1) Edit, edit edit.
I constantly edit my things and belongings, because if you own 5 different types of pots or baskets for example, you end up only using one in the end. The other way to do it is if you KNOW you need a box or a basket, go and search/find the PERFECT box/basket so that you don’t buy a lookalike-kinda-like-what-you-want-but-not-really and end up spending (wasting) more money when you finally find the real thing.
Keep repeating to yourself: You’ve lived without it until now, you can live without it for longer.
2) Let it go.
I do this quite a bit. I let go of stuff to be donated. My problem was I never drove, so getting it to the shops was a pain in the ass. I AM going to be able to drive soon, so I can just drive myself and my old things after I categorize it all in November.
3) It’s only “stuff”.
If you put it away or let it go, you probably won’t even know it’s gone. Have you ever put stuff in the basement or in a box and never realized you had it until years later when you rummaged through it? Precisely.
5) One in – one out
I’m awful at this one-in-one-out rule, but I am working on doing it with my clothes. I bought a pair of pants last month to replace my other pair, and I can see that my old pair is ready to go into the bin, so I feel good about starting this new habit.
6) Own what you love.
It’s like owning jewellery. Own what you love. I love a lot of necklaces and earrings, but I had triple or quadruple that amount that I never wore. Now I just have my favourites.
7) Buy storage in bulk.
Having a streamlined, uncluttered look is key. If you buy boxes in bulk, especially all in one colour or one shade of colour, then it looks nicer than haphazardly all over the place in weird colours and patterns.
Once BF and I move to a new apartment, I am buying the furniture that works for ME, not him. BF can organize, but I’m the one that knows how to make it efficient.
8) Corral your Clutter.
I have this box by the door where I dump my keys, money, wallet, everything. Best organization tool ever. And I set up a charging station where I plugged in a large extension cord with slots, and put in each plug. When I’m not using the station I just shut off the power to the plug, and it controls clutter.
Paper clutter? I scan everything I can.
9) Rotate your collections.
I tend to also display one beautiful thing, then switch it out for another beautiful thing. But generally speaking I ought to cut down on this because it can get a bit ridiculous to keep switching things in and out.
I just rotate virtual things, like my desktop pictures or screensavers LOL
10) Buy white.
White everything. Except clothes because they get dirty. It just looks clean, organized, and it doesn’t jar your vision because you don’t see a mix of many colours, just one. You can mix in silver, or lighter pastels, but I tend to stick to white, ivory or silver. The very pale neutrals so that anything I have, goes with it.
Plus it never goes out of style and you don’t get sick of it (unlike that sunshine yellow which you may now hate with a passion).
White is also the cheapest. Everything comes in standard white – even kitchen appliances, and they’re about $200 cheaper from what I recall.
Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.
I cleared $60,000 in 18 months earning $65,000 gross/year.
Now I am self-employed, and you can read more about 
Very interesting blog! I spent so much time here! But – buying only white is boring:)
Colors are for enjoyng them, not only as a tool for making accents. A subject can become beautiful just with its colour. And a colour can create emotions and memories.
I am loving your organizational tips: these are words to live by!
I love the idea of buying white stuff. Especially for organizational things. It really makes everything look more pulled-together.
Can you come over an organize my place? 😀
Unfortunately I am a hoarder, but these tips are great!
What a fabulous post!
Are those pictures of your house? Looks lovely! 🙂 I personally only buy black furniture for the living room, and birch for the bedrooms… I would’ve bought black everything, if only Ikea had it! (they have “black-brown” which just isn’t the same) Not fond of white, though it looks great in your house.
I love organizing… maybe I need to get a shelving system like yours. Hmm..
I also buy almost everything in black (other than bed covers-thats the focal point in my room). It does help out a lot.
Speaking of organizing, I have a semi-unhealthy obsession with jewelry and it always sat in cluttered ball on my desk. So last night I got the idea of displaying my jewelry at the same time as organizing it and getting it out of my way. I took thumb tacks and placed them in straight lines across my wall. I hung one necklace on each thumb tack and also my hook earing. It looks great and its completely organized. Also this morning picking out a necklace was super easy, I didn’t have to fight a ball of jewels.
You could do the same thing with hooks…but being frugal the thumb tacks work perfectly fine!
Hi there-great tips and I like to edit things when I get something new too!
I know what you mean, I have way to much stuff! Stuff everywhere. But every time I try to get rid of things, I stop and think of ways I’ll need it again. Ughh. Does Canada have a Salvation army or a large thrift store, because the ones down here will pick up unwanted stuff and give you a receipt for a tax break. Good luck with your organization.