If you were downsizing from 1600 sq ft to 900 sq ft, 6 big closets to 4 small ones, and a 2-car garage to a 1-car garage, what would you get rid of??I would declutter 4 major space consumers: kitchen stuff, kid's clothes, toys, and books. As I decluttered I would throw away broken or stained items, give away things, sell stuff on Craig's List, or return it to a less cluttered cabinet.
Assuming the kitchen drawers and cabinets are already organized and like items are already grouped together, I would tackle one or two spaces at a time.
- Do I have a duplicate of this item? Do I need more than one of this (platter, mixing bowl, serving bowl, etc.)?
- Have I used this item in the last year?
- If it's a seasonal dish or serving utensil, do I have a non-seasonal item that could be used instead?
- Designate 1 large tub for their baby/toddler clothes that I loved and would like to pass down to a grandchild one day (crazy thought!!).
- Get rid of everything else that was too small, I didn't like, or my child didn't like. Do this again at the end of a season.
- How many of each item does a child really need for the new location? For example, does a boy really need 4 sets of church clothes? (I think 2 is enough.) Does a girl really need 5 nice church dresses? (Again, 2 of each season should be enough.)
For toys (the bane of my existence):
- Is it broken?
- Not seen the light of day in 3 months?
- Have they outgrown it? (Feel free to keep their old infant and toddler favorites, but limit them to one container.)
- How many action figures, Hot Wheels, Polly Pockets, Thomas trains, etc. do they need?
- If it doesn't fit inside a medium-sized container or under a bed let it move to someone else's home (Grandma?).
- Is it a quality story, illustrations and binding?
- Have they outgrown it (boardbooks)?
- Do I like the book?
- Is the binding broken? Pages torn or stained?
- For grown-up books - will I read it again? Would I loan/ recommend it to someone?
- Do I have similar books? (3 variations of Goldilocks? Or 5 marriage books?)
- Can we borrow this from the library or a friend?
Even though I don't plan on downsizing anytime soon I am hoping to move later this year. When the time comes I don't want to pay to move or store a bunch of stuff I don't need so it's helpful to start thinking and decluttering now.
Do you have any ideas or tips for downsizing a household?
4 comments:
Helpful thoughts! I've learned that we will fill whatever space we have...it's not that we need the space-just that if we have it we will fill it! :) As an encouragement, there is generally room to downsize!
So true, Amy!
Great ideas even if you aren't downsizing! And very good advice.
These are really great tips. I am a pack rat so I struggle with getting rid of stuff. I am starting to get better about that (since I live in a shoebox!), but it is a work in progress. : )
Post a Comment