My de-cluttering journey (thus far)

I'm on a bit of a buzz.....a de-cluttering buzz.....thanks to Aunty Nae for her inspiration. 

I wouldn't say I have massive hoarding issues, but my house certainly does have a lot more in it than it needs to have. So after going to Nikki's De-cluttering 101, I came home last Friday and attacked the kitchen drawers, pantry, linen cupboard and towel cupboard. Nothing's safe around here I tell ya.

Utensils drawer before

During

After

Cutlery Drawer before

After

Forgot to do a before, but this is the pantry after a tidy out

Bye bye to my beloved cans cupboard. Couldn't get rid of this for so long and now wish I'd done it sooner cause now I don't have a messy collection point at the front door....no more surface to dump on

Still a little sad to see it like this, and now sitting outside in the cold:(

Linen after

Towel cupboard after. I couldn't quite do a 2 towel per person rule, but I did get rid of about 10 towels

 What the kitchen/hallway looked like during the de-cluttering process

Next I'm onto the collection point on top of the pantry, then the hallway bookshelves and then my wardrobe....then......

 Gosh it makes you feel lighter when there's less stuff around, and I'm only scratching the surface at the moment. Maybe i'm gonna need a few 9m skip bins by the end of this process. Haha

Thanks Aunty Nae....I'm feeling good!

And here are some of the notes I took at the de-cluttering workshop

1. When you wonder if you should get rid of something, ask yourself 'Do I love it and/or use it?' If the answer is No, it can go. Sell it, give it away, dump it.

2. Sometimes space is worth more than an item (so true with the cans cupboard)

3. If it doesn't have a home, it doesn't belong in your home

4. Set a goal for the overall look and feel of your home

4. It's ok to let things go if they don't fit with your lifestyle

5. Pass on antiques/heirlooms if you don't use and love them. Others will

6. Shop with a list

7. Do bite-sized chunks. Make a list of tasks and work on them one at a time

8. Before you go to bed, scrub your sink. Then when you wake up in the morning you have a clean start

9. Housework done imperfectly still blesses my family. Don't let a desire for perfection stop you from starting

10. Attack hot spots regularly (for us that's at the front door and by the TV cabinet).

I know I always function better when I feel the house is in order, and even from making this start last week I can already feel how there's a lighter vibe when I'm not so closed in with stuff. 

So I reckon de-cluttering is good for home and the mind for sure

More to come.....cause it's Friday tomorrow.... & while the kids are out, Mum shall get her 

de-clutter on!