Heading off the Hoarding

Details: Published on Thursday, 24 May 2012 14:53; Written by GiniB.

One of my ex-boyfriends used to call me ‘knick-knack-paddy-whack.’ I loved to collect

things. I consider myself to be a reformed collector and a near miss hoarder. (Have you seen that show ‘Hoarders?’ It can make you feel GREAT about YOUR housekeeping habits!) I liked to decorate each room with a bit of a theme. For example, my living room has always been ‘Americana.’ Boy did I freak out when the stores brought out the Fourth of July decor!

Don’t worry; I’m working toward a point. My entire house was a bit ‘busy’ with display shelves full of knick-knacks embodying the theme of that room. There was also an abundance of accent tables also burdened with these items. I’m not sure if it was the baby who would soon start reaching for things or the overwhelming feeling that I no longer had the energy to be Donna Reed, but I made an important decision. I let go.

I would say I consigned and donated approximately 95% of my collected décor. It was difficult, I won’t lie, but it was also liberating. Collections that served no ‘functional’ purpose (other than eye candy or dust collecting) left. Wall shelves, curios and accent furniture left. ‘Cool’ kitchen appliances that rarely got used left. If I thought that an Item or collection was just ‘the cutest thing ever’ and couldn’t imagine never seeing it again, I took a picture for an album which would take up MUCH less space, and it left. We mounted the living room TV to the wall and moved the cable box and game console/dvd player to a shelf concealed by the basement door and got rid of a HUGE entertainment center full of outdated equipment. I even delved into the upstairs closets and eliminated enough surplus clothing to be able to empty and do away with a couple dressers and free up even more floor space!

It took a while, and I’m not truly done but, the more that leaves the better I feel. I don’t have the energy to spend moving furniture around to vacuum or picking up a bazillion cutsie things to dust each one. With a few carefully selected framed wall items and sconces, my home feels lighter and more manageable. I chose this topic today because I hope somewhere; someone will find this to be useful advice. Physical limitations suck, especially inside your own home. Look around. Do you have a bunch of stuff you’re keeping just because it’s ‘still good?’ Are you holding on to stuff you ‘might’use. Don’t be afraid to ask for help moving it out and don’t think it has to happen in one day. EBay it, yard sale it, consign it or give it away if you can. You’ll miss it less than you think!

One VERY important note; once you have cleared out some space, you WILL find yourself in a store staring ‘oh so precious’ items batting their low price tags at you! Resist! My shopping mantra when I come to those stare downs is this: Does it fulfill a NEED? Does it SOLVE a problem? Would it even have caught my eye is it wasn't a PARTICULAR color, theme or brand? Is it something I was actually LOOKING for? I admit, sometimes things go for a ride in my cart before I remember to ask those questions but they have saved me a lot of money and kept me from cluttering up the house again!

If this has helped you, great! If you already have a streamlined, fibro-friendly home; maybe someone you know could use the idea. If neither one apply, carry on…..maybe it was just me.

Here’s to improved efficiency!

GiniB.