Out with the old, in with the new? If only it were that simple. For those of you overwhelmed by the piles of clothes, books or bills from good heavens knows when — perhaps it’s time to take the plunge in the deep end for a deep clean. A week into a new year, one has to admit there’s certainly no better time for a fresh start.
If you’re not sure where your starting point is — fret not — there’s plenty of inspiration to be drawn from ‘decluttering gurus’ like Japanese author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo. Kondo, who has made a movement of her message: ‘look for items that spark joy’ is so popular that her folding techniques for clothes actually have their own name — the KonMari method.
While getting the folds and flaps down to perfection might take some practice — here’s a tip you can incorporate with no hassle. Kondo recommends that when it’s time to give an item away — you whisper a soft thank you. The gesture of gratitude brings closure and as a result, it’s easier to let go.
If you’re apprehensive on where to begin, in the midst of a mountain of clutter, Chennai-based interior designer and minimalist Vineetha Naval suggests either the living room or bedroom. “These are two parts of the house that you likely use the most,” she says. After sorting through your shelves, racks and beyond — Naval advices that you zero in on duplicates to discard and instead opt for pieces of furniture or clothing that are multi-purpose. She elaborates, “Like a dressing table that can double up as a storage cabinet below, perhaps?”
The idea is to keep everything in your home both beautiful and functional. Although, functional pieces and functional storage are entirely different conversations.
Stylist to starlets like Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt, Mumbai-based Ami Patel reveals that the one thing she relies on at her home is to keep her clothing “in view.” This is key to organisation during a closet cleanse for optimal use of the clothes in your wardrobe.
“I like to store my clothes as separates — jeans, tops, shoes in different sections,” she says. But her personal hack to get on top of a hectic day is to organise tried-and-tested combinations that work for you together. “This could be something as simple as a blouse, denims and a jacket — pressed and ready to go, one on top of each other, instead of reaching for them from three different parts of the closet,” she says.
The 160 sq ft journey
Ayaz Basrai, co-founder of design Firm The Busride Design Studio has a unique take on striking a balance between sentimental pieces and a minimal mess. “It’s called keeping everything you own on demand,” says the Goa-based architect. Almost a decade ago, up-and-coming in his field, Ayaz transformed a 160 sq foot apartment in Bandra into a mansion with a kingsize bed, a walk-in library and a walk-in closet. “I don’t believe in throwing things away,” he tells us bluntly, but adds, “it’s no problem if they disappear for a bit when I don’t need them”. Ayaz worked his magic by introducing moveable wall panels that would slide across the ceiling every time he wanted to access a different part of his house. And it cost him all of `1.5 lakh. How about that?
sonali@newindianexpress.com | @brightasunshine