We all know that owning less can mean:
- You have more time for the things you want to do.
- It creates more space and ease in our homes.
- There is no need for Stuff-Shuffling to be able to sit down and relax.
- You can spend less time cleaning.
But how do we start when we are completely overwhelmed?
- Is the thought of living with less clutter appealing to you?
- Do you find that your mental health is suffering from living with all the clutter?
- Are you confused with the many different decluttering methods out there?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, this post will help you before starting your decluttering journey.
I know when you first start on your decluttering journey you can spend hours on Pinterest or google searching for tips, tricks and ways to declutter your house, and by the end of it, your brain feels just as cluttered with the "DECLUTTER YOUR WHOLE HOUSE IN 10 MINUTES" "DISCARD 50% OF YOUR STUFF BY LUNCHTIME" claims. Your logical brain tells you it's utter garbage, but still, we carry on seeking that magic cure.
As desirable as that sounds, the thought of decluttering a home can be overwhelming, if you have never attempted it before, and you have a lifetime of stuff collected in lofts, basements and closets. Having some good decluttering methods under your belt can make all the difference.
So, if you're fed up with all the searching, and just want to get into action, you have arrived at the right time, I have been down that rabbit hole for you - and have put together a list of 6 most popular (at the time of writing this post) methods of decluttering: How they work and the Pros and Cons of each to give you an idea.
1. The KonMari Method
This method was made popular by Marie Kondo, the author
of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
and Spark Joy, this is definitely one
of the most well-known decluttering methods out there. Marie has sold
over 11 million copies and it’s no surprise that her method has gotten so much
attention.
Basics: The core principle of the KonMari
method is that instead of deciding what to get rid of, you choose what to
keep and declutter the rest. To get started, collect every single item you
own in a particular category and put them in a big pile. For example, get every
T-shirt you own and put them on the bed. Hold, feel, or wear each one so
that you can get a good sense of how it makes you feel. While doing this, ask: Does
this spark joy in my heart? If the
answer is yes, then you keep it, if the answer is no, then you thank it for its
service and discard it.
Pros: This is an incredibly thorough method of
decluttering. It allows you to compare all items of a similar type. By doing it this way - you can discard any duplicates and compare less-liked items to
better ones you may have. It’s an effective way to make a lot of progress
decluttering in specific categories across multiple areas of the house at once.
Cons: The KonMari method is very time-consuming
and requires sorting through an entire household of stuff. Instead of focusing
on a room or two, you’re pulling things from the entire house. This method has the
potential to disrupt the whole house, not just the space you are working on. If you do choose this method and fold all of
your items as the method prescribes, you need to stick with the very tedious
way of folding or the system falls apart.
If you are likely to get bored, or you don’t have the time. I wouldn’t recommend
this method.
2. The Minimalist Game
Introduced by Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn
of The Minimalists,
this is a method that game-ifys the decluttering experience. It’s a popular
decluttering method with hundreds of people using the #minsgame
hashtag on social media every month.
Basics: You begin on the first day of a month,
the number of things you declutter corresponds to the day of the month. One
item on the first day, two items on the second day, three on the third,
and so on and so forth. The theory is that by the end of a 31-day month, you will have removed 496
items from your home if you play all the way through. This game works best when
you challenge a friend or family member and see who can keep going the longest.
Pros: You will have decluttered almost 500 items
from your home within the month – if you play all month – This is really impressive and no small
feat, the bonus is that you can play as many months in a row as you’d like.
Another important aspect of this decluttering method is that it starts small
and increases over time. This allows you to build confidence in your
decision-making abilities and get increasingly better at letting go of stuff.
Cons: A major downside of the minimalism game is that you
have to stay consistent each day otherwise it’s easy to fall behind, as the
difficulty increases each day, and it can also be difficult to catch up if you miss a day. Towards the end of the month, you’ll need to find a large number of items each day. After a long day at work, the last thing you may want
to do is to go searching your home to find 25 items to declutter that day.
3. The Packing Party
Another decluttering method from The Minimalists, this is a
fairly extreme method for decluttering your home and is more likely to be used if
you’re already planning on moving
to a new home. While it takes a ton of preparation and work, it can be
quite effective if you go through with it.
Basics: Have some friends over and pack
everything you own into boxes as if you were moving. Throughout the next few
months, only take out the items you use. Any items left inside the boxes after
three months can be sold or donated.
Pros: The Packing Party will help you get rid of
whatever you don’t use. Things that are out of sight are generally out of mind,
so you probably won’t even miss what is in the boxes. This method is fantastic
if you already happen to be moving. At your new home, only take out the things
you need to use instead of unpacking everything right away.
Cons: This is one of the most extreme and labour-intensive
decluttering methods. This method probably doesn’t make a lot of sense to
do unless you are already packing up for a move. Not only will it take a
significant amount of time and energy, but there’s also the cost of purchasing
boxes if you don’t already have them. This method also doesn’t work well
for seasonal items or items only used a couple times a year.
4. The Four Box Method
This method is a flexible way to deal with all the
items cluttering up your home. You can
choose how long you want to take to declutter, and which room you want to work
on. By sorting the clutter into four categories, you’ll make a decision on
every out-of-place item.
Basics:
Pros: This decluttering method is
straightforward, and there’s a category for everything. Instead of getting
stuck on an item, items in the Undecided box can be reconsidered at some future
date. It allows you to be flexible and declutter at your own pace.
Cons: It can become a problem if too many things
start to pile up in it. It’s best to avoid using this box as much as possible
and only put in things you’re really unsure about.
5. The One Method
Basics: This method combines other similar
philosophies into a simple concept: get rid of one thing every single day for a
period of time. That thing can be literally one item, one filled box, or one
filled bag per day.
Pros: If you are looking to ease yourself slowly
into building a habit of decluttering, this method may suit you. By getting rid of an amount every single day,
you’re able to build decluttering into your daily routine. Another major
benefit is the flexibility to create your own system. You can choose your level
for each day depending on how much you need to declutter.
Cons: It may be difficult to maintain consistency
with a busy schedule or when you’re travelling. This also wouldn’t work well for
people who prefer to declutter in big bursts versus small steps each day.
6. Closet Hanger Method
This method was brought to the attention of many by Oprah as
another effective way to figure out what clothing and other items you actually
use. With this method, you can track exactly what’s been used, a few pieces at
a time.
Basics: As the name suggests, this works best
for clothing stored on hangers in your closet. The most important thing is to
ensure all hangers are facing the same direction when you begin. Each day, you
place whatever you wore back in the closet with the hanger facing in the
opposing direction to signify what pieces you used.
Pros: This decluttering method is easy to
implement and takes almost no time to get started. It’s also a clear-cut way to
see exactly what you’re using and what you’re not. The same method can be
applied to things outside of clothing, but you’ll need to come up with a way to
mark what items are used.
Cons: The Closet Hanger method doesn’t work well
for clothing folded in a drawer or on a shelf. It also doesn’t work well for
non-clothing items. It can also be easy to forget to put the clothing item back
on the hanger facing the appropriate way. And similarly, to the Packing Party
method, this method doesn’t work well for seasonal or infrequently used items.
What method did I choose?
Well, I use a Franken- method (AKA the Frankenstein – I use
bits from several methods). I use the 4-box method for the majority of my
house, the Konmarie method for the categories and the “spark joy” concept in my
clothing – but let’s face it, a bottle of washing-up liquid doesn’t really
spark joy, but it’s a necessity, but the most important thing is that I do a daily
declutter.
The methods that I know full well I will not be using are: the Closet Hanger method, personally, this method would drive me INSANE... I have to have all my hangers facing the right way – or I would not be able to function ☹ Plus a lot of my clothes are folded, so not one for me. The One Method - it's a little too slow for me. When I do my daily routine I find myself decluttering as I go. I do like the idea of the Minimalist Game - it would be perfect to play against my hoarder husband. But it would only work if he would take part after his long day at work. So again, it's a no from me. The packing party - too much work - enough said!
But whichever method of decluttering you choose, getting
started is the most important thing. Life really is better without the constant
stress of clutter; it just takes some time and effort to get there. Just
remember it is essential that you set your
decluttering goal.
Let me know if you are using any of these 6 methods, or do
you have your own franken-method?
