Gransnet forums

Chat

Decluttering

(999 Posts)
Doodledog Sat 21-Sept-24 11:36:44

It’s that time of year.

Who is looking to get rid of extraneous items and declutter their houses ready for winter and associated upcoming festivals?

I have two boxes of books waiting to be collected on Tuesday, and hope to add a few bags of clothing before they get here. My decorator is coming to do various bits and bobs, and I need to clear the decks ahead of that, which is my motivation for starting now.

I also need to clear out a huge kitchen cupboard which will become a walk-in larder if the carpenter ever gets back to me.

What’s on your declutter list? Record your successes and difficulties on this thread and support one another.

No lectures on why we shouldn’t need to declutter, please? We know grin. Start another thread about people who are disorganised or who shouldn’t buy too much in the first place and we can choose not to engage with it. This one is for support, encouragement and celebration of clearing ‘stuff’ from our lives.

petra Tue 03-Dec-24 19:22:50

This is an idea for picture ( or anything else) framing.
Paint the frames the same colour as the walls.
These are in my sewing room.
I do like carpets on walls.
Btw the picture rail in the above isn’t yellow it’s cream.

Tizliz Tue 03-Dec-24 19:03:49

Mr dog has cleared the top shelves of the pantry cupboard

I read that as MY dog 🤣🤣

Doodledog Tue 03-Dec-24 18:45:17

I have just gone into the kitchen. I wanted to run away again. Mr dog has cleared the top shelves of the pantry cupboard (in readiness for the carpenter to fit drawers and adjustable shelves.

There is 'stuff' all over the place. There are loads of old mugs with 'World's Best Mum' 'My Favourite Teacher' and so on written on them. I can't throw them out, but don't use them.

There are lots of ancient glass lampshades. I don't know how old they are, as they were here when we moved in in 1998 and the house was built in the 20s, but they are in that stage between antique and just old-fashioned. Odd plates, including one Art Deco one that I assume was left behind in the house when we bought it. I'll keep that one, as it's in keeping with the house and I like it, but the 1950s ones with gilt edges and sprigs of flowers can go. Then there are assorted bits and bobs that have gone in there for want of a home. And that's without all the food.

I could really do without this at Christmas. When he eventually gets the job done, it'll all be to put back. I didn't want to do that with speed rather than order in mind, but it will be a case of just getting it done, which is how things get cluttered in the first place.

fancythat Tue 03-Dec-24 18:23:34

Exploding treacle!

I gave up buying gadgets. Got burned once too often. As in, the last time I did, my mum was with me. We got drawn in buy the same thing. When we came to use it, we realised it had been demonstrated by a strong man. No problem with the product if we were too, but we are not.
That was my last time.

fancythat Tue 03-Dec-24 18:13:46

Havent read all the comments yet, since our internet went down, big time.

3 things so far.

No, no one would employ me as a professional declutterer. I would be far too slow.

Food stocks, as I think I said earlier, I have stopped stocking things "for a recipe". I either go off the idea or cant be bothered, quite frequently. Only now buy that sort of thing if I am going to make something more or less immediately. That way, I no longer have "food at the back of the cupboard". Surprisingly liberating.

I get what someone means about getting new stuff, eg a new kitchen.
I looked at some new ones in a showroom recently, and shuddered. Mostly all I could think of was, "all that work".

MayBee70 Tue 03-Dec-24 18:04:48

My cupboards, drawers, wardrobes are immaculate and well organised. It’s the areas you can see that are chaotic.

Allira Tue 03-Dec-24 17:07:15

I try to keep the bedrooms tidy and shut the doors. Mind you, if you opened cupboard/wardrobe doors you might gasp. shock The problem is, not all of it is our stuff.

MayBee70 Tue 03-Dec-24 17:04:37

Allira

MayBee70

I’m never going to achieve minimalism, am I! If you could just see the mess that’s on the floor in front of all of it, though
sad

It's all very tidy.
I've got STUFF everywhere at the moment.

However, we just took some to the charity shop, and found they will take books because they don't get pulped now if not sold, they go to a well-known online book seller.

I didn’t show what was at floor level! And it’s as bad in every room. As well as the living room there isn’t a bed that could be slept in. And it’s been like that for years.

Allira Tue 03-Dec-24 16:01:04

MayBee70

This is the colour. Doesn’t look too bad in the photo. Problem is my carpet is a browny beige, too. I had it fitted just before grey became popular. There’s a bargain fabric shop in the next village and I’d learned to choose the fabric and then match it to the paint rather than the other way round. So the curtains are the same colour. The bedroom isn’t so bad because I changed that to Egyptian Cotton with Duck Egg Curtains. The hall is very beige, too. I think the paintwork needs painting in a brilliant white; it’s off white at the moment. Can’t face doing any gloss painting at the moment. Oh and the sofa is a horrible brown leather which adds to the browney beigeiness.

I'm not keen on grey.

Magnolia or cream is fine, lets pictures speak for themselves.

We made the mistake of choosing satin wood for the doors and skirting boards but find we prefer gloss.

Allira Tue 03-Dec-24 15:57:09

MayBee70

I’m never going to achieve minimalism, am I! If you could just see the mess that’s on the floor in front of all of it, though
sad

It's all very tidy.
I've got STUFF everywhere at the moment.

However, we just took some to the charity shop, and found they will take books because they don't get pulped now if not sold, they go to a well-known online book seller.

MissAdventure Tue 03-Dec-24 15:24:44

You could put throws over the sofas.
I'm not even much good at that, but some people master the art.
I'm sure you could.

Had a cryptic message from the handyman, saying he lost my number, and forgot what I need doing.
He apologised for messing me about, but as far as I'm aware, he hasn't...... yet!!
Have heard nothing back from the text I sent him, reminding him.

MayBee70 Tue 03-Dec-24 14:56:43

Doodledog

For what it's worth, I prefer the cream colour to brilliant white on walls. It's so much warmer.

The living room was white. I’m not sure why I changed it: probably because it was too cold. I like white/off white walls so I can add colour to them. I couldn’t live with wallpaper. I don’t understand wallpapered feature walls because pictures don’t stand out on them. I think it’s my brown sofas that drain the colour out of the room.

Doodledog Tue 03-Dec-24 14:06:00

For what it's worth, I prefer the cream colour to brilliant white on walls. It's so much warmer.

MissAdventure Mon 02-Dec-24 23:46:37

It's beautiful.
Like a magic toy shop. smile

MayBee70 Mon 02-Dec-24 23:40:50

I’m never going to achieve minimalism, am I! If you could just see the mess that’s on the floor in front of all of it, though
sad

MissAdventure Mon 02-Dec-24 23:22:25

What a treasure trove you have there, MayBee smile

MissAdventure Mon 02-Dec-24 23:20:31

Any road up...
I think petra's choice of colour looks great, and I would never have thought it.

Also, it looks as if it would draw in all the colours, and wood, and any bits and bobs too.

MayBee70 Mon 02-Dec-24 23:17:46

This is the colour. Doesn’t look too bad in the photo. Problem is my carpet is a browny beige, too. I had it fitted just before grey became popular. There’s a bargain fabric shop in the next village and I’d learned to choose the fabric and then match it to the paint rather than the other way round. So the curtains are the same colour. The bedroom isn’t so bad because I changed that to Egyptian Cotton with Duck Egg Curtains. The hall is very beige, too. I think the paintwork needs painting in a brilliant white; it’s off white at the moment. Can’t face doing any gloss painting at the moment. Oh and the sofa is a horrible brown leather which adds to the browney beigeiness.

MissAdventure Mon 02-Dec-24 23:17:03

Ah, mine is now for BBC Iplayer.
They're barking up the wrong tree aiming that at me.

Allira Mon 02-Dec-24 23:15:05

They're trying to sell me a car - all electric Mini.

MissAdventure Mon 02-Dec-24 23:10:59

I didn't click on the ad.
A bit of a faux pas on a decluttering thread, I thought.

MissAdventure Mon 02-Dec-24 23:09:12

My mum had lots of brass, which needed cleaning all the bleeding time! frequently, and she always complained that she didn't even like brass in the first place.

Allira Mon 02-Dec-24 23:07:28

MissAdventure

I've just had an ad appear, entitled 'Old Items With High Value'.

Any copper?

Allira Mon 02-Dec-24 23:07:13

MissAdventure

grin

As long as they don't need cleaning!

MissAdventure Mon 02-Dec-24 23:06:47

I've just had an ad appear, entitled 'Old Items With High Value'.