The Basics

Personalities and the homes they create exist on what I like to call a sliding “Emotional-Organization Scale” This scale runs from The Minimalist to The Maximalist. Most of us exist somewhere in the middle of these extremes, in what I call The Middle Child.

The first thing to do is identify where you exist emotionally, then you can identify where you will be happiest organizationally. The trick is being honest, and meeting yourself where you are. Are you emotionally happy when you can see all of your important things out and about your home, or does having photos on the wall make you feel claustrophobic? Ignore what you think your home “should” look like: instead think about what makes you feel comfortable and mentally at ease. 

Remember: one man’s clutter is another man’s decoration - and vice versa. Minimalism isn’t for everyone, as I’ve said. If you collect coffee mugs, you don’t need to declutter all of them, or even any of them, especially in the beginning. BUT, if you are living with a minimalist, they deserve to feel comfortable in their own home too. Compromise. Keep the mugs, but only display a few at a time and rotate them out.

Here’s the rule: If it gives you anxiety to see it, it’s clutter. If it gives you joy to see it, it’s decoration. Sometimes things need to be curated, rather than culled.