Over the past few years, I've accumulated too much stuff. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a pack-rat. I tend to be a little overly sentimental about letting things go. But as I grow up, my desire to live with less also grows. I'll never be a minimalist when it comes to decorating, but it's my new Mid-Year Resolution to minimize what I own. Because I really don't need the amount of clothing, books, and random decor that I currently possess.
The source of my accumulation: college moves and my recent relocation to a new town. In April 2013, I got a job offer I couldn't refuse. I had two weeks to wrap up my then-job, find a sub-leaser, pack my things, and hang out with friends before kissing my college-town goodbye. Junk got packed away instead of getting thrown away. And now it's here cramping my lovely apartment's style - and cramming up all the storage space that my apartment has to offer.
It's time for a change.
The spacious walk-in closet with built-in shelving in my bathroom?
It was supposed to be my storage space for cleaning supplies, tools, and diy/craft supplies. Instead, it's full of out-of-season and old clothing. Like, so full that I have to close the door real fast before anything falls out.
The nice closet with the antique built-in dresser in my hallway?
It was supposed to be my main everyday clothing storage to rid me of needing multiple dressers. Instead, it's full of clothes AND random decor, old notebooks, and stuff I hardly use.
The short supply of kitchen cabinets in my combined kitchen/dining/living room?
They're filled to burst with mismatched dinnerware and cooking wares that I rarely/never use.
And don't even get me started on my under-the-bed storage.
(At least I don't have to worry about some psycho killer intruder hiding under there.)
It is time for an overhaul.
And I thought some of you might want to join me in my purge?
I'm not tackling my entire apartment at once. Because that would be a death-wish and you'd find me buried in off-season clothing and Christmas decorations.
The Problem Zones
I've divided my apartment problem areas into 3 zones.
Zone 1: Kitchen Cabinets & Hallway Closet
Zone 2: Bedroom Dresser & Under-the-Bed Storage
Zone 3: Bathroom & Bathroom's Walk-in Closet
The Solution Bins
And I'm setting up 3 special bins for my purge.
Bin 1: Eliminate - Stuff to throw away or recycle.
Bin 2: Donate - Stuff to send over to Goodwill.
Bin 3: Contemplate - Stuff I need to think about.
And over the course of the next 3 weeks, I'm going to hit those 3 zones with my 3 bins. No sweater, no candle holder, no old textbook is safe.
I'm not redecorating during this time. I'm not cleaning. I'm just clearing out the clutter that's blocking my way to a live-with-less kind of life - and hindering me from packing up and moving to a new place eventually.
My place will look worse before it looks better. But this is one battle that I've put off for far too long.
Who else is in?
Comments
Thank you and good luck to you, too! :)
I have a feeling I'm going to run into the opposite problem. I've gained some weight, but have held on to a lot of clothes because I 1) might be able to fit into it again once I start exercising again and 2) it's just a special piece of clothing.
I've heard of people turning old sentimental t-shirts into quilts/blankets or even framing them. If it's a special dress, I've seen those framed behind glass or even just hung in the bedroom as decor.
Feel free to email me specifics/pictures of some of the sentimental things and maybe I could provide better ideas. :)