Those that don't hoard...(and maybe those that do!)

If you've seen my spring clean post then you know I'm not necessarily the person to take advice from, but I'll tell you what I'm doing. :-)

My place is just crammed full of stuff, and I didn't know what to do, so I was ignoring it! Then I decided I would just choose an area, do that, give myself a little break, and then choose another. So it was the kitchen a few weeks ago, but that was a light one, more just reorganisation than ditching. This weekend I chose the bedroom, specifically starting with my underwear drawer, then wardrobe, then my work clothes drawer, then the rest of it. I've tried everything on and tried to make sure I get rid of as much as possible. 3 full bags later (1 overflowing charity bag, 2 for the bin) and I'm almost there, although still not actually got enough space, but its a start!

I have the motto if I don't wear an item / don't use something then it's going!!! I googled "how to make my house minamalistic", it gives you great ideas. You do feel much better once it's all cleared plus you find things easier x

My mantra: have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. If I'm ever stuck, I ask myself whether an item fits one of those categories. If not, out it goes.

Ahhh therein lies my probelm. Everything in our house I could find a use for you see!

It was you that inspired this thread, as well as the piles of paperwork everywhere ☹️

But I didn't want to hi-jack your thread. Maybe I need to plan out an area at a time then...

I'm not sure minimilism is compatible with children and animals though! I just googled it as you said and several of the pages were highlighted as ones I ahd read previously so I think I just need to re-read some of them!

You have to find that balance between - what you truly want to keep and what you truly need.

There is a wonderful feeling to throwing things out, of letting go and de cluttering that can become equally addictive.

You don't even have to throw things out, but you can donate things, I hoarded books and donated over 200 to Oxfam a number of months ago, after months of inner turmoil. I chose the titles I knew I never would read again, I thought of having to clean them, how I would have to move them all with everything else to redecorate or move and then I thought of people that would enjoy them whilst they sat on my shelves.

There also is a motto I have - that I apply to this though it is to do with my former training -

If in doubt leave it out

If I doubt i will use the thing again, or wear it, i probably won't.

I don't mind a thread hijack :-)

I could never be minimalist, but I can at least get rid of stuff I don't want anymore, even if I can't bring myself to strip it down to the bare bones. I've got 2 bin bags to throw away, and at least 2 for charity, so it's going well, although it still won't create enough space

I can't remember how many books it was but I got rid of over 170kg of books before I moved. I love books but had to cut back. I need to get rid of more, as they are something all three of us love and we accumulate them quickly!

I did actually try that when we moved in but it quickly became difficult because I hadn't found places for things yet IYSWIM? I am trying to apply that rule. I actually ahve cupbaords that are fairly empty because I haven't found the right thing for that place yet. To me everything has a use or a purpose or it wouldn't exist.

I've actually been doing the picture thing with the garden, as it makes me feel like I am actually gettign somewhere. There is a drawer next to me on the desk that is empty, it is ridicolous.

I think I need a plan of action.

I concentrated on my daughetrs room a few weeks ago and that was entirely sorted, few weeks before that my sons room, a few weeks before that my room, a few weeks before that the lounge. Yet it feels like it has got back to square one again. Having small children hoarders doesn't help though!

I think an example of how I applied the rule was that I was doing that very British thing of keeping things that were given to me as gifts, even if I didn't really like or want them. I eventually figured out that if I had been appropriately grateful at the time I was given the gift, and appreciated the giver's good intentions, it was okay to get rid of the item. H is not so good at that - after the wedding I convinced him we could throw away two photo frames we'd been given, but we are still clinging on to a box of wine glasses, despite the fact neither of us drink wine.

Make the most of the storage space available. It always amazes that most people on have a single hanging rail in their wardrobes when most of their clothes are short. Add another rail in any wardrobe that isn't occupied by long clothes.

Hang clothes of type together - skirts, jeans, sweaters etc. It makes it a lot easier to find what you are looking for.

I keep all my shoes in plastic boxes. I can see instantly what is in each but they are organised, neat and my shoes are looked after so last longer.

Kitchen cupboads - alter the shelf heights and add additional shelves to maximise the use of space.

Don't add to your clutter - when you open mail put the envelop etc that you don't need in the recycling not a drawer, on the table etc. Same with receipts from shopping - and have a specific folder/envelope/drawer for the ones you need to keep.

Think outside the box when looking for storage solutions. Don't just look at bathroom accessories for the bathroom, or office storage for your home office.

A place for everything and everything in its place is a mantra I try to live by.

I could go on but I'm getting a bit preachy - sorry. This organising de-cluttering stuff gets me strangely excited?XX

Wow Celticcurl - those are great tips! Fancy coming and organising my house? I am sure you will have a few offers from others too.

Is it outrageous that I recently got a hanging rail installed in the loft for my wedding dress and mine and the husband's summer suits? I intend to rotate based on season (well, not the wedding dress obviously). It sort of makes our wardrobe room look less cluttered whilst still retaining clothes.

Our box room has been turned into a walk in wardrobe too. It is effectively a choice between having a baby and it having a room and walk in wardrobe. The clothes are currently winning!

Not sure why this photo has decided to turn on its side:-

Argh, Helen, I have major envy. A walk in wardrobe room AND rails in the loft?! I have a tiny wardrobe in my bedroom and that's it! We want a 3 bed next predominantly so the third room can be a clothes room, although I'd hope it'll be H's games room too

Ha ha! I'm living the dream...

My shoe wardrobe - unfortunately since moving in with OH I've had to give him a shelf, and include my bags in the space. There are boxes above on a shelf too.

If I had less shoes and a more appropriate cuboard this would be great. Most of mine are still in their boxes (worth more if I sell them on and they stay well looked after) but we don't go out much so they don't see the light of day very often!

I used to keep them in their original boxes but they were harder to organise as all the boxes were different sizes. Some of these boxes have 2 pairs in (flats). I had a massive clearout last year when OH and I finally properly combined our homes. He's fully aware that as soon as I have more storage I will be adding to my collection. I don't sell on, perhaps I should but I when I've had enough of a pair then I donate to charity if they're in good condition.

Saw this groupon and thought of this thread!

http://www.hushhush.com/Products/Home-Garden/National/Shoe-Drawers/55741?lsid=550201957

My shoes are on a rack and they do gather dust that way, but I worry if they were in a cupboard with a solid door I'd forget I had them and never wear them. I'm very 'out of sight out of mind'. It's the same reason I keep all my jewellery out on display, no boxes.

I'm the total opposite ID, I can't stand having stuff out on display.

More tips from me;

Don't leave empty hangers hanging in your wardrobe - they take up rail space and cause your clothes to be crushed. It also means your hunting through for a hanger when you need one. Put them all in a box either in the bottom of your wardrobe (in the dead long hanging space) at the side of you wardrobe or where you keep your ironing basket. wherever suits you best but it really does make life easier.

Kitchen cupboards - fit rails to the inside of the door where you keep your saucepans and slot your pan lids into them. You need to measure to pick the right kind of rails for your depth of lids and place them so that the lid handles don't hit the shelf inside your cupboards but it makes it so much easier than having lids falling all over the place inside your cupboard as well as freeing up space. Don't assume you need to buy a pan lid organiser - they don't suit all lids or all cupboards. I had one in my old kitchen but it doesn't suit my current kitchen so I bought short bathroom towel rails from Ikea.

Kitchen base cupboards tend to have lots of wasted space because they are deep but you don't fill them all the way up. Put a half shelf at the back and put small stuff on top. You can also put stuff you don't use often underneath. If you want flexibility, instead of putting in a fixed shelf buy whichever of the options on the market suit your needs - Lakeland do a great range of 'add a shelf' as do Ikea.

If you haven't worn it or used it in over a year, then you no longer need it - get rid ?

This is where my 25 pairs of jeans live!

Mrs Shep - does someone else do your ironing or do you wear un ironed clothes?

H will iron a shirt if he's going some posh/has an interview or something, but other than that, no ironing in my house. My washing machine has a timer setting so I set that and take everything out as soon as it's done and hang it, I rarely find any real creases.

I was always a hoarder until I moved 4 months ago. I went from a 3 bed house to a 1 bed flat, so HAD to clear everything out and be really ruthless. Knowing I had to do it really focussed me to think about what I actually NEEDED. I found once I started I couldn't stop and in fact am still clearing stuff since I've moved. I took another few bags to a charity shop last weekend, and have more to take.

Part of it for me was accepting that sentiments and memories don't live in things but in photos, memories and a small handful of trinkets. I have 2 wooden boxes with memories in them (photos ornaments & random bits etc)and apart from that I've got rid of everything else.

I'll never be totally minimalist, but I do try to have a lot less than I used to. Clothes etc I buy 95% of from charity shops anyway, so getting rid of stuff I'm not sure about is no drama because I can always replace if I change my mind. I have 1 bookcase now with things I just couldn't part with (largely recipe books!), and use the library instead.

I think it's just changing the mindset - in my case if I hadn't been forced into it I probably would still have the sealed boxes that I've moved house with 3 times already without opening... Got to be honest though - I don't think I'll ever go back!

This is the approach I try to take, but I have certain dresses that just always look creased. I can think of 3 or 4 I have that are just impossible to wear without ironing. Same with some of H's shirts.

I must admit I have new shirt that gets obscenely creased, haven't quite decided what to do with it yet!

The only things I don't iron are the t-shirts and joggers I wear for cleaning/lounging around in and OH work clothes (he's a builder). A lot of our clothes are natural fabrics and un-ironed they just always look creased. I enjoy ironing though so not a big deal.

Can I come and live with you?

??

And me! If I iron more than one item, my back starts to hurt from the standing up. Same reason my H does the washing up!