I have often told myself that if only I had a bigger house with more closets and storage space, dressers, shelves, cupboards and chests of drawers, my house would be a model of tidiness.
The truth is that I need to get rid of a lot of useless, unworn and tired items. I then need to use the empty containers that I have been stockpiling to hold the things I do really love and use.
How many empty jars do I actually need (okay, a few at least, since I do use them for painting mediums and mixtures)? Does it make sense to go to Ikea and spend $150 on nice looking galvanized metal storage bins to hold a bunch of stuff that should go in the recycle bin?
My problem is really decision making. Delayed decision making. Agonizing choices about where to put stuff and what to throw out. My deepest fear and main cause of procrastination is that I will regret getting rid of some previously unappreciated item that I now have found a use for.
Do that for a decade or so and you eventually have a real problem to deal with.
Before I had kids and a husband and a house or two and my work to deal with, I was actually pretty well organized. Oh yeah, things would periodically pile up and fall apart, but then it wouldn’t take more than a day to get control.
I have made a small dent in the backlog of stuff to sort through lately though, with a rather large box by the front door filled and ready to go to Goodwill.
We have also moved some shelves out of my youngest son’s room which will be useful in organizing my studio.
I saw some large, sturdy black plastic totes today for less than $10 each that might work well for sorting things, but I want to wait and see if I already have enough containers.
Too many containers = more clutter in the form of empty baskets and boxes.
I am feeling hopeful. One step at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed. Breathe.