I’ve Marie Kondo’d my house and it’s scarily tidy

[wondering7777]

Well, when I say house, what I’ve actually Kondo’d so far is our bedroom and the DC’s, as it’s very time consuming. I’ve got rid of a huge amount of stuff from these two bedrooms alone (probably about 6-8 binbags worth) and that’s from two rooms that probably the majority of people would say were not hugely cluttered in the first place.

On the one hand it feels AMAZING knowing that everything I’ve kept is something I consciously want or need, everything has its place and is totally organised. I keep going into the rooms and marveling at how tidy they are. Also, cleaning the bedrooms now takes about 5 minutes max and my wardrobe only contains clothes that I actually wear. On the other hand the bedrooms now look so tidy that it almost feels like an Airbnb or something, which is kind of strange! Has anyone else felt like this when doing a massive declutter?

That sounds very satisfying and I'm sure you'll find it less unsettling soon!
As another person who does periodic decluters but nothing which manages to be so complete and satisfying as this, am inerested if there was something which helped it 'click' for you this time?
I am trying this autumn to declutter with a motivation of being able to enjoy the run up to Christmas without frantic tidying, and clearing time to spend with my youngest before he starts school next year.
But any other tips on making it actually make a difference would be good!

I have Kondo’d my pants and socks though and I do enjoy those drawers.

Today I Kondo'd my make up drawer.

Only took 2 hours...😹

Do you feel guilty throwing away the children’s toys / items? Especially if your not having no more children (that’s why I’ve still got so much stuff in this house 😂)

I have done SO much decluttering and although my house is better I still have never managed to reach this scarily tidy point- I am envious! How far did you go…like how many days worth of clothes, how many toys, do you keep old clothes for younger kids to grow into… I need more detail!!

One of the things I find about being poor is how much clutter we have. The house is overcrowded so that doesn’t help, but I have a huge urge to keep everything just-in-case. Tomorrow I’m starting a major clear out of the two youngest’s room, I’m going to put everything into my room and be brutal about what goes back…but then I’ve somehow got to clear my room after to be able to go to bed hahaha.
I remember the first time I visited my ex MIL’s, I was in awe at how pristine and like a hotel it felt, but after 20 minutes I was bored as there was no cosy feeling or artwork/books/crap to look at and be interested in/learn about her from. So I never want to declutter that much. Yours sound nice, well done.

Just as well you didn't go full Kondo. Ironically since she's had her own dcs she no longer practices the method herself! She's made her money now I guess....

Well done anyway and if works for you that's all well and good.

I’m constantly trying to declutter my cupboards but keep getting stuck at the worse before better stage when I pull everything out then have to shove most of it back in when I have any visitors.

I think I would have to dedicate a couple of days for each area - giving up before it’s finished seems to cause even more chaos.

Sounds a great feeling to get it all done though - I’m inspired now 😀

Yes Marie Kondo now admits it's a load of crap once you have kids! 🤣

I'd still love to really declutter though. OP, I'm sure stuff will creep back in and it won't look too bare for long

Did this at DPs parents house about 10 years ago. Threw away everything in every room, probably left them with 20% of their possessions, I’m not joking, clothing too, all gone. Their house went from clunky 90s pine furniture with Lilliput Lane ornaments to sleek minimalist beige in about 6 months.

It changed their lives and them for the better. Their house is still the envy of everyone who visits because it’s so clean and tidy.

My parents were young adults during WWII. Their mantra was 'Waste not, Want not'. Nothing was wasted, everything was mended, darned, re-used, repurposed, unravelled and re-knitted, the lot. You didn't replace anything until you absolutely had to.

As a consequence of my upbringing, I find it difficut to throw anything away...

I’ve made almost £500 selling my clutter on eBay. Ds2 has bought a house and will be moving out soon taking his clutter with him. We are going to decorate his room and dh and I will move in there decluttering as we go. Then ds3 will declutter and move into our room. I want to downsize once ds1 leaves home so I will need to get rid of a lot of stuff.

I became minimalist a few years ago and it has literally changed and saved my life.

I couldn’t live any other way now.

Did you do the visualising your destination stage at the start of the process? I think that's important as it helps you quantify why you wanted to do this, what you actually wanted out of your space.

That way if it feels empty, looking back at that mission statement might help you figure out what it's missing without undoing all of your good work.

For example, maybe a new colour on the walls, or some artwork? Displaying something sentimental, or equipment to do something you love, like a comfy chair in the bedroom to sit and read?

This is the thread I needed to see! I'm hoping to move in the next few years but our home is so cluttered it's embarrassing.
I need to get my head in gear and take inspiration from you and others on this thread.
Thank you. Wish me luck

I'm envious. I used to be quite minimalist. Then we cleared our family home after my Dad died and now I have a flat full of shite I can't bear to part with.

I so need to do this. I have some child free days off next week ( first in 10 years) and I’m going to try to get the bedrooms done. I’m a hoarder a have so much stuff like bags of outgrown but good children’s shoes, clothes that used to fit me 10 years ago etc. Wish me luck!

I started Marie Kondo back in 2018 but it didn't click.

2020 I discovered Joshua Becker (becoming minimalist) and the Minimal Mom and it really spoke to me.

It's an ongoing process cos things are always coming into the house, but I love our home now. We have beautiful artwork and family photos on the walls. Comfy cushions on the sofa and bright rugs on the floor. But the surfaces are clear. Drawers and cupboards are only 50% full. Tidying and cleaning is so much easier. Everyone knows where everything is. The house is more peaceful which is good cos with 2 boys with ADHD there is always loads going on!

You get used to it quickly. The first room I did was a small shower room. I was so chuffed I kept going back to look at it. Nothing overflowing. Everything so neat. Only what we need and use.

Within a couple of weeks it was the new normal and no longer felt empty.

Get a box and store them in the attic, not all of them, have a few out, then in a couple of months change them, that way you keep them all but you don't have so many out at once.

I need to work through the book again. I've done it once but the clutter creeps back. M
Saying tot can't do it with kids isn't true. Dd2 loves decluttering and gets rid of things with no emotion. She's 10

I’ve never managed it fully although my house is improving. Although apparently now Marie Kondo is less strict. What I find helpful is to look and my stuff and think what shall I keep rather than what shall I get rid of.

So two months later and it turns out the posters who said I’d find the minimalist look less unsettling soon were right! I’m really enjoying the organised, streamlined feeling now in the rooms that I’ve done.

One thing I will say is that this process is taking forever. I’ve just had some time off work and spent three days (yes really!) deep-cleaning and decluttering the bathroom. And despite spending all that time on it, I still have a bit more to do 😳 TBF much of the time was spent removing tons of limescale, mould and general grime from shower heads and suchlike. It’s very satisfying now that it’s nearly all gone.

I’m still not sure the bedrooms are totally decluttered - I need to go through everything again as I think there’s more stuff I could lose.

Downstairs is still total carnage.

Also, given the speed this is taking so far, I estimate this process will take a year (and my home is small!!)

I’m coming to the end of a 12 month mat
leave and I have spent a lot of it decluttering. Still not there yet but the garage of doom is now a few stacks of crates with clearly labelled contents. I find it soothing to look at.

comment up thread about 50% full drawers really resonated with me. Horrible feeling trying to jam stuff in!

Keep going- I promise it’s worth it! A friend commented recently on how uncluttered my house seems. (I’ve known her a long time, so it wasn’t a rude comment). I still find myself going through bookcases, drawers and cupboards but it gets easier every time because there’s less in them.