There are many ways to deal with what comes into your home, but here are my favorite three ways to manage incoming stuff. And just so we’re all on the same page, we’re talking about wants, not needs here.
1. You can follow the “One in One Out” method. If you bring something into your house something else must be donated.
2. You can let natural boundaries dictate how much can be saved. For example, you decide, as a couple or a family, that you can only have the number of books that will fit comfortably (no shoving or stacking) on two bookshelves. Once it’s full then you stop buying books or decide which old ones you can donate to make room for any new ones you want. I love having the library ‘store’ the books I like when I don’t have space for them.
3. You can give everyone a ‘Special Box’. They can keep whatever they want in there. Once the box is full, they need to go through it and edit what they are saving.
I often use a variety of these methods depending on who I’m working with and what kind of things tend to accumulate in each person’s space. How do you manage the things that come into your house? Which method works the best for you and your situation?
You can read more ways to manage incoming stuff at Make Space for the Things That Are Important to You, Maintaining Organization, and Delaying Purchases. If you want one-on-one help organizing a space, call Colleen at 208.736.3306 for a free consultation. I’d love to help you on your organizational journey. Virtual options are also available.