Contents
Our home and the objects that surround us affect our inner state. A life organization specialist tells how to create a favorable atmosphere in the apartment.
1.
Create an inspiring look
First step: mentally imagine a picture of your ideal home. Colours, volumes, decorative elements, light… The goal is not to free up space at any cost, but to «arrange it to create the conditions for living that you like.»
2.
Tune in
While the head is crammed with everyday affairs, it will not work to deal with the chaos in the house. Don’t panic when looking at mountains of things. Choose a quiet corner where you can appreciate the place of each object in your universe. Anything that will allow you to enter this state will do: soft, unobtrusive music or the murmur of the TV. But the best ally is silence.
Things hidden from view are usually not used for years.
3.
Make a decision right away
When you feel ready, start sorting things. First of all, decide which items are definitely not needed. To achieve optimal results, adhere to the following rule: either throw away the excess immediately, or put the “doubt” in its place.
4.
No «just in case»
The only question worth asking when looking at each item is: “Does it give me joy?” If the answer is no, you know what to do. Quite often we are tormented by doubts: “Maybe I still need it? I can always throw it away.» Hesitation means you are attached to the thing. Remember when and why you bought this item. Is it as important to you today as it was before?
5.
Sort things by category, not by room
Chaos is when things do not have their own place and they randomly wander from one corner to another. Keep items of the same category in one place. Look around the house for the same type of things and accessories (cleaning products, jewelry, cosmetics). Lay them out on the floor in groups. So you can estimate the amount of property and understand how and where it is better to store it.
6.
Do not fill boxes more than 90%
Storage spaces packed to capacity are black holes. What is hidden from view is usually not used for years. We forget about pots, socks and notebooks that hide in closets and chests of drawers. “We tend to try to fill all the space,” says Marie Kondo. “But if the goal is order, it’s better to have everything in plain sight. Limit yourself to one or two rows so that you can look at the contents of each shelf.
7.
Fold clothes with origami
Randomly folded clothes take up more space and create a sense of clutter. The best way to avoid this is to always stack things in the same pattern. Use the Japanese origami technique, a description of it can be found on the Web. “Practice and you will do it automatically every time,” says the expert.
8.
Create your «place of power»
A comfortable sofa, a table fenced off by a screen, a rocking chair — there should be a place in the house that will serve as a refuge (or den). “Having personal space is very important for mental comfort. It will warm you from the inside, like a warm cat in your bosom in the winter cold, ”says the coach. A small corner is enough.
9.
Deal with the past
Things that are dear as a memory of the emotions associated with them, not only turn out to be the main «long-livers» in our house, but also become the main source of disorder. How can you throw away a ticket to a concert where you had such a good time? And this camera that your grandfather used to take pictures of you as a child? Precious memories will not disappear even if you part with their physical embodiment. If necessary, spend some time with your valuable item. Photograph it, describe it. Come to terms with the fact that it no longer belongs to your life today. Letting go of the past is important to make room for the present and the future, literally and figuratively.
10.
Use things wisely
To keep things in order every day, Marie Kondo advises following certain rituals: always return things to their place, thank them for being able to use them, and take care of them. “When you finish putting the house in order, it will become clear to you what the meaning and purpose of each thing is,” explains the coach. You will understand their true value and learn how to consciously handle them. Such an approach is a guarantee not only of physical purity, but also of mental clarity and inner harmony.”
About the Expert: Marie Kondo is a home improvement consultant and bestselling author of Magical Cleaning. The Japanese art of putting things in order at home and in life.