I used to be a big fan of organizational items. Although I wasn’t much of a shopper, a trip to The Container Store or Organized Living never failed to excite me.
The idea of corralling hundreds of loose bits and bobs into sleek, perfectly-matched containers had great appeal. I truly thought that by putting all my stuff into various bins, I could maintain a sense of order in my life.
But while the containers made my house look shelter magazine-tidy, they didn’t bring me the serenity I’d hoped for. Even though everything was arranged neatly in pretty boxes (cloth-covered, wooden, wicker, plastic, etc.), it was still there.
In reality, all those lovely boxes, bins, and drawers served no higher purpose than to hide my junk. At some point I realized that I wasn’t organizing my life; I was organizing my clutter.
That’s when I changed strategies: I went from world-class organizer to world-class declutterer. Instead of arranging and containing things, I got rid of them. I decluttered on the weekends; I decluttered in the evening; I decluttered in the morning; I decluttered in my dreams (really!). When I wasn’t actually decluttering, I was thinking about what I could declutter next. 
And it worked. As my house became emptier, I became happier. With the weight of my stuff lifted from my shoulders, I felt more spontaneous, energetic, and carefree.
The big payoff came when I was able to declutter the containers themselves. There’s something very satisfying about not needing any more storage! Even so, when we completed our ultimate decluttering to move to the UK (see My Minimalist Story, Part 2: The Great Unraveling), I’m embarrassed about how many containers we left on the curb. (Don’t worry, they didn’t go to a landfill; they were snapped up within minutes!)
My advice to anyone who feels they need to get organized: declutter first. If you have to, declutter for a year before you start buying fancy boxes and squirreling things away.
Then think long and hard before you put something into a container (especially if it’s not something you use regularly). Because once you give something a warm, cozy abode, it can be hard to get it to leave.
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So, so true. Realizing that I needed to declutter, not organize “the stuff”, was life changing for me. I’ve moved twice in the last year and gotten rid of more than half of everything we owned and I’m still going! I can’t wait to reach our “just enough” …
This is a perfect post today. As I’m looking into the new year I have so many plans to continue to pare down my belongings. You are so right about putting things into nice cozy containers. That is exactly where I am in the downsizing of our lives. Since our home is small and we only have one closet I put the “extras” into neatly organized containers in the basement. You know what? I rarely use what is packed away. I have to admit that I get a certain amount of comfort knowing they are there. I don’t know why but I do. I really want to just have what I need. In the rooms that I’ve done this (all the rooms except my bedroom) I really love the feeling. I am inspired by your actions. I hope I have the fortitude to carry out my plans.
~janet
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I always tell my family “Organized Clutter – is STILL Clutter”. Declutter, Declutter and then by a storage container! Greg44
Great, dead on post. A couple of years ago I had folders and boxes and bins where I stored everything – for future reference and to Get Things Done
But then I realized that I don’t need most of this junk anyway, so I got rid of it. I am happy to own less and I still want to keep selling and donating my stuff in 2010. I guess that’s the path that we all need to take – collect, organize, and finally declutter.
I enjoyed this post and all the others I’ve read here on my first encounter with your blog. It’s wonderful to encounter kindred spirits! I remember fondly my many travel and living adventures overseas, when I lived as a minimalist. As I sit in my studio apartment in the San Francisco Bay Area, I’m oddly comforted knowing that there are others who actively embrace a minimalist lifestyle. I just plain don’t like having to manage too much stuff. It weighs me down. I recently lost 20 pounds, which dramatically changed my wardrobe. I’ve been meaning to buy more clothes, but have found that I enjoy having a small wardrobe. I think that your blog and this little community are helping me to see that deep down, I’m quite a happy minimalist who’s been feeling pressure to be otherwise. But now I see that I really do enjoy living with less. It’s just so much easier!
Great post and I completely agree!!! Whenever someone asks for the my help in organizing, I FIRST tell them to declutter BEFORE you go out and buy the cute bins and what nots. They are always amazed that they don’t have to spend money on cute hold it all items, they just needed a good decluttering session. Also, I tend to work with the space I have and bring nothing more in that won’t fit. For instance, we are renting a house that for some reason came without many closets. Instead of rushing out to buy storage items for bathroom needs (We lack an actual bathroom closet), I had some of those shelf organizer…they are metal and you can stack them in a cabinet and expand the space upward. This is in my kitchen, the last cabinet in the corner. Not traditional but I didn’t need to BUY anything else to organize. Think outside the box..the storage box that is!~!! : )
Christine, it sounds like you’re doing great! I’m convinced that moving is the most effective decluttering method…
Thanks so much, Janet! Just take it one box at a time, and question the likelihood of your needing the items. (And if the need does arise in the future, would those items be that difficult and/or expensive to obtain?) I think you’re well on your way to a decluttered 2010!
Right on, Greg44! There are too many books/ads/etc out there telling us to organize our stuff rather than get rid of it.
Glad you liked the post, Andrew! I agree, it’s so liberating to realize you don’t *have to* save all this stuff…
I appreciate the nice words, Ann; it’s great having you here. There’s so much societal pressure to buy MORE, that I love having a place where we can all celebrate having LESS!
Heather, thanks for the great comment–that’s a wonderful example of using what you already HAVE to meet your needs (love it!).
Clutter in bins is stil clutter. Don’t get me wrong some “organized clutter may be needed for family items or such. I can’t wait to the whole house is deluttered!
Very true, Dave; good luck with the decluttering!
Yesterday’s earthquake was a perfect reminder of why we all need less clutter. When it gets shool up in an earthquake the last thing we want to worry about is getting out of the house swimming in debris and clutter!
I like that, Ellen! Another benefit of minimalist living: earthquake safety.
What would I do with my time if I wasn’t always moving stuff from one part of the house to another? I hope someday to find out.
As a SAHM of two young children, I have realized that you can’t tidy your way to a calm and serene house. Tidying just shuffles things around (and they immediately get unshuffled again!) You MUST get rid of things you don’t need.
I am now prioritizing decluttering and releasing above tidying. It’s harder, but each item I release is one I never have to put away again. And decluttering hidden areas like cupboards is at least as important as decluttering your visible piles. You are more likely to find unneeded items there, and when you are rid of them, voila! A place to put all of what’s left over. Bye bye visible piles!
(Ideally, mostly, and your mileage may vary
Way to go, Jess! You’re absolutely right — each item you release is one you’ll never have to put away again. Love that!
This is such good advice.
I used to do that too… and now I’m at the stage of decluttering. I started systematically going through my room last weekend, and I’ve done it all week. Today I counted all my clothes and realized how much I have that I don’t wear.
That’s great progress, Krista — best of luck with your decluttering!
It’s amazing what an impact one sentence can have. After reading Ann’s post above, where she said, “I enjoy having a small wardrobe” I suddenly realized that all my life I’ve felt pressured to have lots of clothes, when in reality my real desire is to have a very small wardrobe – maybe 6 outfits in total, of comfortable, low-maintenance clothes I really like and feel good in. So this afternoon I ruthlessly dejunked my already fairly-sparse wardrobe, and got rid of piles of stuff. I’ve decided not to listen to the voices that tell me “all women love shoes!”, and “you need lots and lots of purses!” – what a lovely feeling of liberation and order! Thanks, Ann, for the post, and thanks for this wonderful site.