Five forms of “Trickster Clutter”

Here are five types of “trickster clutter” that you probably have in your home.  

I call it “trickster clutter” because at first glance, you don’t even register that it is clutter!  But…are these tricky little imposters actually serving you?  

While each of these clutter types deserves a post of its own, if not an entire book, let’s take a quick look.

01: Aspirational Clutter

This one has long been my downfall.  This might look like:

• If I own my own skis, I’ll definitely learn to ski this year.  (But you don’t ski any more with your own skis than when you used to rent.)
• If I buy all the art supplies for that course, I know I’ll actually do the lessons and probably be a famous artist in no time.  (But you never actually do the course.)
• If I buy that notebook, there is absolutely no doubt I will finally start journaling every day.  (Maybe you still don’t journal, but you sure do have a beautiful notebook collection!)

Aspirational clutter tricks us by adding a “yet” to each of our logical brain’s observations.

“I haven’t done that art course yet, but I’m sure I will.”  “I haven’t started skiing more yet.”  “I haven’t started journaling daily yet….”

What makes aspirational clutter even trickier is that often as we declutter, we free up the literal physical space or the emotional space to finally pursue these hobbies we’ve been shopping for! 

Next step: 

When you find aspirational clutter, ask yourself first, “Is this still something I’d be excited to do?” 

• If the answer is no, let. it. go.  Someone else will be delighted to pursue that hobby.  
• If yes, go ahead and keep it for now.

02: Once-Useful Clutter

In some ways these little tricksters feel like the reverse of aspirational clutter. After all, these items were legit useful in the past! But do they deserve a space in your future???

This might look like:

• I used to use that crockpot two or three times a week when my kids were home.  I couldn’t possibly get rid of something that I know I use!  (Even though I haven’t used it in years and the reasons I needed it before no longer apply.)
• These crutches were a lifesaver when I broke my ankle a few months ago!  (But there is no particular reason to think they’ll be needed in the immediate future….)

Once-Useful Clutter tricks us because we often predict the future based on our past.  So, since this was useful at one point, we assume it will be useful in the future, as well!

Next Step:

Ask yourself: “Is this something I honestly see myself using in the near future?”

• If no – let it go.
• If yes – go ahead, keep it for now.  

03: Obligatory/Gift Clutter

Gifts.  One of the most charged forms of clutter.

This might look like:

• This one time, I complimented my aunt on her coasters, just trying to make pleasant conversation – and then she sent me a matching set for my birthday!  I didn’t even like them in her house, and I really don’t like them in mine, but she visits every month, so I obviously have to keep them so she knows I appreciated her gift.
• My friend bought us matching BFF mugs, customized with our names and everything, so they wouldn’t even be useful to anyone else!  I don’t even use coffee mugs because I usually drink coffee in the car!  But throwing it away feels like I’m throwing away her friendship!

Gift Clutter tricks us into thinking that the objects themselves are strengthening or weakening our relationships.  We don’t want to offend or hurt people’s feelings, so we keep things that at best, we wouldn’t have chosen; and at worst, we just plain hate.

Next Step:

Ask yourself: “Does this item add value to my life in any way?” 

Example: perhaps you don’t use the mug for coffee, but found that it holds pencils nicely in your office, and it does make you feel happy having that physical reminder of your friendship.  

• If no – get in the habit of sending a photo of the item in use in your home, with a thank you note to the giver.  (Assuming you even want to encourage them to keep sending you gifts, which is another story altogether.)  Then put the item into the donate bin (or trash/recycling).
• If yes – go ahead, keep it, as long as you are celebrating it!.

04: Inherited Clutter

Because these items carry the added burden of having been loved (or at least owned) by someone we may have loved and be missing dearly, it can be hard to imagine that they could be clutter.

Inherited Clutter might look like:

• My mother-in-law left me her set of china in her will.  We used it every year for Thanksgiving dinner, but I have never even taken it out of the box.
• When my dad died, my mom decided to move into a retirement community, leaving a 3000 square foot home for a 900 square foot apartment.  She just took with her what she wanted, and the rest is now taking up my entire garage, which I used to use as a rainy-day basketball space for the kids!

Inherited Clutter tricks us because like the obligatory/gift clutter, we are afraid of hurting a relationship (including a memory) if we were to part with the objects themselves.

But really, inherited clutter largely falls into two categories – someone else’s clutter that they left behind, and someone else’s treasure that they essentially gifted to you.

Neither of those factors mean you have to keep it.

Next Step:

Ask yourself: “Are these items special to me in some way?” 

• If yes, keep them, of course!  But prioritize finding a way to truly appreciate the memories they hold, rather than just storing them in a box tucked in a forgotten corner of the basement, just waiting for a flood….
• If no, let it go.  By all means, be polite and check with other family or friends as appropriate to your situation!  But you do not have to keep a photo album full of people you don’t know if you don’t have the space or desire to do so.  

05: “Things We Love But Just Don’t Have Space For” Clutter

This may be the hardest of all of these tricky forms of clutter.

We so often hear the advice to keep things that bring us joy, or meet the “beautiful or useful” standard.  

But what happens when we have truly decluttered everything that we don’t love and/or use – and there still isn’t enough space?

The simple reality is: your home is a container.  It can only contain a certain number of items and activities.  Everything is a trade-off. 

• You can keep all those boxes of baby clothes and toys “just in case” – but that might mean there is no space for your baby to play safely in her room.
• You might love all of your art supplies, but find it hard to actually create art because it’s hard to access the supply you need.  

It is really, really hard to declutter things we know we would use and love. It hits so many potential fear points – financial, emotional, scarcity…

Next Step:

Ask yourself: “Is the cost of keeping these worth it to me? What’s my solution?”

This might look like:

I love every one of these sweaters.  But I hate how tightly packed my drawers are!

• Cost: I don’t enjoy the sweaters because I feel so stressed out when I try to get dressed or put clothes away. 
• Willing to pay it?: No, because the whole point of loving these sweaters is to be able to enjoy them, and I can’t right now!
• Solution: I’m going to donate three of the sweaters, even though I love them, because then the rest will fit comfortably in my drawers.  

Or it might look like:

I love every one of my pots and pans, but it takes forever to do the dishes because we end up waiting until we’ve used all of them before we wash any of them.

• Cost:  The dishes become overwhelming
• Willing to pay it?:  No.  It’s making me hate cooking dinner.
• Solution:  These were my grandmother’s pans and they remind me of her, but I’m going to move a couple of them into the basement and only bring them up if we actually need extra pans for a meal.  

Your Turn:  What kinds of “trickster clutter” have you found in your home?  

Tell me here!

As always, I am wishing you every success on your decluttering journey!

~ Danie