Hello and Welcome to The Clutter Council

A Guide to Organizing and Decluttering

Welcome to The Clutter Council!

Let's start with a little confession: I haven't always been the epitome of organization. In fact, it wasn't until my college years, navigating the confines of a tiny dorm room, that I began to consider the value of being more organized. Gradually, I started to recognize the impact that clutter had on my well-being.

Fast forward through two apartments, a house, and the joys of parenthood, and my husband and I found ourselves surrounded by an abundance of belongings. There was a time when I couldn't resist saying yes to every offer or hand-me-down that came my way.

After my first daughter was born and my focus was placed more on how to provide a calm environment for a growing child, it became evident that I needed my space to be a sanctuary, a place of relaxation and joy, rather than a source of stress and overwhelm. With the influx of more and more items entering our home as our family grew, we decided to go through everything from top to bottom and only keep what we truly used and loved.

I dove headfirst into the world of organizing shows, tirelessly following renowned YouTubers, and exploring a plethora of clutter-busting techniques. I experimented with various sorting and organizing methods, taking note of what worked best for me and what didn't. It became a personal mission, and I tried every approach in the book. 

As I progressively let go of more and more possessions, decluttering became a ritual I eagerly anticipated each night after putting the kids to bed. It was an empowering process, freeing myself from the weight of excess and embracing a simpler, more intentional lifestyle. My husband and I started to understand how our clutter was affecting us. We noticed that we both felt more irritable with each other or in general if the sink was filled with dishes or all the surfaces in our house were covered. We would feel so annoyed if we couldn't find something, because it didn't have an obvious home. Our clutter felt like it was weighing us down and it was definitely a source of stress. We would feel discouraged when we couldn't keep our house clean. 

As we made more and more trips to our local donation center, it became clear that having less was the answer for us. As I think back to all the things we have already decluttered, I wish I had kept track of all the trash bags and boxes I filled, because it was A LOT!