That’s a question that professional organizers use to help clients reduce the number of things in their closets, cupboards, garages, etc. It also helps to eliminate unrealistic expectations.
No storage bin, shelving system, hooks, cubbies or any other storage item can reduce their amount of stuff. We certainly do our best. In some cases, you can implement organization systems that house everything—for now. It is our profession’s version of putting lipstick on a pig.
Ultimately, if habits don’t change, even the best organization systems fail. The solution to making your living space work boils down to one question:
How many (fill in the blank) do you need?
You can go to any area of your home and make space if you honestly answer that question.
For example, go to your bathroom closet. If it is busting at the seams, start asking that question:
How many bath towels do you need?
If you do laundry once a week, most people can live a very nice life with two.
How about hair conditioner and shampoo?
Let’s visit the kitchen. How many travel mugs or water bottles do you need? Even if you need more than one per person—let’s say two—I’ll bet that would free up some space.
Go to your clothes closet or drawer and start asking the question for each article of clothing.
How many pairs of socks do you need? There are seven days in the week, and you probably will do laundry one day per week. Let’s leave an allowance for the day you might step in a puddle or find a hole in a pair. Let’s add a bonus pair or two for good luck. So, do you really need more than 10 pairs of socks?
Want is another story altogether. You may want to have more pairs of socks than 10. Yet when addressing a problem area that necessitated you hiring a professional organizer, you may want to adjust your thinking.
That can start with socks.
Pare down (pun intended) to 10 pairs of socks and see how that goes for a few weeks or a month. If you find you really do need more, buy one pair and see if that helps. My money says you will enjoy the added space far more than one more pair of socks. And that goes for any area of your home where you ask this question:
How many ___ do I really need?
If you need help with determining how much you need, give me a call.
