You’ve probably heard of the concept of the “one in, one out” rule in the context of regulation. Government mandates have a nasty habit of ballooning over time. Regulators add new rules every year, but they don’t remove the old ones, leading to all kinds of weird legal oddities. Why do I bring this up? Because homeowners are applying the same principle to items entering their homes. If something new comes in, something old of similar size, shape, and function has to leave. That’s the rule.
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This concept first gained traction among minimalists. People realized that they were accumulating massive amounts of junk in their homes and that it was wrecking their quality of life. The parallels with regulation are striking. Items that were supposed to make their lives better were actually getting in the way and making them worse.
The “one in, one out” rule can completely change your life. It gives you the motivation you need to cut back on your spending and look after the possessions you do have better. So what does the “one in, one out” rule look like in practice? Take a look at these examples.
Throwing Out Old Clothes You Don’t Need Anymore
Take some time to think about the amount of wardrobe space you currently dedicate to clothes you don’t wear. Chances are that it’s a lot. We tend to accumulate items that we don’t need because we might wear them on a special occasion (which never arrives). Here’s a policy – every time you buy a new item of clothing, donate or chuck one that you no longer use. That way, you can hone your wardrobe and only use the space for clothes that you actually wear.
Putting Furniture Into Storage
The same principle applies to storage. You can often get into the habit of believing that you need a particular item of furniture on your property, even when you don’t. Next time you buy a sideboard or a coffee table, put one item of existing furniture into a storage facility. This way, you can keep your rooms fresh without cluttering up your home too much. If you decide that you’d like your old furniture back, you can simply go to your lock-up and retrieve it.
Being Honest With Yourself About What Kitchen Equipment You Need
Take a look in your kitchen cupboards at the tools you have and ask yourself whether you actually use them. Chances are, you have multiple sous-vide machines, mandolins, and salad spinners that do nothing but take up valuable space. Remember, you don’t actually need a huge amount of equipment to run a gourmet kitchen. Yes, blenders and peelers are helpful. But beyond that, making a quality meal is usually more about the ingredients and having enough time to do the job correctly.
Be honest with yourself about the kitchen equipment that you actually use. When you buy something new, get rid of one item that has been collecting dust in your cupboards unused. Okay, that’s a wrap. Which items will you be removing from your home in the future?