Classy Closets

For those interested in our minimizing efforts, I thought I would open up our closet to the public. This is the first area we turned to when we began our mission of decluttering.  Today I am debuting our new, pared down closet!  Brad's stuff on the left and mine in the middle and right.  When we had begun I had well over 100 pieces of clothing.  Now I believe I am down to about 70 or so, and I really tried to include everything.

It looks like nothing, but it really adds up.

Tops                                             -3 tank tops (everyday) -3 t shirts (everyday) -8 shirts (everyday) -4 sweaters (everyday) -2 exercise shirts -4 tank tops (work) -5 t shirts (work) -4 sweaters (work) -1 blouse (dressy) Dresses -1 dressy dress -1 casual dress Accessories -4 scarves -2 belts -1 hat -1 toque -2 pairs of mittens

Bottoms -2 pairs of pants (everyday) -1 pair of jeans (everyday) -4 pairs of shorts (everyday) -1 pair of leggings (everyday) -1 pair of exercise shorts -2 pairs of pants (work) -1 pair of jeans (work) -4 pairs of shorts (work) Shoes -1 pair of everyday shoes -1 pair of flip flops -1 pair of dress shoes -1 pair of everyday boots -1 pair of snow boots Seasonal -1 fall/spring jacket -1 dressy jacket -1 winter jacket -1 snow jacket -1 pair of snow pants -1 bathing suit

I still feel like I could do even more, but I am happy with what I've done so far.  There are some factors I am not sure how to get around.  I have a completely different set of clothes for work and regular life resulting in 2 nearly full wardrobes.  Since I work in a daycare, I am unwilling to risk ruining my everyday clothes with paint, bleach, or who knows what else.  Also, I live in a place where the temperature can range from -20° to 35° C (-4° to 95° F) depending on the time of year, meaning I need clothes for all the seasons.  There are also so many pieces that only serve one purpose (like dress shoes or exercise shorts) which drives me crazy.

This is why no one can set a magic number for the "perfect" or "right" amount of clothes for a person to own.  Based on your life and circumstances, come up with a reasonable amount you're comfortable.  Work towards it over time.  Once you've achieved it, stick to a "one in, one out" system.  If you purchase or receive a new item of clothing, be sure to remove an old one (give it away, donate it, throw it away if it's in poor condition) before allowing the new one into your wardrobe.

Now this would really be a problem solver!  My mind was blown when a friend showed me this, and now I would like to show you all the Versalette.  According to the {r}evolution apparel website, "The Versalette is a multi-functional piece that can be worn over 15 different ways — with just a few adjustments. It serves as a dress, shirt, skirt, scarf, purse, hood & more. It’s a simply designed staple that makes travel, minimalism, and living sustainably just a little bit easier."  Check it out here:

{r}evolution apparel Introduces the Versalette from {r}evolution apparel on Vimeo.

Decluttering

I read an article in Natural Solutions magazine that really made me think.  It asked the question, is clutter affecting your health?  I had never really considered this even as a possibility before.  Here is what I learned.

In this article, clutter was defined as anything that gets between you and the life you'd like to be living.  It claims that it is impossible to be your best and healthiest self in a cluttered space.  We lose our ability to focus on what we're doing in the midst of a mess.   This loss of mindfulness can lead into an unhappy cycle.  A PhD at Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living says that clutter can make us depressed and being depressed can make us cluttered.  "Depression contributes to clutter by causes fatigue, giving one less energy and motivation, and impairing ability to focus," and then "having a lot of clutter leads people to feel ashamed and socially anxious."  There are even speculations that clutter can lead to overeating and weight gain.

How can we combat this?  Decluttering!  This is the process that Brad and I went through.
-throw away obvious garbage and put recycling in the recycling bin
-do what is visible first - countertops, desks, etc
-empty out a drawer/cupboard working on one at a time
-consider each of the objects - do I need/use/love it, how would life be without it
-pack up unwanted items to donate


Brad and I have eliminated multiple boxes and garbage bags in the last couple of months, and we're not done yet.  We essentially got rid of everything we didn't use or love.  In fact, we even got rid of some things we sort of love because they really have no place in our life right now.  I think it is important to figure out what we want from our lives, not what we want for our lives.  Deep down inside myself I know that authenticity, serenity, and joy are more desirable than a new wardrobe, the latest iPad, or a new car.  We are trying to break the cycle of consumerism that society so heavily pushes.  Buying less stuff is also so much better for the environment.  I don't consider it denying myself or losing out on anything.  It is about freedom, space, and time.  While browsing Pinterest, I pine over simple, open rooms like this:

Minimizing and decluttering are ongoing processes that require constant maintenance.  This is the hardest part for me.  It is encouraging though that little changes really can make a big difference.  You can start anytime, anywhere, with anything.  Every little bit helps.

What are your strategies for decluttering or maintaining?