Trend: Minimalism – and how you can manage to live more minimally by decluttering
Minimalism inspires you, but you just can't manage to part with your stuff? There are many tips and methods for decluttering at home and getting rid of unnecessary items. But: For many people, decluttering is the big hurdle.
Understandable. Because an item is not just an item. It stands for a memory. For money. For a point on your "To-Do" list. For security. Because someday you might need the item again?
The fact is: Letting go is not easy. Otherwise, many more people would live minimally or at least more minimally.Minimalism as a philosophy promises more clarity, freedom, lightness, and more time for the important things in life.
So before you start decluttering, you need to have the right mindset. A strong "why?" that leads you to your goal. Why do you want to declutter? What do you expect from a minimalist lifestyle?
Marie Kondo, The Minimalists and Co. - how decluttering works
Marie Kondo promises more joy through giving away items - or rather through keeping the truly joy-bringing things. The Minimalists write in their blog, Minimalism is the path to a simpler, happier life.
All decluttering experts follow different strategies.Marie Kondo teaches decluttering by categories - first clothes, bags and shoes, then books, then documents and papers, then all sorts of small items and finally mementos.
Every item should be held in hand. If it sparks "joy", the item can stay. If it doesn't, you can thank the item and ceremoniously let it go.
The Minimalists have created a quick decluttering guide with the "Packing Party". All items should be packed into moving boxes. Furniture should also be moved aside.
This simulates a move.Within a set period after the packing party - about one to three months - only the items from the boxes are taken out and the furniture is set up that are actually being used. The rest of the items can be passed on after the expiry of the set period.
Decluttering is good for the psyche - but still difficult
Every method of decluttering has its pros and cons. With the packing party, for example, you can become a minimalist within a weekend - but only externally. If you do not work on your inner attitude, the clutter will quickly creep back into your life.
Marie Kondo has inspired many people to declutter with her simple method - but if you can't let go of your ski equipment because it was very expensive, or if 30 towels give you a sense of security, letting go will remain a challenge.
And then there's the dear sustainability: What to do with the stuff?
Tips for decluttering - it works in these 10 steps
- The question of why: Before and during decluttering, you should always remind yourself why you want to simplify your life. These could be possible goals:
- You perceive the "too much" as a burden and want to separate yourself from it.
- You want to let go of the past or a part of it and detach yourself from things that remind you of it.
- You need more space.
- You are preparing for a move or the arrival of a new family member.
- The chaos stresses you out.
- You want to spend less time cleaning up.
- You want to consume less or more consciously - your apartment should reflect your minimalist lifestyle.
- You like the minimalist aesthetic.
- You only want to keep the things that are really important to you.
- Planning is important: You can plan the decluttering in a structured way - first the bedroom, then the living room, then the children's room, etc.Within each room, you can break down the decluttering into smaller steps - first the wardrobe, then the drawers of the dresser, etc. Or you can sort like Marie Kondo by categories. However, we recommend that you declutter the categories of a room and not the entire house. We will reveal why this is the case in the next tip.
- Small stage goals: Very few people can declutter the entire apartment in one weekend. It is better if you set yourself small stage goals. One room - or even just one drawer - that's enough. Decluttering is not only time-consuming - decluttering is also emotionally exhausting.
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Hotspots first: Does your messy wardrobe spoil your mood? Is your shoe rack overflowing? Then we recommend tackling this first. Consider how many jackets, hats, and shoes you really need - and let the rest go. At
Metallbude we sell minimalist shoe racks where your favorite pieces can find a place - but only those!
- Small successes: If you have a vision of what your living spaces should look like later, bring this version to life on a small scale. For example, in the hallway with an appealing (and minimally decorated) console table. Or on the shelf in the study.You should declutter this place and then keep it tidy - this way you see a little piece of what you are aiming for in the whole house or apartment every day.
- Clearing spaces and rearranging: When you declutter, it's best to remove all items from the drawer or surface - and then neatly put them back. Items you no longer need end up in one of three boxes: Throw away, Donate, Sell or Give away. If you want to reorganize items, you can temporarily store them in a fourth box "Keep".
- The light version of the packing party: Do you find it hard to let go of items, even though you actually don't need them anymore? Decluttering doesn't mean you have to decide right away.You can also pack items into a fifth box. It's best to write a date on it by which you want to make a decision. Then you can put the box away and check if you still miss the items in this box. If not, they can move on after the deadline has passed. But be careful: Stick to the deadline, otherwise the attic or the basement will soon be filled with these items.
- A home for items: In order to keep things tidy, every item should have a fixed home and be put back there immediately after use.
- No time for decluttering: Even with a full schedule: decluttering is always possible.You can take, for example, 20 minutes a day for this - or sacrifice an hour of your weekend for your decluttering project. Remember the third tip for decluttering: Set small goals. One drawer or one shelf compartment - that's enough. The important thing is that you declutter regularly.
- Decluttering sustainably is fun: What to do with the decluttered items? Throw everything away? That would be hardly sustainable. With a clear conscience, you can give well-preserved items to a social department store in your city. Donating and giving away are two more options. Often, items in a box on the roadside with a "Free to take" sign quickly find new owners. Selling is also an option. However, you will need time and storage space until the items are sold.Consider from what theoretical sales value the effort is worthwhile.
Whether you're decorating your home in the trendy Japandi style or in the Industrial style: Your vision of a tidy, minimalist home can become a reality. At
