‘New Minimalism’ Book Offers Fresh Ideas for Decluttering
Professional declutterers share smart ideas for simplifying your stuff for intentional living
The new year offers a fresh start, and many of us are looking for ways to cut down on clutter and clear the slate. But even with the best intentions, it can be tough to get started on tasks like cleaning out the closet or digging into those boxes in storage. It can be even tougher to prevent the kinds of things you’ve decluttered from trickling back into your house over the year.
In their new book, New Minimalism: Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living, Cary Telander Fortin and Kyle Louise Quilici — decluttering professionals with backgrounds in psychology and interior design — delve into why we accumulate so many things, and they offer practical, easy-to-adapt strategies for decluttering and changing habits. We caught up with Quilici, and below we share her thoughts as well as highlights from the book.
In their new book, New Minimalism: Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living, Cary Telander Fortin and Kyle Louise Quilici — decluttering professionals with backgrounds in psychology and interior design — delve into why we accumulate so many things, and they offer practical, easy-to-adapt strategies for decluttering and changing habits. We caught up with Quilici, and below we share her thoughts as well as highlights from the book.
Where to begin. “Slow down and start to notice your behavior as it relates to your things,” Quilici says. Which items bring you happiness or connect you with loved ones? Which kitchen tools or items of clothing do you get the most use out of?
Alternatively, which possessions feel like a burden — like that pair or pants you’d like to fit into — or are no longer useful to you?
Fortin and Quilici recommend starting off by going through your possessions by category (wardrobe and accessories, kitchen and entertaining items, desk and paperwork) and asking yourself questions about each item you own:
Alternatively, which possessions feel like a burden — like that pair or pants you’d like to fit into — or are no longer useful to you?
Fortin and Quilici recommend starting off by going through your possessions by category (wardrobe and accessories, kitchen and entertaining items, desk and paperwork) and asking yourself questions about each item you own:
- Can I live without this?
- Does this really bring me happiness?
- Is this something that I am actively choosing for myself or just something that I’ve always had?
Make your stuff work for you. Pay attention to the tools you reach for again and again in your kitchen or home workspace. You may not need the rest of the stuff cluttering your kitchen and desk drawers. Instead of investing in a complicated organizing system for tools, Fortin and Quilici recommend first thoughtfully decluttering and then keeping things simple in terms of organization.
For example, without the clutter of duplicate pairs of scissors, dried-up pens or never-used tools, desk supplies can be simply organized with a few open-top containers like dishes and trays. Giving each item a designated spot and keeping things visible and easy to access means you cut down on wasted time trying to find what you need.
For example, without the clutter of duplicate pairs of scissors, dried-up pens or never-used tools, desk supplies can be simply organized with a few open-top containers like dishes and trays. Giving each item a designated spot and keeping things visible and easy to access means you cut down on wasted time trying to find what you need.
For clothes, drastically increase your standards. “Any article of clothing that doesn’t make you feel like a million bucks when you wear it should be considered on the chopping block,” Quilici says.
She suggests trying another trick at laundry time. “Take note of what items are still in your closet at this time. If it’s in season and it’s not a special-occasion item, what has stopped you from wearing it? Maybe you never actually get around to wearing your sixth-favorite T-shirt. Donate it!”
Get It Done: Clean Out Your Bedroom Closet
She suggests trying another trick at laundry time. “Take note of what items are still in your closet at this time. If it’s in season and it’s not a special-occasion item, what has stopped you from wearing it? Maybe you never actually get around to wearing your sixth-favorite T-shirt. Donate it!”
Get It Done: Clean Out Your Bedroom Closet
By eliminating items of clothing you don’t wear or that don’t make you feel good, you’ll be left with the clothes you like best, and you’ll have far more room for keeping them neat and tidy.
Fortin and Quilici recommend using the same overarching strategy for the closet as for organizing the kitchen and desk: Keep the items you use visible and easy to reach. For example, leave room between hangers so that items can be seen and easily grabbed. For folded clothes, keep piles to manageable stacks of three or four items.
Browse closet organizers
Fortin and Quilici recommend using the same overarching strategy for the closet as for organizing the kitchen and desk: Keep the items you use visible and easy to reach. For example, leave room between hangers so that items can be seen and easily grabbed. For folded clothes, keep piles to manageable stacks of three or four items.
Browse closet organizers
Photo by Sarah Deragon
What to do about knickknacks. The authors recommend cutting down on clutter by allowing one item to stand for many. For example, a single framed photograph can be a thoughtful reminder of a favorite trip, instead of a dozen souvenirs spread over a bookshelf.
Another tip from Fortin and Quilici: Use empty space to visually elevate objects. After you declutter, the objects that remain will have more visual power simply due to the absence of other objects. Use blank walls or cleared shelves to display objects like vases as art.
What to do about knickknacks. The authors recommend cutting down on clutter by allowing one item to stand for many. For example, a single framed photograph can be a thoughtful reminder of a favorite trip, instead of a dozen souvenirs spread over a bookshelf.
Another tip from Fortin and Quilici: Use empty space to visually elevate objects. After you declutter, the objects that remain will have more visual power simply due to the absence of other objects. Use blank walls or cleared shelves to display objects like vases as art.
Where to donate stuff. Apart from Goodwill and other traditional charity organizations, Fortin and Quilici recommend a number of other organizations that might accept household donations:
More
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- Local libraries for used books
- Preschools for paper, art supplies and office supplies
- Church organizations that accept unopened toiletries and unexpired pantry goods
- Local moms’ groups for gently used baby gear and maternity clothing
- Pet rescue centers for towels too worn to be donated
More
How to Donate Clothes to Charity Without Leaving Home
10 Decluttering Projects You Can Do in 15 Minutes or Less
Find an organizing and decluttering professional
How it works. Minimalism doesn’t have to be about giving up all of our creature comforts. The authors’ version “fills the gap between ascetic minimalism and the typical American consumption habit, to find a warm and inviting balance of minimalism catered to the person at hand,” Quilic says in an email. She and Fortin co-founded New Minimalism, a San Francisco decluttering and design company.
It’s finding the sweet spot for how much stuff you like to have around to meet your needs and add beauty to your living space without the distraction of unnecessary items.