As a professional organizer, I spend a lot of time helping people manage their belongings: color-coding, labeling, and containing. But the truth is, the most organized home isn’t the one with the best bins; it’s the one with the least unnecessary stuff.
We often confuse “organizing” with “hiding.” We buy more bins to store things we don’t even use, simply because we feel guilty letting them go.
That’s why I want to share five powerful rules from The Minimalists. These aren’t just organizing tips; they are permission slips to finally let go of the excess and stop shopping for things you don’t need.
Here are the 5 rules I’m loving right now for a lighter, simpler home.
1. The 30-Day Minimalism Game
The Concept: This is decluttering made fun. On Day 1, you get rid of one item. On Day 2, two items. Day 3, three items. By the time you hit Day 30, you’re removing 30 items in a single day.
Why I Love It: Decluttering often feels overwhelming because we look at the whole house and freeze. This rule breaks it down. It starts easy (anyone can find one thing to donate), but it builds momentum. By the end of the month, you’ve removed nearly 500 items from your home.
The Well Arranged Tip: Make it a competition with your spouse or a friend. The loser buys dinner.
2. The 90/90 Rule
The Concept: Look at an item and ask yourself two questions:
- Did I use this in the last 90 days?
- Will I use it in the next 90 days? If the answer to both is “no,” it’s time to let it go.
Why I Love It: Living in Calgary, we have distinct seasons. It’s easy to justify keeping things “just for summer” or “just for winter.” But this rule is strict. If you didn’t wear those boots last winter (the last 90 days of the season) and you don’t plan to wear them this winter, they are just taking up prime real estate in your closet.
3. The 20/20 Rule
The Concept: If you are holding onto something “just in case” you need it someday, use this rule: Can I replace this item for less than $20 in less than 20 minutes? If yes, let it go.
Why I Love It: We keep random cables, extra screws, and duplicate kitchen gadgets out of fear. You might worry that getting rid of these things is wasteful, but here is the reality: You will likely only need to replace the item you let go of 1 time out of 100.
At the end of the day, you have successfully removed 99 items of clutter from your life for the price of replacing just one. That is a trade-off I will take every time to reclaim my space.
4. The Selling Deadline Rule
The Concept: If you are decluttering an item to sell it, you must set a firm deadline. If it hasn’t sold by that date, you donate it immediately.
Why I Love It: I see this constantly in client homes: the “To Sell” pile. It sits in the corner of the bedroom or the garage, gathering dust, waiting for you to take photos and post it on Marketplace.
The Well Arranged Tip: Be honest with yourself. Is the $30 you might make worth the mental load of seeing that pile for another month? If it doesn’t sell by Friday, drive it to a local charity and enjoy the immediate relief.
5. The Spontaneous Combustion Rule
The Concept: Ask yourself: “If this item spontaneously combusted today, would I feel relieved?” If the answer is yes, get rid of it immediately.
Why I Love It: This sounds dramatic, but it’s effective for “Guilt Clutter.” We all have that item that was a gift we don’t like, or a dress we spent too much money on but never wear. We keep them out of obligation. But if they disappeared in a fire, we’d secretly be happy they were gone. Give yourself permission to feel that relief now without the fire.
Final Thoughts
Simplifying isn’t about having a white, empty house. It’s about making room for the life you actually want to live. It’s about not shopping when we feel bored.
If you’re ready to start your journey, pick just one of these rules to try this week. And if you need a professional team to help you clear the slate so you can maintain these habits? You know where to find us.
Credit: These concepts are adapted from “The Minimalists.” You can read more about their philosophy at TheMinimalists.com.
