source

Justin and I recently made a promise to each other to really work on less clutter in our house.  We have lived there for 4 years and it’s amazing the amount of stuff you can accumulate in that time.  We also brought a lot of things from the past with us when we moved in.  College dishes, mismatched furniture, childhood sports memorabilia, so many blankets, holiday decor, just stuff.  It’s exhausting trying to keep a house clean when you have so much crap everywhere.

3 GIGANTIC BAGS from my closet & Justin’s
I’m no expert at this, but there are a few things that I’ve discovered as I tackle one closet at a time and I thought I would share my findings and my advice.
  • If you run out of hangers, don’t buy more, just get rid of things.  I found shirts in my closet that I’ve never worn.  There was no reason to add any hangers.
  • Clothes from high school should not still be in your wardrobe when you reach your 10 year reunion (except your favorite sweatshirt – that doesn’t ever have to go.)
  • I am not a trinket person.  I should not buy trinkets on vacation.  SAVE THE MONEY.
  • There is no need to hoard candles, they will still be making them when yours has burned out.
  • Donate books to the library if you didn’t like them the first time.  What makes you think you’re going to read them again?
  • Don’t keep your special wine glasses for special occasions.  Get rid of the cheap ones and use the nice ones for your daily weekly happy hour.  You deserve to use nice things.
  • 2 people will never need 15 towels.
  • If you have doubles of pictures, mail the 2nd copy to the other person in the picture.  You will never use them at the same time and your friend will be excited to get mail.
  • Reuse gift bags.  Don’t buy any new ones until you’ve used all the ones in your closet – I bet no one cares if their birthday gift is in a wedding-esque bag as long as you got them something cool. (sorry Dad)
  • The only things I should keep a “stock” of:  toothbrushes, cards – birthdays, anniversaries, random occasions, furnace filters, apple chargers and blank CD’s (you never know when you need a new mix tape.)
Trust me, this hasn’t been the easiest project for me.  I was really sad to get rid of my size 2 jeans, but there are just things that will NEVER be needed again.  The main closets, the dresser and the nightstands are completed.  We have one more closet upstairs with pajamas and bridesmaids dresses that I will be working on this week and then we move downstairs.  That closet also has my wedding dress, so you know what that means.
WEDDING DRESS DANCE PARTY
Have you done a project declutter at your house?  Any advice for me?