Thanks so much for all your enlightening comments on my last post, All you need is LESS. We are definitely in a similar place in fighting clutter and determining what we value most.
I am really good at organization. I can sort and contain, label and stack. I have done that with my closet, our living room, and our office so often that I was frustrated. So I decided to toss half of most things. I have long felt that we have more than we’ll ever need. I gave (to someone who will enjoy it) an espresso maker that we got 17 years ago (hell0!) and hadn’t even opened. I donated older luggage. I gave some furniture to a family who will hugely appreciate it. We tossed dried out markers, recycled old paint, donated boxes of picture frames, etc.
Some often overlooked categories that I found feel really good to simplify: spices, tupperware, water bottles and plastic cups, towels, night table drawers.
It feels so great to have more space for what is left. And nothing more is needed. I’m hesitant to buy anything or accept anything that’s going to take up that precious empty space on a shelf. Our house doesn’t look bare. It looks more HGTV-like than ever. 🙂
Here’s an example of a probably common struggle. I bought a rather expensive craft storage system a few years ago. It’s called a ScrapRack and it’s for organizing and containing the multitude of ephemera by category. I spent quite a bit of money on it, so even though I decided not to use it anymore, I hate to just donate it because of what they call “sunk costs,” so much invested and not enough use. But… it’s taking up closet shelf space. So I had to cut my losses and move on.
Our junk drawer was a disaster. I couldn’t even open of close the drawer most of the time. And finding what I wanted? Hopeless. I have a place for each item and now it’s so much nicer.
There are so many benefits of clearing out all the little things that constitute clutter. There’s far less to clean up (and big motivation to return a space to perfection). You know what you have and where it is so you don’t re-buy something. It allows the space you have to work in the best way possible… and it leaves lots of empty space for your eyes to rest. That open space feels peaceful and calm.
Have you had any successes in this?
I am anything but a minimalist. I LOVE my stuff. I think it comes from having owned a gift shop. I just love little vignettes showcasing my treasures. Bare walls and tabletops drive me CRAZY. But that clutter of behind-the-scenes crap makes me even crazier. The things we tend to save! My hub buys floss by the dozens, and has backups of backups for EVERYTHING. I think he’s afraid they’ll quit making his favorites, and his mini-hoards will keep him from having to find a replacement for awhile! But, he keeps it organized, and easily accessible within his space, so it’s not such an issue. Mine on the other hand, is a disaster. Not that I have so much of any one thing, just too much stuff that I MIGHT use some day. It IS an issue. So, I would have to say my successes are extremely limited. What can I say? I’m a work in progress…sounds like a potential blog post! Heeheehee!
Janet Forrest recently posted…Countdown to Creating
It is all ok, Janet. Just make sure you have pathways to walk though it all. 🙂
My heart feels more spacious just reading this post:)
I love to organize, too.
Even better, letting my eyes drift across an already organized peaceful space.
Thank you for that this morning.
And for feeding my desire to embrace that less is often more:)
-Jennifer
Thanks, Jennifer, and thank you for coming by!