I bought a home and it is filled with my random stuff.
As I am out of money and space, I need some advice on how to arrange stuff and label it. I have used plastic drawers in the past with good success. Now I am looking for additional advice.
Thanks in advance!!
I make 3 piles - Vinnies, auctions, eBay
First is to donate, second is for stuff that will sell well enough at the local auction house that I don't need to care about and last is that specialised stuff that needs to be sold to a target audience (ebay or otherwise).
Then you have to move it on.
Last weekend I did 4 boxes of clothes and I'm still going 😐
Need to learn to budget. Avoid ozbargain it makes you buy stuff you don't really need.
Avoid ozbargain
Penalty Box for you it is then !!!
Buy a small item from Bunnings and pick up a few boxes on the way out.
Member Since
1 hour 12 min ago
Welcome to OzWeFixYourProblems.
I have a rule. If I haven't needed, used, or looked at boxed items in the last 2 years out they go.
Hoarding stuff when it starts getting to an obsession stage is a recognised disorder.
I bought a home and it is filled with my random stuff.
Guaranteed, it is not random…
If you do not know what "if it doesn't spark joy, get rid of it." means
read Spark Joy: An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo
What kind of stuff? Useful?
Two options. More space or less stuff.
Organising is a bit of an art (that I only possess from time to time). Group it in to less random groups then decide where to store it. Does it need regular access (use it weekly), once a year (Christmas decorations), just kept for posterity (only keep because family heirloom). Can’t see your stuff, or house so can’t work out where to put it.
Plastic tubs are OK, but are often fragile and mean your stuff is a bit harder to get to especially if they are stacked on top of each other. Open shelves in a closable cupboard are good. Modern wardrobes with predominantly hanging space are useless, get some shelves.
Sounds like you need more storage.
I suggest getting bookcases and tallboys. Shelving and drawers are great for all the random stuff around the house.
I also suggest getting nice baskets from Target or Big W. I get them for storing all sorts of things. Toys, shoes, office supplies etc.
If you want to go crazy, you can start labelling tubs and containers.
I did my pantry with containers from Woolies and labelled everything in Lockdown. Looks great now lol
My suggestion would be:
Take a particular category of items (e.g. books)
Identify what you really want to keep. Items you don't want can be donated or disposed off. Items you are not sure about, put it a box or suitable area and come back to it after a period of your choosing to review again.
Work out what storage mechanism is best fit for the category (e.g. bookshelf if there is a lot of books) plus the space you have at home and source it (buy, repurpose etc)
Repeat for other categories.
Since it's your own home, look for solutions that'll work long term and is sustainable. There is no need to rush…
MS Paint diagram of your stuff pls
Shelving units and clearly labelled plastic containers with lids.
Don't just box everything up (i.e. out of sight, out of mind) but to use that opportunity to:
- sort out what you want to keep and what you want to sell/ donate/ recycle/ chuck (and in that particular order); and
- make sure those items that you're keeping are stored in a logical manner (like with like, putting more regularly used items within easy reach, etc).
Personally, getting some money back and/ or knowing the items have gone to good homes (rather than adding to the landfills) make it easier to let go.
if it doesn't spark joy, get rid of it.
in all seriousness, we should all live a less cluttered life (myself included) get rid of things you don't need, if you haven't looked or used an item in the last 2 - 3 years, the likely hood of you using it again is highly unlikely.
yeah sure keep things of value…sentimental or monetary but alot of things is just unnecessary…
everytime i organise i throw stuff out. and keep some stuff, a year later i do the same and throw out stuff i kept a year earlier. sometime just gotta close your eyes and heart and throw it out