Downsizing before I drown

I’m drowning in stuff, yes, drowning. Every spot in my house is overflowing with ‘stuff’, I have 2 sheds crammed with things I apparently need. We have more space than most Hong Kongers, yet, we are full to the brim.  I think that the more space you have, the more stuff you can get, therefore the more stuff you do get. My wardrobe and drawers have so many clothes, shoes and bags that I rarely, if ever, wear some of them.

full wardrobe

The bath room has boxes of samples, travel sizes, half-used creams, lotions and potions, not to mention the medicines. Downstairs I have books, DVDs, photo albums, shoes, more boxes of sunglasses, hats, sunscreens, bug sprays, umbrellas, raincoats… the list goes on.  My art studio is full of half-used sketchbooks, art books, paints, brushes, inks, and I haven’t even painted in over a year. And all this doesn’t even include the baby!! T has her own drawers of toys, clothes, books and accessories.

Well, I’ve had it!  Apart from the huge waste (I’m sure someone else could use the stuff that is collecting dust on my shelves) the bigger problem for me is that I’m suffocating. It’s like the clutter in my house is cluttering my brain and spirit. I feel oppressed every time I walk through my door. So I’ve finally decided to do something about it.  It will take a little time, but hopefully will be successful.  I was first inspired by a section in an article a couple of friends had posted on Facebook about organizing your house.  52 Totally Feasible Ways to organize your entire home. I was particularly struck by number 15 “turn your clothes hangers around to find out what you really wear” every time you wear an item, hang it back the right way round. After a year, throw out those clothes still hanging on a backwards facing hanger.  I loved it!! What an easy way to sort out my over-populated wardrobe.  Mentioning this to my sister-in-law, she suggested I take a look at website dedicated to this The Minimalists. This blog shares and charts the journey to minimalist living and gives lots of tips.  They packed up all the contents of a house, put everything in boxes in one room and took things out as they needed them. After 21 days, things still in boxes got given away.  This got me thinking further and I’m going to have a go at this, albeit in a custom made way.

Unlike the minimalist bloggers, I don’t have a spare room in which to put my stuff, so I have box it up within a room.  Also, if I get rid of most of my clothes in June, come winter I’ll be very cold.  So last week, here’s what I did:

Bathroom:  I emptied the bathroom cabinets and put everything in a drawer. Once I use something then it goes back to it’s normal place.  By the end of June I’ll throw out or give away the left overs.

Bedroom: I took all my winter clothes and put them in a suitcase, out of the way – I’ll deal with those later in the year.  I took all the clothes from my wardrobe and hung them on a clothes rail in the main part of my room. I put into bags all my jeans, tops, scarves (sooo many of those), shoes, bags, undies and put them all in bags.  I put them into several bags so I can access them easily enough.  I even cleared my make-up and accessories boxes. Once I wear or use something something it will go back to it’s normal drawer, shelf or hanging space.

full and messy shelves

now empty – awaiting clothes that actually get worn

Necklaces, bags & shoes – the tip of an accessories iceberg

all my summer clothes on my bed, before being bagged

I’ll admit it looks a bit odd it feels like I’m camping in my own house.

summer clothes on temporary rail and in bags

Andrew came into the bedroom and wondered if I had maybe totally lost the plot.  But I tell you what – looking at clear shelves helps me to have an unstressed start to the day.

At the end of the summer (about October time) I’ll see what I actually wear and pass the rest onto my helper who has 3 daughters back in the Philippines.

Over the weekend I plan to start on the downstairs…

I’m hoping that having a clearer house will lift me, but I suspect it might have other outcomes.  We’ll see. Watch this space.