DECLUTTERING AND MINIMALISM HOW TO

It's okay to feel sentimental over family heirlooms or gifts, and you shouldn't force yourself to let go of them if you find the thought upsetting.Īs Melissa summarizes: 'I think many people feel a lot of shame for the things they have bought that they didn't wear, use or fit into - or sometimes even like - and that shame can keep them from letting those things go. While it helps to adopt a ruthless attitude when you're decluttering, it's important to be kind to yourself. As Melissa explains: 'A recent client had over 100 coffee mugs (for 2 adults!) and when we looked at them with 80/20 in mind, we were able to set aside the 10 they used regularly, another 10 or so they loved, and donated the rest.' Remember to be kind to yourself I encourage giving things a deadline and if they haven't been used by that time, they need to be donated or tossed.'īy making use of the 80/20 rule you can also cut down on items where you have lots of duplicates, while still allowing yourself to keep the most treasured ones. 'That ice cream machine might have been that year's 'must have' but it just isn't practical for every home and cook.

'Kitchens are a fun place to practice 80/20, particularly for those who love kitchen gadgets,' notes Melissa. While this decluttering principle works wonders wherever you use it, it's best applied to spaces where you store lots of things that serve little purpose.

DECLUTTERING AND MINIMALISM HOW TO

It's no surprise that the 80/20 rule comes in especially handy when it comes to how to organize a room with too much stuff in, but which spaces in the home does the rule prove most effective in? 'I encourage my clients to imagine a life where they are surrounded only by the things that they like and use, and then I try to get them there.' Which spaces in the home is the 80/20 rule best applied to? ''Analysis paralysis' is real, and I find that having too many options or things can make it so much harder to decide to keep or throw away,' Melissa adds. As a result, we store said items in boxes for years on end, unable to part with them just in case they might come in handy one day. While not all of us are hoarders, we are all guilty of hanging onto things that we don't use regularly, or that don't contribute to our overall design style. 'Once I started looking at the things that I actually use and love and giving them the best access in my home, life feels more peaceful.' 'A minimalist lifestyle isn't for everyone, but as one myself, I love that it makes everyday decisions easier to make,' says Melissa. The principle highlights just how many things serve a function frequently, helping us to recognize the value of those household items (and the lack of contribution from the rest of our stuff). For fans of minimalism in interior design, the 80/20 rule might be the best decluttering tip to start making the most of living with less.

Decluttering and minimalism