Who else is doing a big declutter for New Years?

[Kiwibird]

Well, now that the holidays have passed and our home has been fully repaired after the great flood of 2018 we decided to declutter. I did a massive declutter about 3 or 4 years ago when we lived in a larger rental and got rid of more than half of everything we owned then. I did hang onto some stuff I thought would work in 'our future home' but have reached the conclusion that this condo is where we'll be stuck for the foreseeable future so we might as well decorate for this space and get rid of everything else. The decor that looked cute in prior apartments simply did not look right here and it drove me nuts every day. I've done a HUGE amount of getting rid of crap already! About 6 or 7 dumpster trips of non-donatable/trash and a packed carload to a local thrift shop with my car maxing out again for a second load and probably a small load after that. I'm about 85% done and have gotten rid of probably just under half of what we own this time, most of it being left over from the last decluttering efforts. I've already tackled the attic and 'major' areas, and am just going through the small stuff now. I am hoping that getting rid of stuff will curb my OCD about rearranging stuff. And not just getting rid of it, but getting rid of EVERYTHING that doesn't fit or look right in this space and/or isn't being used/worn/otherwise enjoyed. I also budgeted a bit for some curtains/lamps etc... that actually look right in this space, so excited for that!

Anyone else decluttering now or in the near future too and want to share stories in their battle against junk

 

[ChristaNL]

Not me- my (small) house is complete and utter mess! :54::smile004:

(a few close relatives and almost-relatives passed away the last few years and I am still trying to sort through all the "usefull stuff" that ended up aka got donated here. Since I am not working or likely to hold a fulltime job in ...ever?... again that makes me a gratefull charity-case. Anything I chuck I cannot afford to replace, so I have to go slow and think it through.)
It embarasses me so much I cry a lot!

Decluttering is an ongoing project here (and yes, I have help, but that is not helping with the feeling-terrible about it most of the time). Charity-shops etc. are my best friends when it comes to letting things go and find another place to be usefull.


So if you ever get bored and want to inject some practical style... come on over
I love being organized and just *know* where everything is without turning into a detective.

Minimalism is not for me - I have always been a bit of a clutterbug, though the parrots help a lot by consistently clearing al the horizontal surfaces above floorlevel ...

 

[Kiwibird]

Not me- my (small) house is complete and utter mess! :54::smile004:

(a few close relatives and almost-relatives passed away the last few years and I am still trying to sort through all the "usefull stuff" that ended up aka got donated here. Since I am not working or likely to hold a fulltime job in ...ever?... again that makes me a gratefull charity-case. Anything I chuck I cannot afford to replace, so I have to go slow and think it through.)
It embarasses me so much I cry a lot!

Decluttering is an ongoing project here (and yes, I have help, but that is not helping with the feeling-terrible about it most of the time). Charity-shops etc. are my best friends when it comes to letting things go and find another place to be usefull.


So if you ever get bored and want to inject some practical style... come on over
I love being organized and just *know* where everything is without turning into a detective.

Minimalism is not for me - I have always been a bit of a clutterbug, though the parrots help a lot by consistently clearing al the horizontal surfaces above floorlevel ...

I can sympathize with feeling highly emotional about clutter. Mine doesn't make me cry but it makes me hyper anxious. My place has never had much in the way of visual clutter (more decor that didn't suit the space well was the visual issues), but in the attic, outside storage room, utility closet, cabinets etc... it was a near-hoarder level disaster of (very neatly organized) junk. The stress and burden of it all drives me crazy 24/7. I seriously have sleeping problems because of not being able to stop ruminating over the clutter in the attic. I have such bad anxiety I'm willing to take drastic measures to try and curb it. I feel owning less would make a huge impact as most of my anxiety surrounds owning extra stuff and how to organize it all. If I don't have anything to organize left, perhaps I will feel less like I'm being driven to the point of madness all the time

We don't have a huge income either so my personal take is to just trust we'll figure out a way in the future should the need for xyz object ever arise again. Wants and NEEDS are very different things. For example, regular old mason jars fit well for food storage needs in our tiny kitchen. I also had over a dozen very nice metal canisters I used in the past that cost a good deal more than jars. I am not using them though and haven't for years. To me, it is not worth the burden they place on my mental health both knowing they're taking up valuable attic space but also the guilt of not using them and the.... not very happy with life feeling that we won't be able to afford a real house anytime soon. Just a big collection of negativity as far as I'm concerned, so I'm happy to pass them on to someone who will be excited and get use out of them

BTW- while I was only in my early teens when he died, my grandfather was a true hoarder. My family had confined his hoarding to a single room of the house, but it took them about 2 years to clean out that room and there was so much crap they found a huge armchair that had been totally buried by clutter. I think that revelation (the completely buried chair) is when my obsessions with order and not having clutter started, actually. It was very hard on those who were adults/handling the situation so I kind of get the burden of inheriting a mess. When my grandma passed (other side of the family) around the same time, my family just donated virtually everything. I think beyond a few heirlooms, when I have to deal with deceased loved ones in the future, I won't even bring their stuff home and will just let it all go.

 

[ChristaNL]

I so hear you!

Sorting and finding places and uses for things is crazy: you either need/ use something or you do not, right? It always sounds sooo simple, untill one gets to the do-it part.

I love DIY and "if the gods want to punish you, they grant you your wishes" - I have a armload of chisles etc. now-- most of them fairly abused, so yea...there we go again... I will not be able to sort them till I actually work with them--at that point it will be easy.
(The composition of the metal varies so much! Some I find really great, others unworkable)

Simple glas jars are *the* best -- with all the pretty design ones you either have too many or not enough, so always mismatched ones in the lot... easily replaced and and see through makes my life a lot easier as well: no guessing whats in there.
(See through also makes for more visual clutter... but that is why we have cupboards... right?

I have met a few hoarders as well and yes, that is a (mental) place you never want to go if you can help it.
(I am learning the last few years just how slippery that slope can be!)
The only way out is to really keep at it till you are well and truely done.

 

[Kiwibird]

This is how the main living area looks now. It's just so small and awkward Doesn't help that our furniture was bought at random over the years and is too expensive to replace with a cohesive set. Even with most of the 'decor' gone it still feels 'wrong' to me (open to suggestions from the more design inclined than I am!). Really hoping solid curtains will help tone it down and some matched lamps for by the sofa and a coordinating fixture for Kiwi's cage will help it feel less like the inside of a thrift store and more.... home like? Or perhaps I really just have some terrible misfirings in the brain and this would be acceptable to most people but to me I just hate this space and it's so hard to do anything to make me like it. Heck, I'm not sure if someone gave me the money to redecorate from the ground up with new furniture if I'd ever not feel uncomfortable in this space.... Definate bad vibes and bad lines and bad energy here (to me). Sigh.

(BTW- for anyone who remembers me saying Kiwi's swing fell out of the window when I suction cupped it on, this was my solution- now I roll him over instead!)

 

[ChristaNL]

If this is your "sub-par" you can come over and redecorate here anytime
Definite sense of style.

My livingroom looks more like most peoples birdrooms / after some serious 'dump the contents of the attic/garage in there as well'-action of course. :21_irked:

Right now moving my project-TARDIS-cupboard and reparing all the holes Appie gnawed in the cork wallcovering are my main priority (multiple peoples job, that thing is heavy!), then setting up the new cage and rearrange whatever else needs rearranging.
Yup... only a month behind scedule (or so) but other prorities keep popping up.

 

[LaManuka]

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!

 

[chris-md]

Not a full declutter, no. but I started with my wallet and am about to move on to the wardrobe

 

[Kiwibird]

If this is your "sub-par" you can come over and redecorate here anytime
Definite sense of style.

My livingroom looks more like most peoples birdrooms / after some serious 'dump the contents of the attic/garage in there as well'-action of course. :21_irked:

Right now moving my project-TARDIS-cupboard and reparing all the holes Appie gnawed in the cork wallcovering are my main priority (multiple peoples job, that thing is heavy!), then setting up the new cage and rearrange whatever else needs rearranging.
Yup... only a month behind scedule (or so) but other prorities keep popping up.

I'll tell you, it sure didn't look like this a few days ago and our office currently has the 'dump the contents of the attic/garage' aesthetic: as I continue on this mission to rid us of clutter :27: As mentioned, I (likely) have some kind of mild-moderate OCD so I find things other people barely notice intolerable. That's why I'm hoping such a massive purge will do me some good so I can feel less on edge/stressed all the time by the contents of my home.

If I were you and had a really large scale decluttering project, I'd tackle my kitchen and sleeping areas first as those are most important for being able to eat healthy and be well rested, followed by my main living area then worry about the rest. Once you have some part of your home that is mostly how you'd like, the rest will come much easier

 

[Kiwibird]

Not a full declutter, no. but I started with my wallet and am about to move on to the wardrobe

Oh, that's always a tough one (wardrobe)! Any particular goal in mind or just a general get rid of some stuff?

 

[chris-md]

Mostly get rid of stuff I haven’t worn in years and know I won’t touch again. But I’m also gonna work on losing weight so balance not wearing in years with simply stuff I couldn’t fit in - shop my own closet, as it were.

 

[Laurasea]

I live the kitchen roler I want!! I have to much stuff! I moved here ten years ago and put a bunch of stuff in a spare room, it's still there. Sigh...but I started sold all my salt water tanks, and ok'd bird cages, used the cash to upgrade my bird cages. In the spring will do a yard sale and donated my skinny clothes cuz I ain't getting any skinnier! I do need to declutter, and it is more restful with less stuff in the room! I'm a hobby painter, sold a few paintings, but I keep a bunch cuz I like looking at them... But I have to many. And they are not that great so I really need to bring myself to dump in the trash..

 

[SailBoat]

No wonder Kiwi is fearless! If not, he could be mistaken for a stationary item and etc, etc, etc.... Keep moving Kiwi. A rolling stone gathers no moss nor Mom's evil eye!

You have an Amazon, Perfection is not allowed as it only invites Amazon artistic intervention.

 

[Scott]

I don't typically make "New Year" resolutions, but if I did, decluttering would be top o' the heap! Promised myself to begin tackling once retired, but hasn't happened yet. Going to be a huge job, but every complex undertaking begins with the first steps.... Hopefully in January!

 

[SilverSage]

The intention was to get mine done by thanksgiving so the donations could be on thrift store shelves in time for Christmas but that failed!

I’m always purging my house; my friends claim my house has an eating disorder (not funny or healthy in people, but good for houses). I get stressed by clutter and we move every couple of years. Our last house was extremely small and who knows how big the next one will be!


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[OutlawedSpirit]

I feel like I'm constantly decluttering and going through stuff. There's never a specific time or start or end. It's like the snake eating its own tail. I love collecting things to organize other things but then I need more things to organize all the things I got to organize the things that needed to be organized... then I go through it all, get rid of a bunch of it and start all over.

I'm sort of a mess, I know. I think the birds love when it involves their stuff because it means rotating through new toys, treats n etc.

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[Kiwibird]

Sheesh. I'm STILL working through this! I have had a rather persistent 'mini cold' which where I am not sick-sick, I keep sneezing and having minor upper respiratory discomfort. Very irritating/distracting to constantly feel you have to sneeze/weird burning/tingling sensation in nose. Despite not feeling 100%, I'm now down to a minimal few areas but struggling to remain motivated I will get it done though! Especially since when we took everything out/down (basically stripped down every room to the furniture itself), we decided to redecorate more for this space. Our budget for 'redecorating' is minimal enough we'll naturally end up with a minimal aesthetic but at least it will not feel so jumbled together.

Seems a lot of people have a bit of a clutter problem too. Hope everyone can find the motivation to start somewhere small and keep up the momentum from there! Once you start, it really does get easier and easier and you'll find yourself going back to things you initially thought you wanted to keep and realizing there's no need. And it really is amazing how much stuff truly isn't serving any purpose is lurking about and how much better things feel once the excess stuff is gone. Our place actually feels a bit bigger and calmer.

 

[Tami2]

Great thread April!

I am always trying to get rid of 'stuff' we don't use that is taking up precious space. However, my better half is a pack rat. I go through mine & my sons clothes twice a year & give to the salvation army items we haven't worn in a while. There is a book I read a while ago, I can't remember the name. But, they had a 1 year rule. If you haven't worn or used something in a year get rid of it. They also claimed not falling into the trap of, 'But I may need this in the future.' Especially for the frugal among us. Why throw away something good, it may come in handy some day. I'm all on board w/ that premise, if you have a huge house with plenty of storage. I don't, my house was built in 1799 and I have few small closets, no basement or attic. It's a problem for us.

I battle w/ "Memory Clutter". My husband can't part with things he has an emotional attachment to. For years we had our very 1st couch in our garage. He claimed he was going to create a wood working shop in there & needed the couch... That never happened. I finally had to convince him that at this point it would be riddle w/ vermon & dust mites etc... But, it is a tough battle when you have resistance. I have to throw things away when he's not around. If he catches me he goes through the bags to retrieve things.

Best of luck to everyone battling the clutter war!!
I believe in the mantra, 'Less is more'. I prefer simplicity and clutter causes me stress.

Again, great New Year Thread :smile049:

 

[ChristaNL]

Tami2: Oh... if he is (like most people) a picture-thinker ... a photograph of the item will be just as good as having the item around.
Give it a try.
You probably *never* will look at that picture again, but a SSD or something like it takes up a lot less space


=


I had the loveliest conversation with my rather reclusive neighbour (she asked about the cageparts that I was cleaning: coming in or going out??).
It turnes out 'the mess' I park outside (wainting for transport to charity/recycling/junking) does not bother her at all!
(and me dying of shame for being a temporary clutterer in the communal space)
She actually uses it as inspiration to declutter her own house.

LOL, never did I dream my "walk of shame" would be something positive for someone else!

Like a lot of people struggling to "let go of stuff/ sort the hoard" she also was relieved to hear/see she was not alone.
I was happy to hear I did not upset her in anyway and actually was in a weird way 'helping'.


=


Thank you Kiwibird for being an inspiration!

 

[Sandy19]

I'm very minmalist and can't stand clutter. Even when its hidden in a closet or cabinets, I still know it's there and have this overwhelming urge to get rid of it. The only problem is my husband and kids are forever bringing more stuff in. Stuff, stuff and more stuff. I hate stuff lol.