Yes, You Have to Get Rid of Things
You've been spending a lot of time watching YouTube videos about organizing, you have The Container Store in your favorites list, and you've looked at so many images of perfectly organized spaces on Instagram that it's all the recommendations show you anymore.
You're quite sure you will be able to have the perfectly organized space you've always dreamed of once you find the right technique, bins, shelving units, and fancy storage solutions; all while letting go of just a few things you haven't used in many years (though it's more likely you'll be able to keep everything)!
It’s time for some tough love. I'll give it to you straight: It's not going to happen.
TOUGH LOVE TIME.
I’ll give it to you straight: It’s not going to happen.
The truth is important so I'll tell it to you. If you think you can have a clean, calm space and not get rid of things, you're wrong.
You're looking for a quick fix that won't require any sacrifice. Life (and organization) doesn't work that way. If you want your life and space to change, you have to make hard decisions about what deserves to be in your life and space. The least of those decisions is which IKEA solution to purchase.
I have yet to work with a client who wasn't holding onto things that they don’t use or enjoy. There are always things that can be discarded. Of course, this is true for us organizers, too.
The majority of people who are constantly looking for the "right" solution have at least 2 times more than will comfortably fit in a space.
Adding containers and storage solutions to a space takes up more space, not less. If you start out with too much and add more, you're left with more than too much. (Read Solving Disorganization with Containers, for more tips.)
A space that is too full, even when organized, will still be crowded and you'll find yourself continuing to feel stressed.
Those aesthetically pleasing images you're chasing are that way because there is not much in the space. Look again and instead of focusing on how the images make you feel, focus on the amount of free and blank space. You can have that too, but you're limited on what you can keep.
If you insist on keeping everything that you currently have, you will get the result you currently have. If you want something different, you have to make different choices.
It's important to me that people face the truth about their organization, even when that truth is upsetting. Dig a little deeper as you fantasize about what your space can be. I encourage you to think hard about whether you are willing to make the changes that will be required to reach your organization goals. The answer may be "no", and that's fine, but don't lie to yourself that you can have everything you want without sacrifice. If you want that clean and calm space, then yes, you need to get rid of things.
