Come home and throw away! Coming back from a vacation in a clutter-free zone like a hotel or b&b is a great motivator for getting rid of the unnecessary once you're back at home. Never is it more obvious how much extra junk is floating around than when you realize that sometimes all you need fits into a carry on bag.
It seems that life has a lot more room when you aren't contending with so much stuff. Obviously we need a lot more than that for everytday living--but how much? I've got my eye on some closets and worn out towels, things in the kitchen that I just don't use, and of course clothes that are just taking up space in the closet. Having spent the last few days in Moab, Utah where I've gone river rafting and hiking, it feels so much nicer to be attached to fewer things. I'm freer to go out and explore (and not have to stay home and organize!).
With the Fall Cure starting we're going to be taking a look at our stuff habits and making decisions about what goes and what stays. What about you guys? Do you toss after a trip? Do you bring home more than you left with? Are you inspired to redecorate?
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Closets and worn out towels? I have those! And I can throw them out! I didn't even consider physically minimizing my belongings and thus INCREASE my living space.
Oh, I can't wait to start my Fall Cure! :)
view sparkle's profile
And how! I can't believe how much STUFF a couple can accumulate. My wife and I try not to buy stuff we don't need, and I go through the house inventory every six months. If we haven't used it in 6 months.... it goes to Sal Army, or Craigslist. Who needs more junk when you can spend your spare cash on vacations, dining, concerts, etc?
view homes4hipsters's profile
I periodically go through my stuff (particularly in the closets - yikes) and think, "Do I really want to be paying rent to store this?" That makes it easier to get rid of. Plus, when my apt is uncluttered, I sleep better, which is very weird but very nice.
view MargaretR's profile
"Do I really want to be paying rent to store this?"
Yup, that's my favorite question, too. It helps that I move a lot, so there's also, "Do I want to pay the cost of moving this?"
It's not after trips that I want to clean, though. Trips make me miss my furniture with my stuff. When our apartment is organized and left clean before a trip, I love coming home.
view wende in the twin cities's profile
Just a quick side note: if you're planning to get rid of old towels and blankets, many dog shelters are happy to have them!
view helloat's profile
I love to toss. But I have a huge caveat with that. To toss out for me is to try and find a new use or home for the stuff I toss. I try not to just fill up the garbage bin. I say try because I am not always successful and then feel compelled to hold on to it rather send it to the junk yard in an effort to be environmentally concsious.
The result? I DO toss, but what I have found I do more of is not acquire things in the first place. The question I ask myself is
"If I buy this, will it be useful or worth keeping OUT in my home for years to come."
If the answer is no - it doesn't come home with me in the first place. But either way, after a trip - I ALWAYS feel inspired to decorate. :)
view annaland's profile
I am a constant purger. But I live with a pack rat. Seriously, sometimes I wonder if he's about 90 years older than he looks and lived through the Depression.
I love stuff--but not lots of it.
And I tend to purge before travel. It's always better to come home to a "lighter" house. That's my BS way of justifying buying new treasures while on vacation :-)
view Nicole R's profile
I have an awful habit of wanting to bring whatever place I travel to home with me....HOWEVER, what I love most about short stays in hotels are their complete lack of stuff and how everything you need is right there, compact, and not overbearing. I feel I can think better. (Though, I could do without the standard issue hotel art and furniture...)
view Christine (the one in DC)'s profile