? The build of a home swiftly dictates how we live. The structure offers two living rooms; therefore, we must fill both!
Now, please make no mistake; some may find this helpful, and therefore, it makes sense. However, others may have purchased more than they initially set out for.
Clothes are one of the easiest things to purchase, but also one of the easiest things to become dissatisfied with.
Can clutter genuinely affect us?
The Conversation published an article stating, “Research shows disorganization and clutter have a cumulative effect on our brains. Our brains like order, and constant visual reminders of disorganization drain our cognitive resources, reducing our ability to focus. The visual distraction of clutter increases cognitive overload and can reduce our working memory.”
There is no one-size-fits-all here. Each home is personal, as it should be, but the idea is to find what works for you. What one person may equate to a lot of stuff, another may find minimal.
The principals here remain the same. If you feel that mentally cluttered, chances are it is time to pare down and start the curating process. A curated home is easier to maintain, and the product is visually appealing.
Key Points so far:
- Decluttering is essentially curating your home. Keeping your best!
- It is a steady process.
- Never discard anything that has value to you.
- It is easier to Letting things go when we understand what we want is easier.
- Don’t move with the times; stay consistent with what you value. There are many marketing techniques designed to lure us into purchasing more.
Finding that balance is the key to success. The best homes have character and show personality. They also say a little something about the family. What are their interests? This requires having “stuff.” They are also inviting and comfortable. Some curating is required to arrive at that balance.
When we think of hoarding, we typically think of a messy home or a home that visually has too many items. By definition, hoarding is having persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. Hoarding is also an excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value. We don’t like to think of ourselves as hoarders, but many of us have our closets stuffed with clothing and accessories we have not used in years.
One of the easiest places to declutter is the closet. Clothes have less sentiment, making them easier to let go of.
What are the benefits?
While clothes are a necessity, do we need an excessive amount? Picture the standard-size closet today versus the 1950s – we went from a reach-in to a walk-in closet. Clothes have become cheaper, prompting us to purchase more frequently with less thought. Are we truly more satisfied with this practice?
Decluttering our closets could offer us a clutter-free, simple, curated space. But wait, there is more! It is not just about having a clutter-free, simplified space. That might look better visually, but the real benefit is having an edited wardrobe—clothing we feel great in!
Here is a list of some of the benefits:
- Identify your style – it’s easier to identify with fewer options.
- Less Laundry – a win for any household!
- Better quality – purchasing less clothing can offer quality over quantity
- Easier to pack for trips – rock star moments when you’re not lugging luggage.
- Walk-in closets are unnecessary – less square footage is needed when searching for a home.
- Less to think about – getting dressed in the morning is a breeze.
- Save money – having fewer clothes and only pieces we love will prompt less shopping, saving us money.
There is a sensibility in having less; we begin to tread more lightly. I often quote Charlotte Mason, whom I highly recommend if you have not read her works. She believes each person’s primary responsibility is to accept or reject ideas.
In other words, making decisions! The average person makes around 35,000 daily decisions, including small, seemingly automatic choices like what to wear or what to eat and more prominent, more conscious decisions. Mental overload is more common today than 100 years ago when the average person had less. Reducing the number of daily choices and having a clear mind are recipes for success in anything we do. We can focus more on the prominent choices.
Seven excellent steps to edit your clothes:
- Esthetically – How would you like your closet to look? About fifteen years ago, I visited a friend with the closet of my dreams; it was pleasing to the eye. Her clothing was curated to only her best pieces, with minimal color options; she carefully selected colors that complemented her. Her closet did not show signs of abundance; it showed a well-put-together person. At that moment, I knew that’s how I wanted my closet. Pro tip: Purchase classic pieces that will stand the test of time.
- Take a break from shopping. This is very important; if your current clothing needs to be sorted, organized, and curated, adding new items will only add to the clutter. There is no exact timeline for the shopping pause. However, the longer you wait, the better.
- Set aside unused clothing. The clothing you don’t have to think twice about, donate or sell. For the more difficult pieces to get rid of, put them into a bag and set them aside out of sight for about 30-60 days. Once you are sure you no longer need them, it is time to let them go. Minimizing your clothes will make it easier to get and keep them organized.
- Scale down again. Repeat numbers 2 and 3. If you feel that your closet is full and cluttered, repeating these steps will help you edit your clothing and identify the amount of clothing you use. The less we have, the better when it comes to organizing.
- Settle for good enough. Here is one of the biggest secrets of all time: There is no perfect. We can search for days, weeks, or years; still, there will always be something better and newer. There is something so satisfying about buying something new, but typically, that satisfaction is short-lived. The more we enjoy what we have and do not seek perfection, the less likely we are to purchase more.
- Identify Your Style. Try everything on; make sure you like how you feel and look. Ask yourself whether your clothing represents who you are today. The goal is to enjoy every piece and only purchase when ready to replace a piece.
- Make it pretty. Now, the ever-so-earned fun part is to make your closet pretty. Closet organizing one-on-one: All the hangers should be the same, and no wire hangers! Wire hangers are not appealing to the eye, but most importantly, they can ruin clothing. Find the ones you like, purchase the amount you need, and do not purchase more. This will ensure you are not growing your closet (unless you’re a fashionista). If you like to have your shoes off the floor, purchase shoe shelves and baskets for accessories such as scarves, belts, and hats.
This is your closet, and it must be customized to your needs. Decluttering can seem daunting, but some simple, practical steps can get you started. The benefits of having a simple, clutter-free, curated closet can easily translate to other areas of the home.