How to Keep Your Home Clutter-Free in 3 Simple Steps.
I hear this from clients on every single phone consultation I do: ‘I just own too much stuff.’ Too much stuff. It simultaneously feels like a national crisis and the American way. Too much stuff for your space to hold comfortably? Probably. Too much stuff for your mental health? Definitely. But ‘too much stuff’ is relative and different person by person. Don’t get me wrong, I always silently agree when someone tells me that, but let’s better define this oft used phrase and help prevent it in the future.
After I first KonMari-ed my home, I felt a feeling wholly unfamiliar to me: I have the perfect amount of stuff. I had never thought that before. I had thought ‘I need more stuff,’ and ‘I have too much stuff.’ I had volleyed between these feelings, sometimes even feeling them at the same time, but I had never landed in the middle. Today, 5 plus years after first getting organized, I feel great about how much stuff I own. Curious about what ‘the perfect amount of stuff’ for me is, I decided to count my clothing items to see how much is actually there.
Here’s the rundown from my closet:
13 T-Shirts
13 Blouses/Button Downs
9 Jackets/Sweatshirts
6 Sweaters
2 Blazers
2 Overcoats
10 Pants
4 Shorts
10 Dresses/Jumpsuits
8 Tanks/Camisoles
6 Pajama Separates
7 Workout tops
7 Workout bottoms
10 Bras
24 Socks
23 Underwear
19 Shoes
5 Hats
3 Scarves
1 Belt
1 Pair of Tights
1 Pair of Spanx
185 Items in total. (Full disclosure: while doing this count, I also got rid of 4 dresses, 1 tank top and a pair of shoes. Sweet freedom!) This amount of clothing feels good to me. Is it the ‘right’ amount? For me, yes. And that’s the point. I feel balanced. Not too much, not too little and I love every single item. So how have I kept it this way for five plus years? I follow these 3 steps religiously.
Raise the bar.
In case you need it— I, Raleigh West, Professional Organizer, hereby give you permission to be waaaaaaay pickier. Organizing is not just a process of decluttering, it’s also a process of raising the bar of what you allow into your home. You deserve higher standards! For me to make the purchase, keep the gift, accept the hand-me-down, I have to unequivocally love it. It has to make me jump for joy.
Purchase slowly.
Look ya’ll, retail therapy is real. We get that rush of dopamine and feel great after a fun purchase. But see Step 1. Is it true love? Or are you just after that sweet, sweet dopamine? Admire, but don’t acquire. Court your potential purchase like a new lover. Take your time. Go home and imagine it in your space. Are you still thinking about it a week later? Then go get that thing! Not so much? Move on, girl, you deserve the best.
Donate often.
Haven’t reached for those boots in a minute? Do a quick KonMari joy-check on them. If they no longer make you feel stars, thank them and donate. The feeling for me often sounds like, ‘Oh, these aren’t my boots anymore.’ It’s so interesting to me, but it’s always this realization that this thing belongs to someone else now and I need to get it to the Salvation Army so this new person can come get it! Keep an ongoing donation bag or bin in the house and donate as needed.
Following these steps has given me so much more freedom in my space. I’m not at the mercy of this growing clutter monster anymore. My space feels intentional, curated and authentic to me. Let me know in the comments if you think this could work for you, and happy organizing!
-Raleigh