It seems minimalism is all the rage these days on the Internet. Or Netflix, with Marie Kondo’s series. I see the appeal: it’s easier to find what you have, it’s easier to clean a house with less stuff, owning less saves you money and is good for the environment. I myself find that a cluttered–or just full–room makes me cranky and/or anxious. My friends keep posting links to this NY Times article, which makes me think I’m not the only one with this issue.
However, I also grew up in a house that contained many things–some useful, some clutter, some beautiful decorations and mementos. My parents have been able to provide a number of very helpful hand me downs to their children, such as lamps, tables, dishes, and towels only by saving their old items until we needed them.
Living as I do now–in an older home without a ton of storage–I find myself torn between two schools of thought. Keep things I might need, or clear out unused items. Shop my closet, or clear the clutter.
The closet in my home office is stuffed to the gills–so much so the door won’t close. I’ve worked on organization, but the truth is, there is too much to organize. About half of the items in the closet need to go if I want to be able to reach things easily.
In the past month, though, I’ve done a good job of shopping my closet–using things I have stored away and seldom use. I have pulled out wrapping paper and gift bags for holiday/birthday/retirement gifts. I have extracted dress shoes and purses and shawls to attend parties. A huge win was giving (loaning?) a portable heater to a colleague when his home’s heating system died Christmas Eve. There was no getting a repair man out Christmas Day, his house was getting cold, and he has small children.
These examples encourage me to keep things that I don’t use everyday, but that ‘might be useful in the future’ (the phrase that is the bane of all declutterers, everywhere).
I struggle with some of the other items in my closet.
My weight–and clothing size–has fluctuated over the years. What should I do with 4 pairs of work slacks that don’t fit now, but might if I lose another 5 pounds? Should I donate them and hope they find a new home? This blog post at Our Next Life makes me feel really bad about donating clothing. Or should I continue to work on my weight loss and hope to wear the clothes later in the year? The cost of 4 pairs of work slacks plus hemming is not inconsiderable. How many years do I keep these slacks until I give up hope of wearing comfortably?
Do I keep the portable heater when my colleague returns it? I bought it when the heating system in the office was broken; but now it’s working very well. Should the portable heater live in the closet in case someone needs it in the future? Or should I send it out into the world to heat someone else’s home now?
What about something less appealing? I have a fat stack of papers related to a lawsuit. The suit was thrown out years ago, but I’m still not sure the papers should be.
There’s more clothing, fancy dress and regular, gloves without matches, shoes, extra pillows, suitcases, purses and gift bags. All more than I need, but it can’t all go either. Some items truly are used several times a year, and need a place to live in between uses.
I think 2019 will be the year some of these items find a new home–maybe a personally picked home, maybe charity, maybe the garbage can, sad though that makes me feel. But I suspect many items will remain hidden in the depths of my closet, waiting to be called to duty. I think that’s OK–once I make a little room, it will be cheaper and more convenient to shop the closet.
How about you? Are you paring down your possessions? Or are you the person who amazes friends and family by finding the perfect item in the back of your closet or shelving?