I have so much 'stuff' that I literally cannot see the good stuff or the stuff I like. I end up using only the 'stuff' I can see, which isn't always a good look.
I popped over to sis's place the other day as she'd had a whole brand new kitchen installed. Y'know, the one with the massive island, bifold doors, boiling water tap, copper lighting and oh so expensive beaten leather dining chairs. The whole place is clutter free with clear surfaces. Not a kettle in sight! She can even put the oven knobs in the drawer! She took me up to her swish dressing room. A home for everything. Shoe shelves. Neatly folded t shirts in coloured piles. She even had a chaise for trying on her multitudes of shoes! I came over all faint for a moment and thought I was in a shop! Mimi wants to live in her dressing room. She said that it was beautiful, calm and nothing like my wardrobe where she could never find anything she wanted to filch!
I'm so envious...in a good way, but visiting someone's home always gives me 'House envy'!
I came home seriously depressed, if not a little bit determined. So today is a new day. I'm having a clear out. How long it will last I've no idea but I'm going to give it a go. I've read the articles by Marie Kondo and her KonMari method
https://konmari.com/
I know how to fold my clothes so that they're so small they could fit into matchbox. I've read the new Woman and Home advice on decluttering. I've even watched the videos on how to declutter. I'll always have a few days where I move things around but magically they appear back in place after a few weeks.
I know I've become a bit of a horder in my old age. It's hereditary, I'm certain. I hang on to the kids baby stuff in the hope that I might be able to use them...but I'm pretty sure that boat has sailed. Some of that 'stuff' is sentimental. I look at them occasionally...and I remember. That's nice, but it's all taking up so much room.
I read a lovely article about a woman who had lost her husband. She had his clothes, the things he wore day in day out, but she was downsizing and had no room for everything he'd worn. So she took pictures of his well worn shoes, his jacket over the back of a chair and his pipe resting in the ashtray. Beautiful pictures that she'd be able to look at day in, day out. How lovely is that?
The trouble I've found is looking at all of these items as £££££'s! How much could I make? EBay it or car boot it? It's soooo stressful!
One piece of advice I read was that you must have an exit strategy.
Makes sense.
How many times have you filled up those black bin bags only to unload them when you realise that you might just need that raggedy old cardi or that vile vase is just what you need to hold that bunch of flowers you've just purchased? How many bags now fill that spare room of yours and how many bags have you stacked in your attic....all waiting for that run to the dump, charity shop or car boot? And how long have they been sitting there?
I've compiled an exit strategy based on what I've learned. It might not suit everyone but it worked for me.
Decluttering the wardrobe.
- Plan your exit strategy. Get the car running with your man in the driving seat. The rest will make sense shortly.
- Give yourself 15 minutes. No thinking, no trying on.
- Open your wardrobe doors and peer in. Immediately take out the less appealing items, things you don't like, things that have holes in and things you wear for the dirty jobs. Put them in a black bag without pondering too much. If you don't like it, you'll not wear it. If it's used for the dirty jobs, don't worry you'll find something you'll be able to replace it with.
- Chuck it in the black bag. Carry on until you have filled the black bag. Get one of the kids to drag it down stairs and chuck it in the boot.
- Go, go, go!
Your man will drive the bag or bags to them recycling depot and you'll never see them again!
See! Easy peasy!
My next post will be on doing the car boot and making some money from your dross...your trash is someone else's treasure.
Go on, it'll set you free!
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