I came across Gabe Bult’s video on how to declutter the home. I thought it was timely since, I personally, am seeing I am acquiring a ton of stuff (especially baby outfits from friends—they keep on coming and they won’t stop!) Bult starts by following ‘The Elsa Rule’, remembering Elsa from Frozen when she sang “Let It Go” — it’s the same for decluttering. He says if it’s not going to matter in five years, don’t spend five minutes thinking about if an object in your home is a keeper. Bult reiterates if you are not 100% sure you need it, then it’s a 100% no, it should not be kept anymore. Now here are some of the rules he mentioned that helped and will help me make my home a better place to live in:
The 6-Month Rule - I remember I heard this from an author, Chiara Lubich, about how she lived a simple life of not acquiring too many things in her home, may it be clothes or gifts she received. If she had clothing that she didn’t use for six months, she automatically gave it away, knowing that someone else might have the need for it. The same goes with what Bult mentioned here, which is pretty identical to Lubich’s. Bult also suggests if you are going to get rid of things unused, it would be cool to sell them, then you can profit from them.
Less, But Better - Bult strongly encourages acquiring less but to purchase “quality” items around the house. May it be pots and pans that cook really well and are easy to wash or unbranded clothing that is neither cheap nor expensive but works for your ‘OOTD’ and you are comfortable wearing them. By doing this, you get comfort and practicality.
Have A Plan / Schedule / System - With our busy schedules, it’s hard to dedicate time to fix, unclutter, sort, and organize our rooms and homes. Planning for it in advance helps us to commit to it so we are sure it’s gonna happen, especially when procrastination or laziness kicks in. Building a system, on the other hand, means organizing your things in a way that will contribute to how you live and how you create your habits.
Use Storage - I totally agree with this. Most of the time, I leave stuff out in the open and get really confused and frustrated as to where I should keep my things. Then I realized that I didn't have the right storage system (that, or I lacked storage). Having a cabinet, a drawer, and a cupboard, that fits your lifestyle and system, helps greatly in decluttering and keeping the house clean and orderly. Bult encourages having custom-made storage designed and built by you, so you are sure it’s the right fit (though if you are not super great at carpentry, why not call someone to help you). But then, if you’re feeling too anxious and in a hurry, buying ready-made storage in IKEA or other furniture stores should be good.
Build A Capsule Wardrobe - At first, I thought this meant rolling all your clothes into capsule-shaped form. And of course, I was wrong (but it was kinda funny just thinking about it.) To quote sustainably-chic.com, “A capsule wardrobe is a limited selection of interchangeable clothing pieces that complement each other. These are often classic pieces that do not go out of style and are primarily composed of neutral colors. A capsule wardrobe allows you to create a variety of different outfits with a small selection of clothes.” I, personally, had been doing this for the past few years, knowing that I’d save more from buying too many clothes, and not have to think about too much clutter in my cabinet.
“Keep your life as simple as possible.” - Gabe Bult
Having a clutter-free home doesn't have to be a daunting task. It's all about finding a system that works for you and your lifestyle and sticking to it. Whether it's doing a daily tidy-up, regularly purging items that you no longer need, or investing in storage solutions, the key is to consistently maintain your personal space and make organization and cleaning a habit. Remember, a clutter-free home not only looks good, but it can also reduce stress and increase productivity. So, take a deep breath, grab a bin, and get started on creating your own clutter-free oasis.