Closet tidying...Marie Kondo

Sally

I read the Marie Kondo book on tidying and have tidied my closet. This is pretty much everything except underclothes, nightwear and exercise gear. I've had fantasies of having a small wardrobe. I've got rid of about 8 bags of clothes I don't wear or like anymore. Has anyone done this and have you managed to keep things tidy. She advocates folding shirts. I can see them better like that but unless it is all a certain size or style, it's harder to get the boxed look and I'll have iron before wearing my linens.

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8 years ago

Off Topic

12 replies

Latest reply was from Sally

MsMaven

Veteran

That is impressive--8 bags! I think it depends on the person. I can't imagine folding shirts, but if I did, I would have to leave the ironing board up.

Now do you have wardrobe holes that need to be filled?

There have been times in my life when I've had to live with a very spare wardrobe, either because of financial problems or just plain inaccessibility. (Two years in South America with two medium suitcases that had to hold sheets and towels as well as clothes.) And while there is a part of me that believes that less is more, I still acquire too many clothes these days.

I will be watching to see where you go from this tidying.

8 years ago

Sally

Veteran

Hi MsMaven. ..no holes found yet but if there are, they were probably there before. I'll see how this goes. I've got to do the rest of the house yet.
I didn't really take on the spiritual stuff but saw it as a way of getting permission to drop junk.
Yeah travelling teaches you how to survive with fewer clothes. I've worked overseas for a year with a suitcase of clothes.
It's funny. I'm reading Anne Tyler's book "Ladder of Years " where this woman walks away from her family on a beach holiday and seems to survive working etc with 2 items of clothing.

8 years ago

catseye

Veteran

That is amazing. How many items do you still have left? It does not look like that you kept much.

8 years ago

Lyn D.

Veteran

Wow!
I sometimes wish I could do this, but I am always tempted by fresh and new.
Do you live in a 4 season climate?

8 years ago

Sally

Veteran

Hi Catseye, I went and counted. .18 shirts folded, 9 pairs of leggings, 2 pairs of trousers, 6 pairs of jeans, 6 cardigans, 1 sweater, 16 dresses and 1 kaftan, 2 light coats which are a trench and a chambray coat, 9 blazers, 1 suede jacket and a winter coat and 8 scarves...then 10 pairs of shoes boots etc. Plus I have night wear and exercise wear. So quite a bit when you list it. I don't wear skirts so don't own any.

Lyn, I live in NZ so a temperate climate with 4 seasons, but in saying that the winters are mild and the summers warm so I can wear my dresses all year round. I just add tights and a blazer. I put a long sleeve shirt under a dress if it's extra cold and wear my coat. I pretty much wear my clothes all year and do get sick of them sometimes. I am wearing a dress today that i wore with blazer in winter. I ended up swimming in the sea in it. I have 1 dress that is too hot in Summer. I wouldn't wear the kaftan in winter.
I think I'd like a leather jacket and some nice black boots to add but that's about it.

8 years ago

catseye

Veteran

This is very inspiring. I need to get going on my decluttering effort.

BTW, this is not OFF topic. You would have got a lot more response if you post this in one of the other sub forums.

8 years ago

Anonymous

We have undergone a massive, and I do mean massive, decluttering in our basement. After my DH's parents were moved to a nursing home (his mother subsequently passed away in late July), we were left with a lot of stuff to get ride of - a lot of trash as well as a lot of stuff to donate to Goodwill. We have lost count of how many trips our DD has taken to Goodwill in her little Toyota Corolla. My MIL had more clothes that I do, even though she wore her pajamas all the time. She was one of those people who never wanted to get rid of anything. We are finally starting to see the light of day, but still have hospital beds, special lift chairs, etc. to find a home for. Goodwill, Salvation Army and other charitable organizations will not come get them and we can't take them. Just today I heard back from a woman who knows people in need of the hospital beds. I'm crossing my fingers they will be out of my basement shortly. Then we can wrap up our decluttering efforts and do something else with that space.

8 years ago

ClaraT

Veteran

BettyCrocker--Consider posting your hospital bed/lifts etc. on Craigslist or similar. If they are free, someone will pick them up. And very likely someone is right now scouring CL or similar because they need something of this sort and can't afford it. You will be doing a really good deed. Good luck!

8 years ago

Sally

Veteran

Thanks Catseye. Yeah I thought initially it was off topic but you're probably right.

Good luck Bettycrocker getting rid of the hospital equipment. I'm sure it would be very useful to someone.

8 years ago

Helena

Veteran

Sally, good for you! I'm sure it felt great to get rid of stuff that was weighing you down.

I did read that book and have used some of the tips and techniques, but when it came to some of it, I felt it was really geared towards people living in small spaces. Not that I feel the urge to fill every corner of the space I have, but it didn't make sense (for me) to have all my stuff folded up when I have a huge walk-in closet to hang things in. I would say to use her suggestions as you feel they make sense for your space and preferences - and of course, you can always try it her way and switch it back if you don't feel it works for you!

8 years ago

Anonymous

Toronto girl: Like you, I hang a lot of foldable items because I have a huge closet with a lot of hanging space. It makes it so much easier for me to see what I have and coordinate outfits quickly. I think things should be organized according to what space (and what type of space - hanging, drawer, etc.) you have and by what makes the most sense to you.

8 years ago

Sally

Veteran

I agree torontogirl and Bettycrocker, If you have a large space, it's good to use it. I don't have a lot of wardrobe space so it works for me.
I used to live in Japan and can see how it would work there as a lot of the apartments are really small. It's working well with my shirts folded and my pants folded in a drawer below. The real test will be if I can maintain it.

8 years ago

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