4.12.19
Have you watched “Tidying Up” on Netflix? It seems to be all the rage! So much so that people are really taking their spring cleaning to a new level. Many of the donation centers are feeling overwhelmed with donations. I read an article by Molly Miller, on HGTV’s website, that shared even more tips from Marie Kondo and her KonMari method of organizing. I wanted to share my thoughts on these 7 additional tips.
You Don’t Need to Tidy Every Day
All it takes is one big tidying session to get your house into shape. So, do it right and do it well, and you shouldn’t have to add “declutter” to your chore list ever again. Organizing all of your belongings at one time allows you to see results immediately, which has a profound impact on your mindset. Once you finish tidying one category, you’ll feel confident and motivated to tackle the next area.
My thought is that it is truly challenging to organizing all of your belongings at one time. When I think about my clients and the anxiety, they feel to tackle a single room. I know that they would be overwhelmed to organize all their belongings at one time. What I do suggest, though, is to do one area completely. For instance, the master closet; I think it is important to organize ever aspect of it and then the client can maintain it and when finished, you move on to a different part of the home and again you organize it and they maintain it until you work your way through the entire home. The process takes time but let’s face it, I’m sure it took time for it to get disorganized as well.
Storage Can Be a Trap
Storing before sorting results in hoarding. Before stepping foot in The Container Store, remember this: Bins and baskets just disguise clutter without addressing the problem. Boxes are only useful when they hold items that you actually need and want. Shoeboxes and clear food storage containers work just as well as any pricey organizing gadget.
I agree with this tip 100% and recently shared a quote that said “Never ‘organize’ what you can discard”. There are times when I’m working with a client and I ask them what is in a container and they say something like “office supplies” and that it’s probably nothing that we need to bother with. However, most times they have office supplies that they no longer use or need (like ink that was used for an old printer). I help them reduce what they have and only keep the items that they will truly use.
Visualize Your Future
This is perhaps the most important takeaway from Kondo’s book. Visualization is your most powerful tool when decluttering. If you can’t picture yourself using an item in the future, or if it doesn’t align with your current lifestyle, toss it. After all, the goal of the KonMari method is to help you live your best life. A clear vision will energize and inspire you to finish organizing.
I agree with this as well. However, I’ll take it one step further. Not only should think about whether or not you will use an item in the future or if it’s no longer your style, the same goes for the actual space. Imagine what it will look like clutter free and with everything in it a specific place. Imagine how easy it will be to find items and to put things away. The goal is to simplify and live your best life. A friend shared this quote with me “If you don’t find something to be useful or beautiful, you are not obligated to keep it”. Isn’t that the truth? Free yourself of the burden of keeping things just to make someone else happy and instead, donate it to a good cause so that someone else can find some joy in it!
Arrange Clothes from Heaviest to Lightest
A subtle but impactful change, arranging clothes so they rise to the right visually improves your closet. Kondo says hanging clothes from heaviest (coats, jackets, pants) to lightest (dresses, blouses, skirts) energizes your closet and makes it easy to quickly find what you need.
Time to get real folks. I don’t agree with this. I like to see a closet arranged by color (light to dark) and then weight (lightest to heaviest). I also feel that by arranging in color and size order, the closet is super efficient and it is easy to find what you are looking for. This is what appeals to me and the strategy that I use with my clients.
Labels Are Not Your Friend
Hate to break it to all the die-hard label maker-lovers out there, but words are the enemy. Quiet the “noise,” as Kondo calls it, by removing stickers from storage boxes or items that don’t need labels, like scrubbers or mild soaps. However, if removing labels makes you nervous, at least decant food and basic cleaning supplies into clear containers. This creates a clean, streamlined appearance in closets and on shelves which prevents you from feeling overwhelmed with choices.
I agree with this statement. I feel that too many labels can cause too much structure. Some things simply don’t need a label. Where I do like labels, though, is on office files and storage bins. However, I do not use a label maker for the storage bin because I want that label to be large and easy to read because often our storage is in a low-lit area and large labels make it easier for the clients to find what they are looking for.
Forget About Seasonality
Packing up sweaters and shorts isn’t necessary, Kondo says. Instead, she recommends sorting clothing by material (wool, cotton, polyester, etc.) instead of season or activity. This way, all of your clothes are on-hand and visible when the weather turns fickle. Those with small spaces or limited storage can put away specific off-season items like bathing suits and scarves in a set of drawers. Remember that this task should be done after getting rid of unwanted garments, leaving plenty of empty space to add seasonal clothes back to your closet.
I don’t like the idea of sorting clothing by material. I just don’t. If the client has a large enough closet to keep all seasons in it then I suggest that they keep one area for spring and summer clothes and one for fall and winter clothes. In each of those areas, sort the clothes from light to dark and lightest to heaviest. The clothes that are in season should be in an area that is the easiest to reach. If the closet is not large enough for all seasons, then keep the current season in the closet (spring/summer or fall/winter) and keep the other season in an extra closet or storage totes. Then rotate them as the seasons change.
“Someday” Means “Never”
This might be the hardest pill to swallow, but be brutally honest with yourself when tossing clutter. Partially finished projects, ill-fitting clothes, unused gadgets – all of these items cause stress and guilt. No one wants constant reminders of failure. Free yourself from the “eventuallys” and focus on the now.
I agree with this as well. When working on closets with clients, I often see clothing of several sizes. In most cases, there is hope of getting into those smaller clothes and sometimes there are the larger clothes as well. I encourage my clients to keep what fits them and brings a smile to their face. Sometimes they keep something because of the name brand or simply because it was expensive. Well, what good is it if it doesn’t make you feel good when you wear it? In addition to that, if we do get back into those smaller clothes, we often want to get something new and more current. I have also shared a 10/20 rule with my clients. If you can replace it in less than 10 minutes for less than $20, then it’s okay to let it go. If you really did regret getting rid of that item, you can easily replace it.
Always Unpack Your Bag
It’s such a simple task, yet we rarely do it! (Even Kondo admits that she skips this task on days when she is especially tired.) As soon as you get home, place your wallet, keys and work ID in a nice bowl or box on your dresser or near the door. Emptying your purse or backpack every day ensures that no important papers or receipts are lost or forgotten.
Nope. I don’t agree with this one. In my opinion, it’s simply causing extra steps that are unnecessary. Instead, I think that you should go through your purse once a week and discard any trash, remove important papers and act on them and address any receipts that need to be saved (preferably electronically).
Get Specific
Scattered storage spots result in more clutter. Consolidate storage areas so that it takes minimal effort to return items to their designated spot. The KonMari method requires you to group similar items (like electrical stuff) in the same place. For instance, don’t store shoes next to every door in the house, which looks cluttered. Instead, corral them all on a shelf or in a basket in one spot so you always know where to find them. Don’t get caught up with where or how often you use an object. Focus on the storage category and organize from there.
I agree with this and really don’t have anything to add to it. The goal it to only handle something once, meaning put it away where it goes in the first place. Once you have those places established in your home, it’s super easy to maintain.
Bulk Isn’t Best
Sure, it seemed like a good deal at the time, but now your closet is bursting with never-worn clothes that still have tags. More isn’t always better, even if your favorite t-shirt style is on super sale. Kondo suggests only buying what you need (to save storage space and reduce waste), immediately removing new items from packaging and putting them away.
I absolutely agree with this! I had a client that would buy paper products and drinks in bulk but they lived in a small space and had no place to store the excess items. Therefore, it was always put in odd places and even in the way which caused the home to look unorganized and could also be a hazard. There was another quote that stands out to me when I think about this “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”. Basically, buy what you need!
That sums up the article. I hope that you found the tips and my insight to be helpful. If you would like to apply these to your space and just don’t know where to start or how to go about organizing, please contact me! I offer complimentary consultations and would love to help you reduce the clutter and embrace your space!
Contact Julie for help with your organizing needs or to schedule a speaking engagement.
I agree with everything in this article and need to address some problem areas in my home with these tips in mind~!