Uncluttered lives tend to be simpler than cluttered lives. Uncluttered lives also tend to be full of smaller things – smaller rooms, smaller collections, smaller items in exchange for big ones. Why? Smaller is just easier to clean, organize, and keep clutter-free. It’s not hard and fast, we’ve all seen people living in small rooms, who have overwhelming clutter, but in most cases learning to live small can help you stay clutter-free and buy you more life hours – hours you won’t be spending organizing and cleaning.
Small living rules: 

If you’re actively trying to declutter, you may be trying tricks like sorting boxes of stuff (i.e. stuff to keep, stuff to toss, maybe items). This does work for many people. In fact I advocate this as a pretty good decluttering tactic.
That said, it doesn’t work for everyone. Some people NEVER finish deciding about that maybe box. Boxes like this, if you’re undecided, basically just move around your house. That’s not decluttering; that’s called reorganizing clutter.
If this is you, if you’re stuck, you need a harsher rule. The 2 minute rule. Set a basic kitchen timer for 2 minutes. Grab …read more

There’s this popular theory that I’m sure you’ve hear at some point in your life; “Waste not, want not.”That’s true to a point, but often, people can go overboard on clutter morals. If you were raised on the whole waste not, want not theory, it may be the reason behind your clutter problems.
Here’s the thing – get over it. You won’t burn if you toss, recycle, or give away your old books or sweaters, not even if you give away an entire collection of ceramic miniatures. NOT EVEN if you throw out or give away food (gasp) that no one …read more

Remember our discussions about simplifying? Let’s look at that topic again. If you missed the last two posts on this important topic then read these first to get up to speed:
Organizing by Simplifying
How To Start Getting Rid of Stuff – Get Rid of “Maybe” Items
In a day or so we’re going to look at some ideas for what to do with sentimental objects you’re keeping around. But first, I wanted to see how getting rid of maybe items is going for everyone. If you’re having issues, I wanted to point out some easy tips for people who are having …read more

Previously, we were discussing organizing by simplifying. This means clearing your space of stuff which will reduce clutter and allow you to be able to live a little more lightly.
The biggest issue surrounding clutter build-up is honestly that people simply buy too many things. However, we’ll discuss tactics for avoiding bad purchases later on. Today, we’re going to look at how you can start clearing out the clutter you’ve already accumulated.
For some people this is an easy task. Some find it harder, and still others find it near impossible. I actually know someone who finds it almost gut wrenching to …read more