https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:59:07 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1445722 Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:10:30 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1445722@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sentimental items are <b>hard</b> - which is why Kondo says to wait on those, do other categories first. &nbsp; I have not yet&nbsp;reached the sentimental items category - but I have encountered and&nbsp;tackled a few that I noticed were musty, rusty, or otherwise in 'eeeeewwwwww' shape.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;<br />And in truth, some of these categories contain nostalgia items built in - especially books - for me.</p> <p>I found&nbsp;books were so much harder than clothes to sort, because books have always been special to me. &nbsp; But I did get through them (I did three sorts before I put anything back on the shelves). &nbsp;I am surprised to find a little lift in my heart every time I turn the key in the lock, and walk into a condo that is lighter and has less stuff. &nbsp; My place has this positive energy it previously didn't have.</p> <p>If you are on the fence about trying out this method, I would say, <b>go for it.</b>&nbsp; Why not? &nbsp;Try it out, and if you hate it, don't go any further. &nbsp;&nbsp;Set aside a day, and do the clothes. &nbsp; At worst, you spend your day working on this, and then&nbsp;end up keeping every single piece, and putting it back in your closet and drawers &nbsp;-&nbsp;but at least,&nbsp;you will know exactly what you have, and if something needs laundering or TLC, you can handle that now, instead of being surprised when you want to wear something.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>At best, you wind up with some extra&nbsp;space, and a curated closet full of things&nbsp;you LOVE.</p> <p>Whatever you opt for with your storage options - seasonal storage, rolling, hanging, etc. - your storage system isn't&nbsp;written in stone when you finish sorting. &nbsp;I'm still tweaking clothing categories - where things are hung, what drawer they are in, trying to optimize the ease with which I can grab stuff, dress, and go.&nbsp;</p> <p>It's a process, but I have found it to be a worthwhile one so far.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1445687 Sun, 22 Feb 2015 22:23:29 +0000 unfrumped 1445687@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Whoa, the phone made some crazy decisions on words, but maybe the gist came through anyway! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1445685 Sun, 22 Feb 2015 22:21:32 +0000 unfrumped 1445685@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Janet- I hear you on sentimental things. My MIL. was , maybe mot the biggest hoarder , but could NOT get rid of anything given or inherited and really wanted all of the kids to take it all. We did take a lot just to make her happy. Many items I do truly enjoy- vintage kitchen items, trays, linens. What's helping me now is that joy thing- if neither I nor DH have a memory associated with an item, and if I don't love it ( I'm the domestic and vintage person!) them out it goes . Also, I'm determined to use or display everything , or use hatband a benchmark for tossing. MIL had so much stuff in boxes and not in use.<br /> But you have given NMS a terrific closet inspiration re: exercise wear.<br /> I had already put a small basket in the closet for my morning excersise outfit for indoor workout and have been trying to re- focus on that ascsoon as I get up. Before, I had kept them in a drawer in the bedroom. Maybe my jeans and hook project( see Jeans post) is about shifting and creating the right balance. I need more space in this dressing area devoted to the good habits I want to keep up and celebrate , and not 100% devoted to more new clothes for work, but more space to see those and more space to encourage me to don my exercise wear ( this is especially in winter when it's chillier outside of the dressing area!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1445669 Sun, 22 Feb 2015 21:43:22 +0000 frannieb 1445669@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Janet - yes you bring up a wonderful question about sentimental things. I will never get rid of the jacket my mom wore to my wedding or the first toy she gave my daughter because she died 6 months after she was born. Just ain't gonna happen no matter what the experts say.</p> <p>Well I did my workout clothes today and guess what I found out - There are actually pants and tops that bring me joy and pants and tops I haven't worn in years and don't like wearing. I kept just enough to not have a laundry back up and am in love with how my drawer looks now.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1445230 Sat, 21 Feb 2015 15:21:40 +0000 Janet 1445230@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, I meant to address the original questions! I keep seriously out-of-season items in a separate closet, zipped in a garment bag. That's also where I keep things like formal dresses that rarely get worn, and where I keep my holding zone for things I might be letting go of, but am not yet sure about. Which reminds me, my holding zone is getting full. ;-)</p> <p>But I really don't want to look at wool sweaters in my closet when it's 95 degrees with 95% humidity. Just no. Nor do I want to be taunted with flimsy tank tops and dresses when there is snow on the ground. I like seasonal separation because we live in a climate that varies greatly. It occurs to me that we could easily have a calendar year in which we hit 0 degrees and 100 degrees, which just seems nuts. For those in more temperate climates, I can see keeping an entire wardrobe visible year-round. </p> <p>I do the rolling technique on things like underwear, socks, and tank tops, which are all in drawers, and I have my running and cycling pants and shorts rolled in a basket in my closet. But it's not practical for me otherwise because we have nice built-in shelves in our closet now, and my tees, sweaters, jeans and workout wear are all stacked neatly on those shelves. From time to time, I take them out, shake them out and refold, but that's no big bother -- I just do it when I'm putting laundry away if things seem to be getting a little messy. </p> <p>I don't mind things like my workout wear being visible in my closet -- I have tops folded on the lowest shelf, and like I mentioned, bottoms rolled in a basket on the floor just beneath. My running and cycling shoes are on the floor in the adjacent compartment. Honestly, my workout wear DOES give me joy. I celebrate being able to do these activities, and what they do for my physical and mental health. So, utilitarian as they may be, they contribute greatly to my happiness, so seeing them in my closet makes me happy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1445226 Sat, 21 Feb 2015 15:10:22 +0000 Janet 1445226@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I liked some things about the Kondo book, and others were annoying -- it got a bit repetitive, and it only barely addresses my biggest decluttering weakness: sentimental family belongings inherited after parents pass away. </p> <p>Nonetheless, I did find it helpful and it sparked a good solid round of cleanup in my home. Our linen closet is completely transformed, I took two carloads of donations (clothes and linens) to a nearby crisis shelter, a big box of books went to the library for donation, and I think I hauled my body weight in paper out of my office (I was a magazine hoarder for years). For the first time since we moved into this house eight years ago, all the built-in shelves in my office were cleared off, cleaned, and re-organized. Everything that's left now has more breathing room, and I actually know what is there now! I tackled our files, which go back the requisite 7 years for tax purposes, and then some! I shredded so much that I burnt out our old paper shredder and had to go buy a new one. </p> <p>One thing I've found to be true of decluttering when it comes to kids (mostly through friends' experiences) is that once you set the example, it starts to rub off on your family. If kids see you keeping things neat and happily letting go of things you no longer need, they eventually learn that it's OK for them to do that too. It doesn't happen right away, but it starts them on the path. It also helps if it's a cooperative effort. A surefire way to make a child feel bad about letting go of things is to throw out their stuff without telling them -- this is how my mom became so fearful of losing control of her belongings as a child. </p> <p>Mander, I love the idea of photographing nostalgic and beloved prints on fabrics and clothing to keep as a sort of digital scrapbook (I would probably do a screen saver rather than a desktop since I keep my desktop neutral for photography processing). I have some sentimental items that would be perfect candidates for that treatment -- thank you for the idea! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1445195 Sat, 21 Feb 2015 13:21:05 +0000 frannieb 1445195@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maddens idea is brilliant about wallpaper. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1445091 Sat, 21 Feb 2015 02:27:19 +0000 shedev 1445091@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mander, great idea about the wallpaper. I'm going to do that with a pair of pants. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444986 Fri, 20 Feb 2015 20:39:59 +0000 Sadie 1444986@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Goldenpig: to prevent "declutterer's remorse", I have found it useful to store items I plan to donate for a month or two (boxed or bagged of course)&nbsp;in a spare bedroom or garage. I got this idea from Lisa who did that DH challenge about a year ago. I recently got rid of a lot of extraneous kitchen pans and utensils, and they are currently in our garage in case we need one- if 6 months go by and I haven't had to access the stash, it's probably safe to donate. In addition, storing items out of sight seems to neutralize some of their mystique, so if I look back at them , it's easier to pass them on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444957 Fri, 20 Feb 2015 19:55:34 +0000 unfrumped 1444957@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, kids' over- gifting drove me nuts! May change tune if I become a grandmother! Kids don't need near as much stuff as we think, little ones especially. Box it up and swap out an item once a week, or for rainy days.<br /> John Rosemond had some good books on the subject, though he can at times sound a bit prim.<br /> Also I recall our girls' Montessori<br /> school. Each item was on a tray and you played with something and them put it back and chose something else. Sure, it's okay to create something with the blocks and the cars and whatnot, but we've also been " sold" on having so many toys and do many little parts that it's not possible for a child to organize and pick up that much- hence the parents a frazzled. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444923 Fri, 20 Feb 2015 18:19:36 +0000 Mander 1444923@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't read it yet, though I'm on the waiting list at the library. I think the concept of "joy" is a difficult one for me, since I rarely identify any emotion in my life as "joy", but certainly I have a lot of things that frustrate me rather than make me happy, so that's at least something to work with!</p> <p>Frannieb, one thing I have done with items that don't work for me as clothing but which have a print that I love is scan them or take a good close-up photo of the print. Then I occasionally use those photos as computer wallpaper. I've done this with vintage scarves that I never actually wore, a funky caftan with dragon flies printed on it that my Mom wore all the time as a house coat when I was a kid, and various other items of clothing that I realized the only reason I was keeping them was because of the print.</p> <p>As far as books go, I used to be in the "books are sacred" camp, but more and more I realize that a lot of books are really not worth the paper they are printed on. At the moment I am gearing up to move and I am mentally earmarking the things that will get purged when the time comes. </p> <p>Most of the paperback novels will go because they are easily replaceable, either online or at the library. I'll keep anything academic, hard to find, or that I like to read again on occasion. I'm thinking that I will set up an account on GoodReads and use it to keep track of the books I've read and am letting go. Or I might do the same with BookCrossing and start leaving my unwanted books around town for others to find and (hopefully) enjoy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444878 Fri, 20 Feb 2015 15:49:13 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1444878@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My sister is struggling with her toddler's things - because everyone is constantly sending him gifts or bringing him stuff, and her hubby wants him to keep all of it. &nbsp; She is also a little frustrated that he has a lot of books and papers, but comments on her collection! &nbsp; I laughed at this, and I told her, just do what the book says, and worry about your own stuff first. &nbsp; Get that all done, and they will follow.</p> <p>I also told her - as a sneaky sidetrack option - to put all of her little guy's toys and books into one area, and tell whoever is watching him not to pick up after him. &nbsp; See what he actually plays with, over a period of a few days. &nbsp; Then quietly box up the untouched stuff, and put it in the closet. &nbsp; See if it's missed. &nbsp; Then move it to a higher shelf inside a closet. &nbsp; See if it's missed.</p> <p>And if it is not, quietly move it out of the house a few weeks later.</p> <p>That is how I would deal with kids' stuff. &nbsp; For the adults in your life.. you have to let them arrive at it on their own time - possibly never - because if you get rid of their stuff, at best they will go out and buy more - but at worst you will lose your trust.</p> <p>When I started this last month, the&nbsp;BF was skeptical, but now that he's seeing how nice it is to open a cabinet and know exactly where everything is, he is asking me to sort his clothes. &nbsp;&nbsp;I told him that I help him with that,&nbsp;but he has to be present and help - so he can choose how he wants his stuff organized, and&nbsp;so I don't toss anything he loves by mistake.</p> <p>@Goldenpig - I got rid of bags of stuff, and I have not yet missed anything, because I am <u>so happy</u> to put on the stuff I did keep! &nbsp; If it didn't spark joy when you packed it up, get rid of it. &nbsp; If you dig it out, it will just get in the way of something you truly love.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444794 Fri, 20 Feb 2015 11:45:49 +0000 frannieb 1444794@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>yes - kids we won't even go into. My child is somewhat of a packrat around her toys.<br />Goldenpig - I don't ever want my house to look like a magazine I just want it to be cozy and homey feeling which for me is never ever gonna be magazine like - plus as long as I have a kid like you - toys, homework, backpacks, shoes, her gear are going to take up space and I don't mind or care.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444792 Fri, 20 Feb 2015 11:27:18 +0000 Style Fan 1444792@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes there is the issue of partners and DHs who are packrats.&nbsp; I tend not to hang on to things unless they are important to me but DH keeps everything.&nbsp; I am amazed at what he keeps.&nbsp; Clothes from the 60s, his uncle's photos (he doesn't know who the people are), his notes from school (don't ask when he graduated) and on it goes.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444779 Fri, 20 Feb 2015 09:15:43 +0000 goldenpig 1444779@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I bought the e-version of the book for my iPhone and read it recently, and did a big closet purge. (Thanks LBD for your blog posts, they were really inspiring!) I have three dry-cleaning bags stuffed with clothes to take to the consignment store and another bag for Goodwill. Although I've been busy at work and the bags are sitting in my car, and now I'm getting twitchy and thinking about retrieving a few items. Orange loafers! I'm scared of purge regret, like the next time Angie posts some ensemble and I think "Shoot, I had that and gave it away! I could have used that!" But I do think my closet and drawers are much less stuffed now. I really needed to do it. I still have a big stack of sweaters and jeans on my closet floor--I need to figure out the best place to stash them. </p> <p>I really want to keep doing this method throughout the rest of the house, but I do agree, she doesn't even talk about kids and the mountain of stuff that accompanies them. It is so difficult to sort through books and toys and stuff that they have outgrown. I just pulled out the little infant papasan seats so I could try to sell them or give them away on our local mom's board. Oh man, the kids were fighting over them and trying to sit in them--so comical to see my 7 year old sprawled out on her pink baby recliner! And it has a music button and when you hear the tunes, it just brings you right back to their baby days. Talk about tugging the heartstrings! I have a ton of their outgrown clothes too. I'm hoping to sort through them and save some for a quilt. Purging is so hard! I never seem to have enough time for it either, between work and the kids. Also, what do you do when your husband is as much of a packrat as you, or more? I can't just throw away his stuff, but there's too much stuff for it to look tidy unless he gets rid of stuff too, but he's as busy as I am. We are drowning in clutter! I am going to try to keep plugging away though! Someday, maybe in 20 years, my house will look like a magazine! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444731 Fri, 20 Feb 2015 02:49:16 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1444731@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been doing the KonMari Method since early January. &nbsp; <a rel="nofollow" href="http://labelledemimondaine.blogspot.com/search/label/Marie%20Kondo">Here are my blog posts on the topic.</a>&nbsp; &nbsp;I've been doing this process at my place and my boyfriend's, since I live and work at/among both places.</p> <p>You ask a lot of great questions, and many of them, I already answered for my sister, who works a full-time job and has a dog, a cat, and an active toddler (and by 'active', I mean 'gets busy getting into something he was chased off of earlier,&nbsp;the moment he sees her occupied with something else').</p> <p>I have a lot of utilitarian clothing for dancing and working out - and I treated them just the way I treated my regular wardrobe: &nbsp; if it didn't spark joy, I put it in the discard pile. &nbsp; At the end, I have found myself with a lot of dance and workout gear that <i>does</i> spark joy for me.</p> <p>My sister did not find that to be the case, but kept utilitarian things that see a lot of wear, resolving to eventually replace things as they wear out, with things that do spark joy for her.</p> <p>I think there are things that can be tweaked, and one of them is clothing storage. &nbsp; I keep all my stuff out, but the out-of-season stuff is&nbsp;hanging in&nbsp;a separate area of my closet. &nbsp; I also hang a lot more things than I think she recommends, because I can find it more easily, and enjoy it.</p> <p>There are also things in my home that do not spark joy for me personally, but that I keep out of necessity for work. &nbsp; But getting rid of personal items that didn't spark joy, has opened up a lot of space in my condo and the BF's, and with that comes&nbsp;a great feeling of peace.</p> <p>ETA: &nbsp; My sister is doing this piecemeal, in chunks. &nbsp; She felt very upset and conflicted that she couldn't manage it exactly as in the book, but I pointed out to her, Marie Kondo doesn't seem to have toddlers, or have to work around them.</p> <p>And in <a rel="nofollow" href="http://labelledemimondaine.blogspot.com/search/label/Marie%20Kondo">the video interview she does with Wendy Goodman</a>, she does seem to indicate that you can tackle one small bit at a time, if that's all you have time for.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444716 Fri, 20 Feb 2015 01:57:08 +0000 frannieb 1444716@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So I have now been completely convinced to give the skirt away and move on with my life. Thanking it for the couple times I did wear it.<br />I think I will go section by section like I was before - I just can't hand the thought of all my clothes on my bed. But I can do all my shirts.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444640 Thu, 19 Feb 2015 21:40:44 +0000 Alassë 1444640@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What I did: a complete review of the home, covered in 4 days. (At home each day, all day.) Now that&nbsp;I've experienced&nbsp;that shift in&nbsp;mindset,&nbsp;the sense of how space ought to feel, I can onesie-twosie items that stand out&nbsp;as not fitting the new mindset. </p> <p>I think little discards are&nbsp;perfectly fine after the major purge. In fact, unless you want to let excess build up again, you have to deal with it as it arises. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444629 Thu, 19 Feb 2015 21:19:19 +0000 unfrumped 1444629@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jennifer, I hear that! The perfect is the enemy of the good, or in the case of toddlers, the "whatever"!</p> <p>I'm not worried about breaking any rules, but&nbsp;was &nbsp;interested in the dynamic that occurs with the more complete review.</p> <p>As in, my project I never completed, but may try to do now--"Tops on the Bed"<br />was aimed at putting all tops, from dressy down to garden T shirts, all out in piles. It was pre-Kondo but the idea was that some form of clarity of style, numbers, colors, redundancies and versatility/overlap might emerge. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444605 Thu, 19 Feb 2015 20:29:57 +0000 shedev 1444605@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>She did say that you can break your catagories down. I did&nbsp;makeup, nail polish, belts, and summer tops yesterday. Except for the belts, these things were pretty well edited and this didn't take long. </p> <p>My takeaway&nbsp;so far is, making the keep, not keep decision fast.&nbsp;Even though I never really regret getting rid of something, I'm really indecisive about it.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing/page/2#post-1444540 Thu, 19 Feb 2015 18:32:34 +0000 Jennifer 1444540@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>unfrumped: &nbsp;For me, "tiny chunk tidying" is not a question of relapse - it's really all I can manage right now. &nbsp;Having a toddler is perhaps the categorical opposite to being in a tidy-friendly situation! &nbsp;:-) &nbsp;Even Marie Kondo says that tidying your house over the course of 6 months counts as doing it all in one go. &nbsp;So I would not feel too bad about stretching it out over time. &nbsp;The point that I think&nbsp;Kondo really wants to make is that you've got to approach the tidying&nbsp;as an overall change to your life approach, not as, "today I'm going to tidy one drawer". &nbsp;So while I wish I could do it all in one fell swoop, I think it's more about your mindset while you are doing the tidying - and that, I can manage.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing#post-1444496 Thu, 19 Feb 2015 17:14:01 +0000 unfrumped 1444496@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like what christieann said about cherry-picking even though that goes against Kondo's point. </p> <p>MK advises specifically category sorting rather than by room.<br />That had me quite interested when I read the book, because of the tendency to duplicate items and forget you have multiples (that you might not need) if you just&nbsp;tidy up &nbsp;a room.<br />Example for me is cleaing supplies. I have been on various "kicks", one the Clean Team supply&nbsp;caddy &nbsp;thing, and then with a 2 -story home, I convinced myself to have upstairs and downstairs items, plus end up with dupes in each bathroom, not only cleaning but tissues, etc. While reading the book, I began to see&nbsp; what items should be duplicated (for my preference) and which were overkill and had products drying out, or a half-bottle of this and that in many places and not being able to easily take stock of supplies. So that kind of tidying really benefits from getting it all out in one place and making some decisions re: maybe&nbsp; having one cleaning caddy centrally and just minimum products elsewhere. This is a project I could do in a couple of hours on a weekend, getting all the products from all areas and only replacing the ones I decide I need ("joy" may be too strong a term for this, but sure, joy= satisfaction).</p> <p>I would like to do the same for<u> all </u>categories, in sequence as she described, just for the fun and interest of doing a different system, and because I&nbsp;now see&nbsp;the logic behind it,&nbsp;but I can also see that may be a stumbling block for some of the time intervals I have to devote to the project, and so may have break form and do some "room" or "drawer" tidying versus wait. I'm hoping to use a combination and overlap and also use some new "aha" reactions, such as, "why on earth was I keeping this ?", that arise from the categorical approach. </p> <p>What are your thoughts on relapsing into "tiny chunk tidying" vs. MK's recommendation for the categorical big sweep? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing#post-1444487 Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:50:47 +0000 christieanne 1444487@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I read Kondo's book a few weeks back and have been mulling it over. It does seem geared for a Japanese home which means some possible concessions on our part.&nbsp;<br />I don't have much in the way of true seasonal clothing (no heavy coats or bulky items) but if you have two closets, separating by season seems reasonable but you could still follow the "love it" suggestion for each closet.&nbsp;</p> <p>We have a lot of books on shelves and even some in boxes. I can let go of a lot of them when I think about how many I will truly re-read or be useful to me.&nbsp;<br />For example, a new paperback. I know I won't re-read it so donating to library or passing to a friend I can discuss it with later is more fulfilling.&nbsp;<br />There are still many books to keep after all.&nbsp;<br />We keep reference books, art books, sentimental books. I have a shelf of children's lit I can't let go of. Some classics. I took my work/business books to work. That way others I work with can borrow them. Some, I am giving away.&nbsp;</p> <p>I have not redone my dressers yet with the folding method. I am afraid it will be hard to maintain but I still may give it a shot. My sweaters are on a hanging shelf in closet so that won't work in any case.&nbsp;</p> <p>My thought on the book or any "tidying" system is that you have to take what you need and leave the rest. It may work and may not (workout clothes for example or a basic item). Even applying some of the lessons learned could be a help to you though.&nbsp;</p> <p>Try the skirt again next week and see if your conscious thinking about it has given you a decision.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing#post-1444351 Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:25:56 +0000 Style Fan 1444351@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Re:&nbsp; Books</p> <p>I have not read the book but have read lots of reviews (rave reviews).&nbsp; I did read one woman's conflict with her books.&nbsp; She is a writer and had collected books for many years.&nbsp; I felt a lot of sadness when she wrote about letting her books go and wondered if she would regret it.&nbsp;&nbsp; She had a ritual where she thanked the book and gave it away.&nbsp; I am not technologically skilled but the blog is called Grechen's Closet.&nbsp; I would post the link if I knew how.</p> <p>I have a lot of books from my work, from reading and just because.&nbsp; I have purged the ones that do not bring me joy over the years.&nbsp; I still have a lot of books.&nbsp; All the novels I read now are on my ereader (Thankfully).&nbsp; I buy hard copies of work books.</p> <p>To me books are more important than diamonds.&nbsp; I gave my niece my mother's engagement ring.&nbsp; I&nbsp;would give her&nbsp;the rest of my mother's jewellery if she lived closer.&nbsp; My books are staying.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing#post-1444349 Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:16:46 +0000 krishnidoux 1444349@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love this thread! Thanks for sharing your experience. You inspire me.&nbsp;</p> <p>About utilitarian clothes: after many years I finally decided a few years back to give them their deserved space. So I allotted them a drawer, where I put nothing else but. Of course, not everything in the same spot. So I have many such spaces in my bedroom and entrance.&nbsp;<br />1) In my entrance closet, I installed one of those collapsible fabric hanging shelves, and put my tennis shoes in one compartment, my cap in another, etc.&nbsp;<br />2) Dedicated two drawers in my bedroom for gymwear (these&nbsp;are smaller drawers).&nbsp;<br />3) Found a special spot for my gym bag on the floor inside my Ikea style closet, and make sure NEVER to fill it with anything else.</p> <p>Even if the objects don't "fill out" the space they occupy, I have found it most useful to have a dedicated spot. A drawer that you know, when you open it, that there is that one thing you need inside for you to reach for... and that you can just toss it back there when you are done.&nbsp;</p> <p>Skirt with wrong fit: either have it altered or it goes. Absolutely.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing#post-1444347 Thu, 19 Feb 2015 10:54:50 +0000 Anonymous 1444347@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm reading this book this weekend. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing#post-1444298 Thu, 19 Feb 2015 03:08:23 +0000 frannieb 1444298@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am learning so much wisdom from everyone and am looking forward to beginning the process.</p> <p>books - I could probably purge my whole collection and what doesn't get purged are books for work and I could take them to work.</p> <p>love the quote about intuition - that if you don't know it is a discard you just don't want to admit.</p> <p>Not about the doggie bags from my understanding reading responses here and other places - My doggie bags do not bring me joy but everyday my 4 legged friends bring me joy - So If poop bags are needed for them to be in my life so be it.<br />I think this is the same with tennis shoes and workout clothes - They don't bring me joy - but working out makes me happy so do have joy I need the utilitarian piece and because of this I can also think I should have a scaled down version of these clothes - just enough to avoid a laundry back up and not in excess.</p> <p>Not sure if any of that makes sense but it kinda does in my mind.</p> <p><i></i>&nbsp;<i></i></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing#post-1444185 Wed, 18 Feb 2015 23:24:29 +0000 Sadie 1444185@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I especially liked her&nbsp;suggestions to thank the item for the lessons it taught you, then pass it on- a much more positive take for me than "purging" or "culling", which seems to imply mistakes and regret. It was helpful for me to think what I learned from each item I kept or passed on. The more I "tidy up" my closet, the happier I am with the things I have and the more scrupulous I am about adding new wardrobe items. This book really struck a cord with me and has really helped me to go through all the stages of tidying up (clothes, books, ...) What also helps me&nbsp;sometimes part with something to which I have a sentimental attachment is to take a photo- takes up much less space than the&nbsp;physical object but can be comforting nonetheless. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing#post-1444182 Wed, 18 Feb 2015 23:18:24 +0000 Vildy 1444182@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Generally, I'm a very logical person and had a major book purge about a decade ago. For me, what worked was I broke it up into categories mentally and questioned myself as to what purpose each was supposed to serve. <br />I found that I often mediated things through the written word. My son pointed out that instead of having all the nature guides, why didn't I just look directly at the trees, etc. That was like a thunderbolt to me. Also I found that I had a fascination with histories of the time I'd already lived through - as though the curtain were being pulled back. :D&nbsp; Decided I wasn't that all-fired interested at the time and I had already lived through it!&nbsp; Some books I had because they were my father's favorite books and I realized I hoped to understand my long deceased father (who died when I was an adult!) better through his choice of books. Mediating again. Decided I knew the person and that was the place I'd abide. Why complicate things. </p> <p>Also remembered something my cousin's husband had once challenged me with. He was a very colorful larger than life character. He didn't like that his young son wanted to drink his tea with butter. (yes, I know, that fad's starting up now). I mentioned yak butter in tea in a book I'd read. He said, "Were you there to see this?"&nbsp; No, I'd read it in a book. "Well," he concluded, "the fella who wrote the book, maybe *he* knows because he says he traveled there but *you*, you only read it so you don't know."&nbsp; This helped me tremendously though it may not do much for other folks.</p> <p>I did like this advice one of the commenters gave about books on the Marie Kondo Q and A thread :<br />"When you pick up the book you already know with your intuition which pile <br />it belongs in. If you don't know, its just a discard you don't want to admit<br />&nbsp;to. Doing it faster actually improves the process because your logical, <br />hoarding mind hasn't got the time to get involved."</p> <p>I don't have that many books anymore but I did try out her method and was surprised how many of that small quantity remaining I realized I did not want to want any more. That's not a typo. :D</p> <p>Also, one thing I notice is that no matter who the expert is, when they start to talk about books, they get all noble, like it's some separate category of holy items. I like what a friend said, "It's just paper and ink." </p> <p>I once had a tour of the Library of Congress and the then head librarian stopped as he walked by and addressed the group and took some questions. One thing he told us was that it was commonly believed that the library had a copy of everything ever published. He said that they didn't and furthermore wouldn't want to and far too many books that were published were a waste of trees ( this was maybe 40 years ago before so much talk about environmentalism). Anyway, the group gasped at hearing that he didn't automatically value all books just because they were books. If it's a good enough stance for him, it's good enough for me.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lets-talk-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing#post-1444180 Wed, 18 Feb 2015 23:14:03 +0000 Jennifer 1444180@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Staysfit: &nbsp;I have to admit I haven't tackled my books yet, because I am an avid book collector and the thought of getting rid of books strikes dread into my very soul. &nbsp;But I'm sure that even I can get rid of one shelf's worth, and that is going to be my initial goal with books. &nbsp;I think my criteria for books is going to be: &nbsp;Did I like this book enough to want to&nbsp;read it again? &nbsp;This is somewhat lower than my standards for keeping items in&nbsp;my closet, but as far as books are concerned, it's a reasonable position for me right now. &nbsp;Who knows, I might end up being able to go further than I expect...</p>