Another person’s trash is another person’s treasure. It isn’t easy to declutter, particularly if you have some lovely items that no longer suit your lifestyle or decor. I have recently become a fan of Marie Kondo, https://konmari.com although I suspect I will give up on the folding sooner rather than later! Her decluttering system partners well with Feng Shui principles of letting go and releasing energy to allow new energy in.
Having moved countries and homes, I know how difficult it is to part with beautiful furniture, ornaments and clothes but it can be done. Feng Shui views clutter or a sense of feeling cluttered as your life being stifled, disorganised and sometimes, blocked. By clearing out you are allowing space for new energy to move in. However as my mentor, Clear Englebert, would say, this is not an excuse to go shopping! It is about clearing the Chi around you and your space and place. Clutter can also give out the message that we value things over people and experiences as we emotionally invest in what we have. Review the Bagua map and it may surprise you to see that the area that is cluttered is the part of your life that is missing or has issues – not always the case but a possibility.
Where to Begin
A note of caution, I have friends who have leapt and almost thrown the cat and dog out! They then regret and miss some items; other friends haven’t got further than the bookcase. If it is overwhelming, start with a drawer or corner or preferably the front door. Take everything out of the room where possible and in particular anything that doesn’t belong there or doesn’t fit. As you put things back in to the area, consider the following three rules:
- Can it be re-painted, re-modeled, reused?
- If it stays, can it be folded, stored neatly and be easily accessible?
- Can it be passed on, donated or thrown away?
The Front Door
I often recommend starting with the entrance to your place. It is interesting that the Chi energy often has to push past coats, shoes and bikes before it can even get in to the rest of the house or apartment. That being said, some city studios are tiny and I have seen people hang their bikes on the wall. Others have put a small closet near the entrance to neatly store clothes and shoes.
Furniture
Friends downsizing in the past have said how difficult it has been to part with furniture as it is a big financial and emotional investment. See if you can re-paint or reupholster or think of alternative uses. We have a classic Chinese A-frame cupboard which was originally dark red wood and had housed shoes, linen and crockery over the years. It has been painted white, moved to France by car and stores towels and bedlinen. Fast forward several years and it is a soft pistachio green with lovely vintage glassware inside and two brass monkey candleholders on top! Another example; at one stage, we were minus a kitchen for six weeks and bought two garage benches which had adjustable heights and were ideal for a temporary cooking surface even if made for metal work. We sold them two months later at a slight loss but it was worth it.
Ornaments and Art
If you don’t feel comfortable passing on ornaments or art, then consider having a stall at your local flea market. Check to see what sells as markets differ. We had several in Berlin that really are junk which is fine and then one close by that had better quality stuff. I always say never again! Be prepared to give away at a low cost and forget the original price. It is about clearing out and passing on.
Clothes
Rule of thumb, if you haven’t worn it the previous winter or summer, let it go. Either pass on, have a swap night or children’s exchange, sell on a market or donate to a charity. We have Humana in Berlin which is renowned for second-hand clothing or various second hand shops in France. Mind you, be careful. I let go a lot of clothes but came back with an Italian silk shift for 5 euros that I still am waiting to wear!
Books
This one is tough for me. While living in Malaysia, I gave away a trunk of childhood books to a young book reader and it was worth it. She treated them like gold. I have to admit that I have recently rediscovered the joys of a paperback on a beach as opposed to a Kindle. My excuse is that I am buying them for visitors to take to the beach and then I will find a second handbook shop who needs English books!
