The buzz word in home design right now, or as far as I can tell, is “minimalism.”
I’m all about paring down what we use every day and throwing out what we never use. I just think it’s something we ought to do to avoid greed and materialism.
But “minimalism” in its purest sense seems like it’d be a bit extreme for me and my house.
Maybe I’m just sentimental. There are some things that I may never actually USE again, but I can’t bear to part with.
Then there ARE those things that I don’t want to toss because, well, you know, I never know when I might need them. Or I want to save them for the grandkids. Or what if we DO move one day, even though we said we won’t?
This is a touchy subject between my husband and me, and I guess it is equally a hot topic for others.
Though I’m not ready to assume the lifestyle of and be labeled a minimalist family, I’m all about some decluttering.
Funny — I am so extremely organized and clean in some areas of my life and home, and so totally the opposite in others.
Like:
The front and sides of the refrigerator.
The TOP of the refrigerator.
The “entertainment corner” of our living room.
The study. (Stacks of the kids’ artwork are in several rooms, in fact. And it’s not that I don’t throw any artwork away. I do. A lot. They just draw. A lot.)
The gift wrapping/mailing supply/scrapbooking closet.
The study’s desk. It’s actually one of the least cluttered areas of our home. I even bought one of those fancy envelope/folder storter thingies.
So I’m inspired. I get this way every spring and again every fall. I want to declutter. I want to let it become a daily thing, not just a bi-yearly chore. I want to simplify.
Yet more than that — I want discernment when it comes to what to throw away and what to keep. I want a personal organizer to come and visit my home for a nominal fee. I want a more serene home environment without feeling like I’m living in under-personalized, sterile space.
How to balance these two conflicting desires?
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Alison (1 year ago)
Oh, how I recognise your problem!
We live in a relatively small home with a TINY kitchen and regular rigorous decluttering is the only way to keep the place liveable. has a little How-to on decluttering. I read it, then went off and did my own thing!
Alison (1 year ago)
Oh, how I recognise your problem!
We live in a relatively small home with a TINY kitchen and regular rigorous decluttering is the only way to keep the place liveable. Flylady has a little How-to on decluttering. I read it, then went off and did my own thing!
Ashley (1 year ago)
The best way I’ve found to make decisions on those things I’m not using, but not sure I can part with is to store them away for a few months, (or sometimes up to a year depending on how attached I feel) and see if I ever actually miss it. I do this a lot with my clothes, and we’ve gotten rid of lots of my kids toys this way. I’ll put a whole garbage bag of toys away, and six months later, when no one has asked for a single one, I feel ok about dropping them off at Goodwill :)
suzannah {so much shouting, so much laughter} (1 year ago)
i WISH i were a minimalist! i try to be so careful about what comes into our home, and i’m constantly taking stuff to goodwill, but the clutter remains and gets so much harder with kids!
i find i never ever regret giving anything away, and that gives me freedom to get rid of more. good luck! this inspired me to tackle above my fridge and desk, too;)