Removing redundancies

In an effort to simplify my life and create space, I’ve been systematically removing things from my house. Today I focused on a couple drawers in my kitchen. What did I find?

Three peelers:

One peeler that I never use,

another peeler that I use if I can’t find the one I really like,

and then there’s the peeler that I use and like (the one with the blade that swivels).

Three! So today, two peelers went to goodwill along with a box of other miscellaneous things that I don’t use or don’t need. I was keeping two peelers just in case they were needed (large peeling party?), when in truth I only need one peeler.

Having more than I need clutters up my kitchen, my house, and my mind.

Are there things that you’re holding onto just in case they’re needed?

If you’re interested in a minimalist kitchen, check out these excellent posts by Jules Clancy of Stone Soup:

• How to setup a minimalist kitchen part 1 – things to avoid
• How to setup a minimalist kitchen part 2 – the essentials & the nice-to-haves

Reconsidering everything you own

I’m reading a novel called “My Year of Meats” by Ruth Ozeki and was struck by the  following passage. This quote is by a documentary filmmaker living in a small New York apartment:

“It’s a ritual I perform every year. I go through all my possessions, touching each one by one. I reconsider everything I own, and either choose it again or throw it away. It’s a deterrent to shopping and stuff stays special that way.”

I love this passage (except the throwing away part); I like the idea of touching and reconsidering each possession on an annual basis. 

I can’t help but think that if I did this my garage would not look the way it does right now. Unfortunately, I don’t have a small New York apartment that forces me to reconsider everything I own. Instead, I need to be self-disciplined. Oy! 

Seems overwhelming to go through everything, but I’ve found that breaking things down into small tasks helps.

Drawer by drawer, I’m trying to make it so that my possessions are ones that I would choose again today.

What are your strategies for tackling clutter?

All mixed up

Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it’s not all mixed up.  -Winnie-the-Pooh / A.A. Milne

Spring is coming (yeah!) and with it comes an opportunity to un-mix things. Spring is a time to start fresh, to start anew. So why not take the most mixed-up thing in your home and un-mix it.

You can take a mixed up mess like this:

and start fresh (ctrl+alt+delete). It can be like moving into a new home, but without the hassle of moving.

While organizing this drawer I…

• Put things where they really belonged (not in this drawer)
• Got rid of duplicates (I only need one good peeler – not one good one and one crappy one)
• Took account of what I have
• Spent time with my daughter who enjoys organizing things

Organizing my silverware drawer took all of 20 minutes, so why didn’t I do this sooner? 

Good question. Ah, I was waiting for inspiration? (she says sheepishly)

What will you un-mix today?

Decluttering drawers: a step-by-step guide

See it, like it, buy it

In the United States we are so very fortunate. Most people can buy whatever they desire. If we go shopping and see something we like, we can buy it.

See it, like it, buy it

However just because we like something, doesn’t mean we need to buy it.

On a recent flight my daughter liked this Skymall item:

Forest Faces: Show everyone which team you’re rooting for with this outdoor ornament sensation.

This new outdoor craze is only $19.99, so it’s easily within my reach.

Should I buy one? Let’s see.

Can I live without it?

Yes. My trees have been bare for years and haven’t been yearning for ornamentation (as far as I know).

Would I use it regularly?

No. The ornament serves no real purpose other than promoting a sports team that doesn’t need further promotion. 

Is it going to improve or simplify my life?

No.

Asking yourself these questions can help you prevent clutter and debt. It’s possible to see something, like it and not buy it.

See it, like it, don’t buy it

The result? More money in your bank and less things in your home. Sounds good to me.

Interested in consuming less, decluttering and organization? Check out Monica Ricci’s blog: “Your Life. Organized.”

Focus on doing interesting things rather than buying interesting things (from Zen Habits).

Go big; Decluttering a play room

After completing a few small decluttering projects – drawers, cabinets and bookshelves, I decided to do a project outside of my home. I asked my friends if they had an area that needed decluttering.

My friend Laura enthusiastically said ‘Yes!’ 

So, we set a decluttering date.

When I arrived at Laura’s home and saw her daughter’s play room for the first time, I ran.

OK I didn’t run, or cry. At first sight I knew it was going to be a long and rewarding day. This project was big. Where should we start?

Furniture

We started with the big stuff; the furniture. Was all the furniture needed? What would be the best layout for the room? Since it’s a small space, we decided to remove one piece of furniture; a green shelf and drawer unit.

Sorting and purging

Next came the sorting and purging. We purged little kiddie stuff (like Teletubbies and Sesame Street toys) and sorted everything. We put all the art supplies together, the costumes, Polly Pocket, littlest Pet Shop toys… you get the idea. Once sorted, we organized everything and put things away.

In the end we removed four large trash bags full of kid stuff and donated them to goodwill. We threw away two bags of miscellaneous junk toys – broken toys and random pieces of plastic.  

The finished space

Ah, much better!

We found…

• Decluttering is more fun with a friend
• Big projects are smaller when you have help
• You purge more when someone else asks questions like: “does your daughter play with this?”

The desk space is inviting now

Playroom closet - before and after

I left Laura’s house exhausted, happy, and completely inspired to declutter my office. I came home, purged a few books from my shelves and sat on my tushie the rest of the night; satisfied with a job well done.

The next morning Laura spent time in her daughter’s play room because it was a peaceful and inviting place - the space was transformed. We added nothing to the space, instead we removed things so that what was there could shine.

How about you? Have you taken on a big decluttering project?

Letting go of stuff

I realize that having less stuff is a good thing. I’ve shut off the intake valve; I’m conscious about my purchases and make very few. However, to create the space that I want for myself and my family, I need to remove stuff.

Enter the garage sale.

I set a date and invited people to participate. With the date looming, my family assembled a large pile of things. The garage sale wasn’t wildly profitable, but it was rich in many other ways. I let go of things that I’ve been holding on to for various reasons. Here are a few of my silly reasons:

• I got a great deal on it
• It was a gift 
• It’s my backup
• It’s in great shape
• I may need it someday
• It was expensive 
• I might wear it when I paint (I never paint)
• It has sentimental value (the sentiment doesn’t leave with the item – photograph it or journal about it)

For me, I’m going with Use It or Lose It.

Now that I’ve removed a big round of stuff, I’m motivated to continue. When I open a cabinet or drawer I look for things that aren’t used. What can I get rid of? When I look at a room I look for things that are not beautiful or useful and remove them.

I love this quote from the Becoming Minimalist blog:

for me, minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things that i most value. it is about deciding what is most important in my life and removing the things that distract me from it.  it is about removing the urgent for the sake of the important.

And so I’ll keep removing things that distract me from what is most important in my life. I’ll continue to make space to create.

How about you? Do you find it easy to let go of stuff?

Cute or too much?

Is this pile of stuffed animals:

a)  Cute
b)  Too much
c)  Cute and too much
d)  A waste of fluff

For me the answer is C; cute and too much.

Stuffed animals are cute, but when you have so many is it possible to appreciate each one? Does my daughter play with each one? Why have so many?

Time for a conversation.

I asked my daughter if she played with all of these animals. Honestly. I asked her if there were some animals that she could pass on to another child.

After some consideration, my daughter decided to let go of some stuffed animals. They were all special and wonderful once, but the reality is that she doesn’t play with all of them now.

Paring down her collection simplifies things, and gives her a chance to play with and appreciate each stuffed animal.

Why hold on to things you don’t use?

If you have kids, here’s an excellent article on keeping things simple: 21 Tips on Keeping a Simple Home with Kids at Zen Habits

Start small; Declutter a bookshelf

Birthdays are a good time to purge things from the past. My youngest just turned nine, but she still had beginning reader books on her bookshelf. My decluttering project this week is… my daughter’s bookshelf.

1. Target a bookshelf

Pick a bookshelf. This bookshelf suffers from messiness and too many books.

Bookshelf before

2. Take everything off the bookshelf

<imagine empty bookshelf>

3. Clean the bookshelf

<imagine clean empty bookshelf>

4.  Purge books

• Remove things that belong elsewhere 
• Give-away pile: Make a pile of books that haven’t been read in years. Be honest. There’s no need to hold on to things that aren’t being used.
• Keep pile: Make a pile of books that may be read in the next six months.

While purging my daughter’s books, I found I had an attachment to books that brought back pleasant memories: Richard Scarry books, The Rainbow Fish and even Berenstain Bears. Good times.

In the end, I decided to let go of the books.

I don’t need to own these books in order to recall fond memories of reading them to my children. Classic children’s books will continue to exist in bookstores and libraries. Now that my children are older, I don’t need to fill my home with books for younger children.

5. Group alike items

Before putting books back on the shelf, group them by size and type (paperback and hardback).

6. Put books on the bookshelf

After purging 35 or so books:

Bookshelf after

Ah, much better.

Will the mess return? Maybe, but on a much smaller scale.

Because I removed 35 books, it’s not possible for the same mess to be recreated. There are less books, so there will be less mess. If the bookshelf gets messy, I can remove more books until the number of books is manageable. The fewer things my daughter has in her room, the more likely she’ll keep it tidy.

“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris

Are your decluttering your home? Share your experience/wisdom in a Comment.

Start small; Declutter a cabinet

Decluttering your home can be overwhelming if you look at the BIG picture. So don’t. Instead take on a sliver of the big picture; a kitchen cabinet. Cabinet by cabinet, drawer by drawer, you can declutter your whole home. 

1. Target a cabinet

Pick a cabinet any cabinet. This kitchen cabinet suffers from randomness and too much stuff.

Before

2. Take everything out

Empty cabinet before cleaning

3. Clean the cabinet

This is a very rewarding step. Dust and dirt that you didn’t see before suddenly leap out at you. Wipe it away and start fresh.

4.  Purge

• Remove things that should be elsewhere  
• Make a pile of useful things you don’t use: the giveaway pile

My giveaway pile includes a few one-off glasses, a duplicate steamer, and a plastic measuring thing that I’ve never used. Be honest. Get rid of things you don’t use regardless of how you acquired it or how much you paid for it.

Giveaway pile

5. Group alike items

Next organize things into groups. Once grouped you can see what you have and purge a bit more. Do you really need two sets of measuring cups? Or maybe you have five mixing bowls, but you really only use three.  

Pyrex containers

6. Put things in the cabinet

What do you need in your cabinet? Before you put things back, think about how often you use things. Put the things you use most on the lowest shelf, and the things you use less often on the highest shelf.

My shelf breakout

1. Mixing and serving bowls
2. Pyrex food storage containers and colander
3. Wine glasses and a large serving plate

After

Ah, peace and order now reign where there was previously chaos. The whole process took maybe 15 minutes (plus the blogging time). Do one 15 minute project a day and your home will be decluttered in no time.

“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris

Start small; Declutter a drawer

Decluttering your home can be overwhelming if you look at the BIG picture. So don’t look at the big picture. Instead, start small. Focus your effort on a single drawer.

1.  Target a drawer

Pick a drawer any drawer. This drawer looks like a good candidate.

Bathroom drawer (the before picture)

I call this drawer my cosmetic junk yard (yes, I’m sheepishly taking ownership of this mess).

2.  Take everything out

This step is critical. Everything must go.

Keep removing stuff

Don’t be tempted to stop short. Remove everything from the drawer.

3.  Clean the drawer

<imagine my empty drawer – I forgot to take a picture>

Now that everything is out, clean the drawer. You’re starting over. Imagine that you’ve just moved into your home. 

4.  Purge

• Remove things that should be somewhere else 
• Throw away expired items and junk
• Make a pile of useful things you don’t use: the give-away pile

5.  Group alike items

Next organize things into groups, rather like organizing Halloween candy after trick or treating. For example, I made a pile of my teeth products, my lotion products, my deodorants, and my travel sized stuff.

Misc freebies from my dentist

6.   Put things in the drawer

But first, shut your eyes and imagine your drawer. How do you want your drawer to look? What do you need in your drawer? Once you know what you need and how you want it to look, open your eyes and make it happen.

When I shut my eyes, I imagined my bathroom drawer with the things I use daily. No duplicates or backup products.

My new drawer

Ah, much better. Everything I need is readily available. 

Peace and order now reign where there was previously chaos. I open my bathroom drawer and smile.

“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris