Your Partner is your Secret Weapon
When I tell people that I help people declutter their homes for a living, 9 times out of 10 they say, “oh… talk to my wife” or “my partner would love you!”. There is so much said in one sentence. I’ve found it abundantly true that people attract their opposites, and while that can be stressful at times (why would you put a wet towel there??), those differences are often the thing that propels you beyond yourself. Here’s why, in my experience, decluttering with your partner is your secret weapon to decluttering effectively… and keeping your house uncluttered.
(Just so you know: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and buy something I get a small percentage. Thank you for supporting my small business in this way!)
More than your corner
Declutter together and and things are not off limits. When I read Marie Kondo’s book back in 2016 I was giddy with the prospect of decluttering our apartment. I did my clothes, my books, my hobbies… but then I waded into joint ownership territory and I hit a wall.
Our cutlery, our furnishings… our wedding gifts. Decluttering alone limited me to my stuff, otherwise forcing unfair conversations and decisions on my husband without warning. It was when he watched the documentary “Minimalism: a film about the important things” about a year later that he was ready to have those conversations with me - he was all in! New year 2017 we did a mega clear out (I call it the ‘Great Kell Purge’) and we started changing our relationship with belongings forever. Together we were unstoppable.
Click on the images below for links
2. Fill the gaps
Declutter together and draw on each other’s strengths. You may have noticed that there are some areas of your house that you have no problem riffling through, maybe your pantry or the utility room. Others… well, it feels like you’re dying inside (expensive gifts anyone?). Help each other out, filling in the gaps with what you are good at.
For example, I’m a natural problem solver - so if my husband has trouble letting go of a huge suitcase we’ve not used in 7 years, I’ll have 3 contingency plans for what to do if we would ever need it in the future, like borrowing one. I’m also great at choosing multi-purpose items (see below) so we can live with less. He is great at curtailing my impulse buys - he has said, “but does it spark joy to me?” to me more times than I care to admit. Help each other out, nudging each other towards a better life with less.
Click Muti-Purpose Ottoman: Storage / Footstool / Seat
Click Multi-Purpose Pot: Cookware and Serveware
3. Cheer each other on with gusto
Decluttering can bring on olympic-level emotional obstacles at times, and if you go it alone you’ll be that bit more likely to give up… for the rest of the day… or forever! This is why hiring a professional organiser is so powerful - accountability, structure and sheer encouragement make people go further, go longer and go easier during the whole process.
Do it together and process those feelings in tandem - enjoying a book one last time before you pass it along, picking out the sweetest photos from 20 years ago to put in an album… or letting go of a dress your late mum gave you. Lean on each other for emotional support and keep going so much longer, actually getting back to your dream, uncluttered house once more.
Pro Tip: Take photos of special objects and collect them into a photo album to view whenever you want
Photobox Photo Books: Gather precious memories in one place (Click to see prices)
Have you tried decluttering with your partner? I’d love to know how it went! Let me know in the comments