AFTER the Konmari Purge (I'm DONE)
May 27, 2016
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It's done! I've officially Konmari'd the crap out of our house. This is a very, very good day and a long time coming -- I'm so happy to be done!
It took NINE MONTHS. I did finish a kitchen renovation in that time, but still, nine months. I started reading the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up last August:
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I talked about how it started to change my mindset here -- this book has totally changed my life. I thought I was good at letting go of things, but after reading this I realized I really wasn't good at all.
I still had this inexplicable thing holding me back from truly getting rid of all the crap. My mindset before was...I bought it to redo it, I bought it on sale, I spent a lot of money on it, someone gave it to me, someday when I finish ____ this item will be good there, it needs to be fixed and then we can use it, someday this might be back in style, I made this myself, if I can find the cord that charges it I'll be able to use it, it may fit again someday, I haven't read it yet (but had it for years)…on and on and on.
When you approach decluttering this way you'll hit the surface and that's it. It will still make you feel good, don't get me wrong. But the stuff will come back.
This book freed me. I don't say that lightly. Now the only things I ask myself are but do we LOVE it and do we USE it. That's it. Nothing else. And I don't ask myself what I need to get rid of, but instead, what do I want to keep? That is HUGE for me and one of the parts that really stuck out to me. I've let go of the guilt of getting rid of something I spent money on -- because how I am honoring that money by having it sit on a shelf forever? Passing it on to someone who will love it actually makes me so happy now. I've let go of that guilt completely.
I still understand the value of things of course -- probably more than before. I buy a lot less than I used to. I don't buy something unless I am head over heels in love with it and know exactly what I will do with it or where it will go. I used to buy things and they would sometimes sit for a very long time in my trunk or in a pile or on a shelf and I've realized if I really, really loved those things I would have made a place for them immediately.
The SUV was filled so many times I lost track:
Some items were donated, some went to consignment (I've already made $50 in less than a week), some went to my sister, some went to a local shelter, some went to their homes (Nerf guns), some were returned (hundreds of dollars back). Some I sold on Facebook to friends, some I threw away (not much).
Bottom line -- it is all OUT OF MY HOUSE. Every trip with a carload full lightened our home tremendously. I couldn't get things out of our house fast enough.
My recommendation if you want to read this book is to start when you know you'll have time. It will make you want to tear through your home. And if you're like me you'll laugh when she says it will take six months -- "Haha! I'm no rookie! Two weeks max!" And nine months later you'll be like, dang man, that took forever.
Funny thing is I'm still not done with the book! The end focuses more on how to organize what you have left and I'll show you how I'm organizing things later. My focus has been on purging. I feel like I'm pretty good at the organizing thing already but I'm interested to hear what she has to say.
The biggest tip I've taken away from Marie Kondo's book is to gather all like items in one spot. Sometimes this is a major pain and labor intensive, and I didn't always do that. But most of the time I did and it works. The reason? Because you see the sheer number of similar items you have and you realize how ridiculous it is that you have 329 markers:
This is the part I find quite relaxing and cathartic. I sorted through them, got rid of half and only kept those that worked perfectly.
I did the same with pens and pencils:
We had a stupid amount of pens and pencils. If a pencil was missing an eraser it was gone. Before I would have kept it because I'd think -- I can go buy an eraser to put on the end and then use it! But that little thing was never high on the priority list so the unusable pencil would continue to sit there. And then I'd finally buy a package of erasers and then I'm bringing more stuff into my house when I already have 50 perfectly good pencils to use! That's how my mind used to work.
And who needs this many candles?:
You know what's funny? I only burn maybe two candles in our house. I don't burn them often because I worry about our cats knocking into them. So why did I have so many?? I kept the ones I LOVED, which was maybe a third of them. I don't need to buy another candle for about ten years.
You know how when you're not organized you go out and buy more of something that you already have?:
I wonder how much we spent on extension cords over the years? Gah. This is the stuff that makes me kick myself. I kept the cords for the Christmas trees, two surge protectors, one long extension cord and one short one. That's it.
After all was said and done we had empty shelves:
And soooo many empty drawers:
And I'm not filling them. Having empty shelves and drawers is like letting the house breathe -- it feels good. NOW maybe I can finally paint that nightstand. ;)
YES, there are some kooky ideas in this book -- pick and choose what you want to use. I still won't fold our socks and line them up perfectly in our drawers...but I've heard from many who love it after reading her method. Take what you want to use and ignore the rest. You'll still get something out of this book. I really recommend you read this post where I talk more in depth about my approach as I started incorporating the method.
Here's the thing. I don't ever plan on doing this again. Ever ever ever. I don't want to ever take weeks or months to purge the house again. As much as I love the feeling, I'm done. Obviously I'll have to keep up with things but it will be constant and not nearly the amount of work this was. So far so good -- I've been so deliberate with what I've brought into the house over the last nine months I don't think this will be difficult. I'll let you know how it goes!
One thing I know for sure…our house has never been easier to keep clean. In 12 years it's never been like this. It's been a slow change over this process but every week I noticed it more and more. Our kitchen island used to be covered with stuff every single day. Or the kitchen table. Or the nightstands. And I would clear them off and do it all over again. It still happens occasionally but it's rare -- like this week for example. It was the last week of school so the number of items coming home in the backpack were insane. The kitchen table was covered for a couple days but because of how I approach STUFF now it doesn't stress me out as much and it was much easier to clean up.
I think that is the very best part. I've NEVER enjoyed our house more than I have lately. Having only things we love and use makes life simpler and sweeter. Have you read this book and what did you think of the process? If you are interested in Konmari method book it's a very quick read. You can find it here.
Here's an image to pin if you'd like to save this post for later:
Check out how I've cut down on the mail and paper coming into our home! This has helped tremendously:
You can see all of my organization projects and tips here!
EDITED TO ADD: Check out my three year Konmari update and my tips for getting spouses and kids on board!
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I'm so glad you liked the book and it had such a great impact on your life, because I did not like it at all. I thought it was silly.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, very inspirational.
Before I go and buy it, what about it did you find silly? I don't want to waste my time ;-)
DeleteI'm soooo going to get this book! My family calls me a hoarder at times & I try very hard to get rid of stuff! My pens, candles, etc...look just like your pictures!
DeleteI have heard a lot of people call this book "silly" or make fun of the idea of looking at each thing and asking, "does it bring me joy?" While I don't relate to that phrase particularly, I love the idea of focusing on keeping what I love rather than focusing on what I need to get rid of. Sarah mentions this in her post above as well. The real value of the book for me is this shift in perspective, and it makes all the difference!
DeleteI love seeing this! I just got it and can't wait to tackle it!
ReplyDeleteI have the book and love it. I've done the purging of my things down to the things I love and use. The problem is that my husband and three kids have SO MUCH STUFF and don't want to purge. So...my house is always cluttered and filled with all of their stuff. The Konmari system says I can't clean out other people's things. It's frustrating. I am so glad you've made it work. How did you deal with your husband and son's things?
ReplyDeleteOoh yes! I want to know too! I LOVED the book and am in the beginning stages of discarding. Glad to know the end result really is worth it! But I am afraid it won't make a big difference if the rest of the family doesn't join in.
DeleteI've also stumbled with this. Read the book and want to do it right, but husband won't get on board. I did everything I have sole control on, but I was already a very tidy person and it has hardly made a dent in this house. Frustrating.
DeleteMy children are off to college and when they graduate move out for good- so does their stuff! My only solution. Husband's stuff I guess we're stuck with.
DeleteI feel your pain, because my husband actuually feels more comfortable with piles of stuff packed in around him than he does a clean, uncluttered space. I have researched hoarder tendancies to better understand him, and the consistent theme is this makes them feel secure. I cannot change him,he has to want to change. But we were able to work out a deal where he is allowed 2 rooms - an "office" and a storage room - both out of the main living area,that he can fill to the brim, and ONE surface in our main living area (out of plain sight) where he can pile things (I cover this with a pretty table cloth when company comes or temporarily move it). If his clutter begins to drift out of these areas, I move it back, quietly but firmly. While not the ideal solution, this has given me back my dignity while still treating him with the respect he deserves as an adult. His spaces make me cringe, but I just stay out of them and focus on the 60% of the house I can control. Hope you can work out something like that too!
DeleteMy husband likes to refer to it as "organized chaos"! It doesn't help that one of his favorite philosophers endorses this method LOL. I would buy into the idea more if he actually knew where everything was... :)
DeleteMy husband was raised in a 26 room hotel, that also had two full dining rooms, a chef, etc. He stores canned goods on shelves in the basement like we're ready to entertain a banquet at a moment's notice. He has saved all the receipts from this parents' business and has them in the original rubber bands (from his father) from the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s when they sold the hotel. His parents have been dead almost 15 years, but nothing has ever been thrown out. We got their furniture, their dishes, pots and pans, everything, and we live in a 3 bedroom single level ranch home. I can't begin to say how this feels for me. I have my own room where I spend most of my time, and it is orderly, clean, and minimalist. This is not "organized chaos" even though he actually does know where everything is in our house. Oh my.
DeleteI've been downsizing for a couple of years now. It feels so good to get things out of the house. If something is just sitting on a shelf or in a drawer, it needs to go so that it can be used!
ReplyDeleteI've gotten rid of my extra extension cords, too. But I would have kept the magic wand ;=)
I too read the book. And while I didn't follow all of her principles to a T, I did find myself letting go of more and more stuff. It feels good to have empty drawers, clean surfaces, room to breathe. I am very organized by nature, but even so I found myself finding things we truly did not need or use. And agree, once you have gone through the process it is so much easier to keep up with things.
ReplyDeleteI love the book! A year ago I sorted through my clothes and everything that I was not wearing, was uncomfortable, or didn't fit, I donated. I had only a few items left in my closet to organize. The one thing that stood out to me was that I have very few items left to wear so I started going shopping. Now I know what I have and what looks good on me and I never buy anything unless I love it and it can be worn with other items of clothing.
ReplyDeleteMy closet and chest of drawers have STAYED organized this year! That has been the best part! Now I need to tackle the rest of the house.
Oh gosh...I admire you. I have a hard time reading that book. (I have read the entire thing, but cannot bring myself to entirely practice what she preaches.
ReplyDeleteTake what you want and leave the rest :)
DeleteLove seeing the results! It's a pretty striking change, right?
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rachel Medlock
www.wayfaringrachel.com
I love the book. Bought it after one of your posts and have read through the purging sections so far. I went out of order and started with books (we don't have that many and I find it personally easier to let go of than clothes). I made my husband do it with me one evening because most of them were his. Not having read the book, he thought it was ridiculous taking the of the shelf to just put them back, but he's nice and played along. After it was done, he did say how nice it was just having one bookshelf that now fits all our books (vs throughout there house, pulled on top of each other).
ReplyDeleteI then started my clothes, which was much more difficult. I ended up donating 7 garbage bags fill of just my clothes! (That's after my winter purge, before I read the book!) It feels great having extra empty drawers and never want to go shopping again!
So far we have done our clothes, bed linen and towels and found new ways to fold and store them. Initially it took a little while to get the hang of the folding but it is the one thing I have kept up. Our drawers have never been neater. I was always having to pull my hubbies t-shirts out and fix them as everything was layeredon top of each other. Now they are folded to stand up and it's so easy, I've not had to do it at all since we changed.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this post.....I have been trying to do this for yrs.....2 stumbling blocks are ..."my hubby" still buys if he can't find something..."rolls eyes".....and I have too much nice pottery that has been given to me...I "like" it and most is useful but just too much...and I don't "LOVE" it.....its hard to give away things your MIL gave you ....
ReplyDeleteOh God, yes I know that feeling! My MIL would freak if I gave away anything she bought me. My husband comes from a family of clutter bugs and when we moved in together we had an argument that has become a bits of an anecdote...
DeleteMe: Why do you have so many pens?
Him: Does it matter?
Me: Yes, if half of them don't work!
Him: How do you know they don't work?
Me: Let's see shall we?.... oh look, this one doesn't work, that one doesn't work... what do you know THIS one doesn't work EITHER!
Him: They're my pens!
Me: BUT THEY DON'T WORK!!
Him: But they're still mine.
Me: And this is my flat you're cluttering up!!
Him: Oh so it's YOUR flat?
Me: Oh for God's sake... THEY DON'T EVEN WORK!!
(and so it went on)
MIL is the same, lays a guilt trip on every birthday/Christmas. I always go through the kids things and get rid of broken toys, toys with bits missing, toys they never play with (they are 5 and 2 so I'm sorry, I get to have power of veto over the hundreds of rubbish McDonald's toys) just before Christmas and their birthdays to make room for the inevitable deluge of toys. She HATES this. "I hope you don't get rid of anything I've given them?" "Only if it's broken/missing bits mum" "But you shouldn't let them break or lose bits" (dunno what planet she's on, they are FIVE and TWO, breaking/losing bits is inevitable!)
Thanks for the conversation between you and your husband, so hilarious.
DeleteIf your MIL lives near enough to actually see what is in your house and so can be offended, why not suggest that going forward she has a box of toys at her house for your kids to play with when they visit her?
DeleteIt will keep the stuff out of your house and she will get the pleasure of seeing them playing with the stuff she buys them. Either that or she will get really cheesed off with the mess and will be able to appreciate your point of view :-)
I haven't read the whole book, but I did start purging. So far I've gotten through clothes, toys, and a few other random things. I agree 100%-I feel lighter with less. The amount of time it takes to pick up now? Drastically reduced. My bedroom hasn't gotten piles of junk in there as bad as before either. Great system and so common sense.
ReplyDeleteI'd been seeing recommendations for this book for months, but finally after reading your post one day I bought the Kindle version.
ReplyDeleteIt really, really, really is life-changing. In the last two weeks I have hauled out probably 20 bags to donate, plus countless items of trash to throw away. And I'm still going. I have purged things I never thought I'd get rid of. Things like extra, but mismatched sheets. I haven't used them in YEARS. We don't need them. I made some of the pillowcases. I was totally and completely okay with getting rid of them. I got rid of a TON of children's books, which I never thought I'd do, since I'm trying to collect books for my classroom. But some of the books I had were awful and not well-written, so why keep them?
I feel SO much lighter and even though there is clutter everywhere (the results of a billion different little purges) my house feels better. It feels airy and brighter.
I've been doing this for 3 months upstairs and have 3 walk-in closets packed to the doors. I've donated, given away, sold. It feels so clean & new. now for the downstairs-I have begun but this is where we REALLY live and it is daunting. I look at one room at a time so I don't get overwhelmed. I don't believe my grown kids will want any of the "extra" accessories, but I will offer. some are probably out of style & should be donated, but I will keep filling those closets with the "good" stuff & offer!
ReplyDeletei have never had a problem with tossing things that we do not use! i do not like clutter at all. even when i have to throw things away behind my husband's back! he is the pack rat in the family - he had clothes from HS until i cleaned out our walk-in closet! oh and as far as candles - i am always buying them when i find them on clearance! living here in the south with our infamous storms you can sometimes go DAYS without power and they come in handy. you can never have too many! LOL
ReplyDeleteIt's super interesting to read a story from someone who's actually DONE decluttering! I'm really interested in a more minimalist approach of life, but most of the stories I read from others are when they're going through the process, and not afterwards. Congrats on you konmari-ing your entire home, that's impressive! I am currently decluttering my clothes, make-up and books. It's a daunting task..
ReplyDeleteI bought the book because we too are sick of the attic holding stuff that we haven't looked at for 13 years since we moved here. My husband and I married in our 50's and both brought a lot of our stuff to our home. He has a harder time giving stuff up. Now in our 60's we are in that mindset to get rid of things and am ready. It was good to read your take on it! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI listened to it as an audiobook, and while it drove me crazy that she referred to it over and over and over as "tidying up", it was useful. I started the process, and got rid of a ton of stuff, but haven't finished. It definitely does make you think about what you bring into the house. After years of buying "stuff" to do posts on, I had a lot of sh*t. I've saved a ton of money, just by thinking about whether I really need what I'm picking up, and whether it's something that I absolutely adore. I still have a lot to get rid of, but my heart and activity level isn't there yet to finish. Little by little...
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem!! It's mostly their clutter. Kids stuff I can deal with, but my husband's stuff I can't. You should see the garage. UGH!!
ReplyDeleteJust bought the book! Any tips on how to get the hubs on board? We're talking about a man who can only function in complete chaos! Cheers, heather ;-)
ReplyDeleteI started doing it and maybe a month in my hubby decided to clean his closet. Baby steps I figure.
DeleteRead the Joy of Less by "Miss Minimalist "! It discusses how to deal with your family and their stuff, and it talks about the philosophy behind decluttering.
DeleteI wanted to add in case anyone finds them helpful. I too struggled with other family members! I very much respect my husbands space, as he honors so much of what I do in our home. But I did lay out things I requested him to "veto". Many times he came home and I had mismatched socks, holey shirts, ugly old things he's never worn. He felt much less threatened when I laid them out and asked for his blessing to discard or insist on keeping. In the end he only wanted transparency and me not sneaking things in bags. And the obvious stuff (lonely socks) went easily. Some things stayed but not NEARLY what I had feared! It was a nice way to compromise and still respect each others wishes.
ReplyDeleteYea for you! You honored and respected him and he could obviously see your point. My guy saw how much I was getting rid of stuff and how happy it made me so he said can you help me do this with my stuff? Clothes his adult son purchased for him that he will never wear was sent off for someone else to enjoy. He felt bad but said he understood not keeping stuff because someone else thought you should have it. Yea US! Yea our guys!
Delete
ReplyDeleteFirst of all want to highly commend you for your ultimate purge, takes lots of grit and determination. Now would you please come here to assist me, help me make those decisions?
Our youngest daughter has been nagging me, rightfully so, to get rid of all the crap in our house. shed. It's so bad our little house is bursting at seems. I am ashamed to admit our two extra bedrooms can hardly be walked into due to all the crap have brought home from thrift stores. Do I need all that stuff, do I love it?
For me can't think about something or will convince myself to keep it, even if not crazy about it. Let me preface this with fact, raised by parents who lived thru Depression and who were hard put to start with so was raised to keep things to tide me over, so wouldn't have to buy it again, and most of all, make things last. I'm still wearing clothes daughter gave me when we first moved here in late summer/2004. She got them from somebody else.
Remember the "Marlboro man"? Daughter used to house clean for them, wife would give daughter clothes she didn't want, nice brand name stuff, not things I'd ever buy. Those clothes are mostly all my around house clothes now but still wearing them, GROAN. Yes I really need to purge so very, very much and thank you for sharing, will help get me motivated. And now if you'll excuse me, need to clean out sewing room so can actually do some sewing. Happy holiday weekend.
I lost a dear friend who lived with another dear friend a few years back and she collected so many things and many of them were in storage and never used. When we started to go through her things my friend had the hardest time letting go even the simplest things like markers, rubber bands, etc. It really made me realize that I need to purge because what is important to us is only just "stuff" to our family when they have to clean it out. It just makes no sense to keep things packed out of site where we never enjoy them. I love hearing about your results and plan on getting the book and starting after our summer vacation (to see my dear friend who could not let go of all the other friend's things actually). Thank you so much for your post on this subject!
ReplyDeleteMy mother's final instructions were for my siblings and I to take whatever we wanted and "throw out the rest." We had the financial luxury of simply locking the door to her house and letting it sit for a year before we were ready. When the time finally came, it was gut wrenching to take my parents' possessions to the donation site, but we donated about 95% of their entire household. HOWEVER, she also told me not to just "give away" her yarn. She knew I like to knit, and I think she expected that I would be in hog heaven. I'm sure she never expected the burden that yarn would become -- it's an entire room's worth of yarn. I "visit" the yarn room with the intention of finally doing something with it...and then I shut the door again about 10 minutes later with tears in my eyes...and I've been doing that for 8 years. I worry I'm setting my son up to think the "yarn shrine" needs to be maintained after I'm gone. I need to choose my favorite yarn from the room in honor of my mother, then figure out a plan for the rest of it. She wanted the yarn to spark joy, not be a burden.
DeleteI'm sorry for the sadness you feel after visiting the yarn room. I had a thought, and wondered if this might bring you peace. You could do as you said, and choose your favorite yarn in honor of you mother, and make a shawl or throw out of it. With the rest of the yarn, had you ever considered donating it to an organization that knits afghans for the homeless or for our soldiers? Can you image the joy of passing along this amazing gift of love and comfort to others? Whatever you decide, I pray that you find comfort in your mother's memories and her gift.
DeletePaula
Another great thing to do with yarn is donate it to senior centers. It will bring a great deal of joy there!!
DeleteGreat idea! My mom used to part of a group at her church that knit prayer shawls for persons in the hospital or recovering which her church would distribute. I'm sure your mom would want you to do exactly as you describe, picking out your favorites because you are the yarn expert in the family!! Blessings to you.
DeleteI went through a stage where I would buy yarn just to make myself feel good. I LOVED to knit and so yarn was a natural thing for me to enjoy having. I have since sold most of it on eBay and have only kept a small amount that I know I can use to knit for my grandchildren.
DeleteMy mom had a ton of macrame supplies when she died. I gathered them all up and donated them to a senior center. The arts and crafts person was thrilled. My mom would have been happy with that.
DeleteI am so in agreement! Love the lighter feeling. Got my guy to clean and purge his clothes, and he even folds his clothes her way now. Still have lots to do but I'm loving the feeling. I used to be a garage sale junkie but have no interest, or at least a lot less desire, to go bring any more into the house. Loved this post?
ReplyDeleteI am still looking for this book at the library Sarah as I am a cheap! I am a pretty organized person but I do need some help with getting rid of more sentimental things. We are starting to build a little get away cabin in North Georgia so I am holding on to a lot to take over there but once I get that settled I need to take a page from your book!!
ReplyDeleteI got a perfectly good used copy from thriftbooks.com for around $5.00. You need a copy of your own. It's probably going to take longer than the two or three weeks you can hang on to a library book to get where you want to be.
DeleteI didn't read the book. Ever blog and video on YouTube has given me all the info I need on the matter. As it is I actually got better encouragement from those things because it came with practical applications that I can see working. This is how I am doing it myself. Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteThe first time I got the book from the library, I couldn't finish it. Perhaps I was influenced by negative comments on the web. After one of your posts, I got through the book. The key point is to accept the ideas which you feel are helpful to you and discard the rest.
ReplyDeleteI'm slowly going through my home and decluttering. One thing I found useful for me was to establish some "landing spots" for specific items. As I find the item somewhere in my house, I take it to the spot. When there is a critical mass of items, I do the culling. But, I have also establish the habit of returning the items to a home. This is not as dramatic event as pulling everything out, but I am able to keep more spots clutter free and neat. Liz
Congratulations, Sarah! It is so cool to read about someone who went "all in" on this method. I often remember her spark joy rule, but I haven't brought, say, all my clothes into one room and sorted through them. To do that with all of your belongings is powerful! :)
ReplyDeleteYou really took out the time to kick of the junk and unnecessary stuff and your post has fueled me do same with my unwanted stuff at home, and inspired me to be little organized.
ReplyDeleteOk I think it's time for me to pick up a copy of this book! Proud of you, great job!
ReplyDeleteI look so forward to reading this book but my main problem isn't MY stuff, but my FAMILY'S stuff. How do I trick them into letting me get rid of all their belongings? LOL.
ReplyDeleteI listened to the audiobook and LOVED it!! I started the process and have gotten rid of a ton of stuff. I haven't finished yet but I am making progress. It makes me rethink anything new that I bring into the house.
ReplyDeleteYou've done such a great job! I gave up on the method, but I keep toying with the idea of picking up where I left off–and see all your empty shelves/drawers is really inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThis book has completely changed my life and my relationship with "stuff". I actually feel sad when someone says they can't finish the book, it's silly, can't do xyz, etc. What do you have to lose by trying it? My husband said he never realized exactly how good I was at organizing until I started to gather like items together. Every single I gathered another category, we were shocked (and honestly, embarrassed) by how much we had. Eye opening.
ReplyDeleteFor those worried about husbands and kids, Kondo urges that you go through the process with only your things. It took about two weeks until my husband asked if I could help him with his clothes and my son asked me to help teach him to fold his shirts so he could see all of them at once like mine.
Don't knock it 'til you try it! :)
This is an inspiring post. I have been feeling the same about clearing out the 'stuff'. Can you share how you consigned some stuff? was it clothes or furniture or stuff ? I am never sure if they will sell at these consignment stores and how it all works - is it seasonal or some stuff will sell always etc??
ReplyDeleteI love that hook for your hairdryer! What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I bought our house almost 3 years ago and I've been trying to be very conscious about what I bring into it. It's large but lacks storage space (you have the basement storage of my dreams) which is annoying but definitely helps me really think about what we are buying. Still, it's amazing how much crap you can accumulate in 3 years.
I have that mind set anyway but want to push it further. It is my husband and somewhat my kids. I am a preschool special Ed teacher and currently my youngest is at an age that I can take her toys to my work. She likes that idea. Sometimes she asks for them back and I can bring it back. Those items I know she loves. I had no clue her love of Legos did not replace her love of mega blocks! My husband has books and books and books and is encouraging my oldest to do the same. The girls and I use the library a ton but he refuses and will buy my oldest books at yard sales or used book stores. We have 3 large boxes of his CDs that are loaded onto his iPod. He wants to keep them just in case. Not to mention the 3 boxes of books he has bought but never read. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this... I want the hairdryer hook too. I've done a clothing and book purge... you've inspired me. And I like the thought, it's not what can I purge, what do I love... to keep.
ReplyDeleteYou've got me inspired!! I need to go get this book and do this asap. I love organizing and purging I find it therapeutic and relaxing, thanks for sharing :).
ReplyDeleteLauren | Lovely Decor
xx
My heart is with you in the yarn room. I know your feeling, on smaller scale. I lost a very dear aunt over six years ago who I had helped care for in her later years. I have her set of china that I don't use (and don't really have room for in our small home) but can't bear to part with. I know it would be better enjoyed and treasured by someone else. She would just be happy to know it was being used and appreciated, and I know now I'd have her blessing to pass them along. If I can find someone specific who really wants them, I'll feel much better about letting them go.
ReplyDeleteI had a set of China given to me as well. I didn't use it and had no space for it. So I decided to keep one piece as a memory...and have away the rest. It made it easier to part with and it's much easier to store one piece than a while set. I even use it from time to time (it's a platter).
DeleteI just saw this ~ thanks a million for sharing! I've heard more cons than pros about the book so I've not read it. I need to! My closet is too small (apt) but I know I have things in there that need to go. Why keep them hanging for a myriad of reasons when someone could be blessed with them right now? I can't imagine having empty shelves and drawers! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you again!
Pat
Didn't read the book but after getting divorced last year and combining two houses into one I too have done a lot of purging. At times it felt overwhelming but when a project was finished I felt great. It has taken me 14 months so far but I am still going strong. I gave myself 2 years to do both inside and outside of the house.
ReplyDeleteI NEED THIS!!! I feel like my house is closing in on me!! my picture frames are ridiculous! I finally put most of them in a photo book and only special ones in frames!! Cant wait for our 2nd child to be here in December so I get rid of the oodles and oodles of childrens clothes and shoes!! that's my biggest stressor
ReplyDeleteYou have inspired me to read the book and start the process, thank you for your candid sharing. Evelyn
ReplyDeleteThe idea I've been having is this. My house is very small. Dining room, living room, kitchen and 2 small bedrooms all on one floor. Also, the UGLY unfinished basement. So, naturally, everything I bought or got as gifts that I don't have a place for is down my basement...UNORGANIZED!! I am thinking of taking EVERYTHING out of the basement and move it to a storage unit in order to THOROUGHLY CLEAN my basement floor and check on an inexpensive way to do something to it..??? I have so much on the floor that I feel like I am getting nothing done!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to find someone who has done this already. Are you a DIY'er? I want to know how we differentiate our hobby stuff from everything else. For example; Markers/Pens; I'm a scrapbooker, Planner fanatic, journaling, etc. Pens and markers are an obsession of mine, so I have special ones for crafting and all of that stuff, do I go through all of those at the same time as the rest? I know the principal is to have all like items in one spot, but I keep all of my DIY stuff in my craft room, so should I keep that room separate from the rest of the process? hope that made sense.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the book, but it sounds like she advises and implements many of the same ideas and philosophies we have put into practice. I think I would love the book! Thank you for sharing your amazing journey. This post was so inspiring!
ReplyDeleteI bought the audible version of this book, because I drive all day and don't have a lot of time to read paper books. I've listened to it 4 times! This book TRULY DID change my life. I have empty drawers and shelves and it feels good! So light!! It's a lot of work, I won't lie. I thought it would be easier than this, but I've been at it for two weeks and I still have the basement and crawl space to do. It's all I think about! I look forward to the day when I can sew and craft in a clutter free craft room! Thanks for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed reading your journey to organization of your home. I have just read the book and starting to purge 40 years of "stuff". LOL it is hard but each bag that leaves the house seems to make the next easier. Thanks for your encouragement and sharing with all of us that are attempting what seems to be an impossible task.
ReplyDeleteKarem
I'm in SE Michigan, anyone want to help me?
ReplyDeleteWith grateful thanks for this. I live with a hoarder and though a huge amount of decluttering went on when we moved house, there was still an awful lot left.
ReplyDeleteUnwittingly I did some of the things your comments page recommended - like laying things out and getting him to approve whether we keep them or not.
Ultimately, I now know what he is getting for christmas - a book!!
And as for my own stuff, it is now much more organised- stuff that needs to be done in 3/6/9/12 months - if it is not done, it gets thrown out.
Please keep your posts coming - inspirational is the word!!
I especially loved the before and after photos.
Thank You
Mel
We moved house last year and I made a point to de-clutter then (I'm not moving stuff I don't use). A year after the house move and we still have stuff in boxes (waiting till we decorated). So I think when we have decorated and I go to get the stuff out I will assess the items as I get them out to see if I still love them. I know there's a food processor in a box that we haven't used for a year... THAT'S definitely going!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for a wonderful and inspiring post. I have the book and I'm starting a read through. I'm in my 60's and positively suffocating in stuff. Well, no more! The photos you posted made me feel light and happy. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteMy mother and 2 daughters and their 3 kids live with me but will be moving out by March. I clean to a point but in less than 24 hours it's looks awful again. I can't wait to read the book. I just want to bag up everything and throw it out! I'm ready.
ReplyDeleteMost of our belongings have been in storage unit for a few years while we lived in a small apartment and worked various shifts. Then during a year of being live in managers at a small motel. Basically, no spare time to spend sorting/discarding of our stuff. I really do have my work cut out for me because hubby packed everything when we left for the motel business. We finally quit working and now have everything with us in one place. With this move, we have been purging alot. We started when we were removing boxes from the storage units. We have been forced to continue purging because there are no closets or real cupboard space for anything in this new place. Thank goodness it is a temporary situation. I re-organized the tupperware/food storage containers, donated alot of items and clothing to thrift stores, discarded broken items to the dump, took some clothes to consignment store, re-organized my craft stuff (knit,crochet and quilting) again donating bit of yarns and fabric to thrift store, purged spices and food stuffs, and re-organized some junk drawer items. I am self-motivated by the fact that we do not own our own house. We are semi-retired, own an RV and our goal for next year will be to travel as much as possible. I will admit I have searched the internet for organizational ideas which has also served as my motivation to purge. I say do whatever it takes to become motivated. Be strong and stick to your guns...tell yourself I am going to do it because in the end, purging just feels good. Good luck and have fun!
ReplyDeleteMy ah-ha moment was when I pulled together all of my drinking glasses & vessels. We had over 175 of them. All this for two people in our house--who rarely entertain!! There were drinking glasses, beer glasses, Tervis glasses, margarita glasses, wine glasses, plastic kiddie cups, coffee cups, tea cups, cups that came with our formal china, and souvenir glasses from our cruises. And then there were the water bottles and thermoses. Enough already!! We donated over half of them to our local thrift store--but I know we still have way more than we need.
ReplyDeletePretty much could duplicate your entire post!! I loved the book, love the new mindset I have, have shopped so much more sensibly, and think I got rid of about 1/3 of our entire stuff! I love it when I come across someone else who feels so CHANGED in the same way as I do!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, just came across this post and laughed until my stomach hurt while reading it! I am now about 2.5 years deep in purging my home in the Mother of All Post-Divorce Cleanup and Disaster Recovery Operations after splitting from my hoarder ex. Unfortunately I did not discover Mari Kondo's book until I was nearly through with major purge ops, and still haven't actually bought it yet, but intend to, and just might as soon as I finish posting this comment.
ReplyDeleteI must have hauled at least 10 truckloads of stuff to the donation center, e-waste, recycler, etc., and sold off about two rooms' worth of "clutter furniture" and FINALLY, AT LONG LAST, am within striking range of having the clean, peaceful, orderly home that I absolutely need in order to have any semblance of sanity. I have been very defensive about what I allow back in, and when buying something (there is a lot of important infrastructure still MIA), I ask myself, "Do I love this enough to be willing to pay to put it in storage or ship it in the event that I move overseas again?" I am also getting much better at not settling for something I don't care much for and instead just waiting till I can save enough money to get the thing I really want.
I have discovered that this is a multi-layered process, in that purging the uppermost layer of clutter allows the next layer down to rise to the surface and become plainly visible. Thank you for the tip about "projects in waiting" that never get done. I still have a number of those hanging around. I look forward to learning the "best practices" for dealing with what is left!
I finished the book last week and have donated 13 garbage bags full, along with other smaller canvas sacks (about 6). I have 3 more bags to take and I'm not even done purging. I thought I was a neat and tidy person before, and in a way I am, but I was holding on to way too much. This book is great. Glad to see it working out for others as well! My current struggle, like many on here, is getting the spouse on board. He is an artist and photographer so he thinks everything is a keeper..... even empty boxes. Good luck to all!
ReplyDeleteWow! I enjoyed this old post. Loved her book and I agree even though I was already the declutter type the book pushes you further. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteI loved the book! I actually read it twice while I completed the process because there were so many helpful tips scattered throughout.
ReplyDeleteI read the book about a year ago. I did not follow her advice completely and the main area I remember sorting was our writing utensils. It looked much like your picture...so many! My main take away was to gather everything into one place to sort and decide what to keep.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this fun to read post!
Sometimes I take a photo. This lets me "keep" what I'm tempted to "save," so I have it - even though I don't. For example, I can photograph a room of a loved one before I take it apart to pass the contents along. I have SO much, and others have SO little. I find it's much, much easier to let go when I know someone else will benefit. Whatever works to achieve the goal. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the book but get the gist of it. So, I've been able to declutter every closet, drawer and room of things that are just clutter using the premise - does it bring me joy? Is it necessary to have this?Do I have multiples? I used a different word then Joy in my closet. I took everything out and then picked up individual articles and asked myself, " Would I buy this today?". I pack everything up that I've bagged or boxed and immediately put it in the SUV to go a charity thrift shop or give to friends. Either way, it's out of my house immediately.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the incentive to get going! I can,t wait to try this! Love your ideas. 😊
ReplyDeleteI read this book and loved it, too. My biggest challenge was culling through my "keepsake" boxes. before I read it, I thought I had done a good job meticulously organizing my stuff into 12 (yes twelve) storage boxes. Then I thought I did pretty good when I had whittled it down to 6. After I read the book, I was able to pare down to three! I think I've only missed one or two items that I threw out, but the overall experience and results were worth it. I think Kondo really hit it on the head when she talked about emotional weight connected that is connected to an object, even if we're not really consciously aware of it. I realized that I had kept every single trinket and letter from a friendship that is no longer what it once was, and looking at it all made me realized that I had made an idol, for lake of a better term, of that friendship, rather than assessing the quality of that friendship. I kept a few things that signified the best and most memorable parts, and lovingly discarded the rest. It was a really emotionally freeing thing to do.
ReplyDeleteI have two daughters that moved out five and six years ago and their stuff is still here! After reading this I'm putting my foot down!! lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration!
I started a new job and realized I needed to make even bigger changes in my life. My health has been priority LAST instead of priority FIRST, and I need to do more to get on top of our finances and finally "get somewhere" with them. I read the book about a year ago, but couldn't do much about it at the time, so I took the two weeks between jobs and started discarding. It took me two days to do my wardrobe. It took three days to do my books (and I got rid of 12 boxes of them, and still have probably 20 boxes left... I'm a book lover). But the hardest was the papers. My dad was a CPA, so I was taught to save EVERYTHING. I already sent a car-load to the mobile shredder two years ago, so I figured this would be easy. It took me 10 days, from morning til night, to go through papers, and I'm still not completely done. I had to start my new job. Well, needless to say, the disorganization at home left me very stressed at work (that and the boss ended up being a major jerk), so I just quit my job a week ago and I'm digging into this BIG-TIME. It has already made a huge difference in my bathroom, there's just no getting it messy when everything actually has a place to be! The job I'm cringing the most about, is the kitchen. I seriously dread doing the kitchen. Any tips for handling that? (Especially when half the kitchen stuff is still in storage from my last move?)
ReplyDeleteNever heard of this book until now. Will look for it. My biggest problem is my husband. He wont get rid of anything. He even complains when I get rid of my own things. Every now and then I make things "dissapear" behind his back, but it is not enough. I just showed him this article and got angry and walked away. What can I do?
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! This works! I just gathered all our markers---why have I been buying markers? I've gotta go color something now & more throwing out.
ReplyDeleteUugggg I’m seeing a pattern of the men not wanting to give stuff up. (Why is this?) That is my husband all the way. He can’t get rid of anything without complaining. I bought that TV �� 20 years ago and paid good money for it. And it still works�� but we don’t use it.
ReplyDeleteI had to force him to throw away a pair of shorts that were too short that had bathroom caulking on them. That took me approximately five years... no joke! Hahaha just trying to see how it’s possible to Declutter with a husband who refuses to get rid of anything .
I am knee deep in the process right now. I'm glad to hear that it ends eventually. I'm amazed by the amount of stuff we had in our house!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI too love tidying up thanks to Marie Kondo. I first had to purge through everything because I found clothes moths or rather their tiny wormlike larvae in drawers, closets, aaagh. After cleaning out everything, getting rid of moth bitten items etc. I found Marie Kondo's book. I also watched her on Netflix which is sooo much fun. I have done my kitchen, bedroom, living room. I still need to do my office where all my books are and the most scary thing - paper. I have 15 years of stuff from teaching college English and 15 years of personal papers from bills, to personal info. Have you done paper yet? Let me know if it went well, if you have. Love your adorable website. Even tho I am an 80 year old granny, I still love decorating ideas. I love your living room pillows and want to buy some like the ones I see there. Where should I shop that is reasonable for an ENglish professor who is now retired on SSS. (wah)
Just started reading the book. I can’t wait to get rid of stuff! I’ve been so stressed over all the clutter!
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