Cut your sentimental crap and start decluttering | Part 2

Returning back from my rants in part 1

Chapter 4: The Wedding Gift

You read it correctly. but it's not mine.  It's mom's wedding present from more than 20 years ago that have never been used yet and she had kept this burden in it's original box due to appreciation and thinking any of us might use it for special occasions.  Here's what I'm gonna tell ya, 20 years of keeping them in this house, not a single day the gifts were being used, not even during Eid.

In my culture, during weddings guests would either bring gifts or money packets for the newly weds.  In my head as a person who ended up as the victim to de clutter my mom's old gifts, I'm sorry to say random wedding presents are no longer relevant. 

Appreciations aside, here's why I mentioned it as a non-relevant approach;

1) More than 1 guests may bring the same concept of present, in my experience my mom received 2 huge punch bowls as I said had never ever being used before EVER.

2) Take it as a positive way.  Why spent 80 dollars for a punch bowl, instead just give the newly weds the same amount in cash (we call it here "angpau salam pengantin").  You have helped them from hoarding unnecessary item and at the same time they would have extra cash to start out their new life. Kita anggap je la sadaqah.

3) If you yourself are not comfortable in presenting them with cash/money packet, well it is never wrong for gifting but ask first what the newly weds actually need in their household. 

4) The only relevant idea of a random gift is decorated box, gift basket or wooden crate filled with dry groceries, ingredients or fruits.  At least it is sharable among family members of the newly weds.

Why don't we change our mindset.  Kita ambil practical approach, instead of nak keeping up to the standard lepas tu ended up jadi suatu pembaziran.

So wanna see what I had to get rid of on behalf?

 Left: Glass fruit bowl | Right: First punch bowl

Left: Frying pan | Right: Punch bowl no. 2

I told mom I'm stealing the modern red pan, at least I'll be using it for my house after I get married. So if you think gifting is a bright idea, think again for the unfortunate kid that have to do all the de cluttering in 20 years time.

Chapter 5: There Are No Monsters Under The Bed, Only Junks

Underside of the bed is actually one of the best storage space that is very helpful to tidy up your room.  However, sketch your organization plan to the things you are keeping under the bed space.  I have measured the height between the flooring and the bed frame, measurement is 30cm maximum.  I was lucky because I found an Ikea bin that have the exact height fitting under my bed.  This is why I love the Ikea Samla bins; #notspons

•  I'm an Ikea fan
• They are see through so you can view the things you kept inside the bins in a glance
• Can fit through almost all bed frame height
• Protect from dust (all bins do that though)

Basically after I clean up almost everything under my bed, I was left with only 5% items that I chose to keep, basically my board games.  So put them all inside a large bin together with my vintage toys & entertainment related items, my ukulele.

Keeping your stuff in bins actually helps for free air flow inside your bedroom because of the modular arrangements you can do for it compared to compressing your stuff like playing tetris .  I can actually feel the air flow differences even though it only involves storage under the bed.  My cats do enjoy more nap times in my room after this de cluttering adventure.

Chapter 6: The Beauty Guru

As the pioneering beauty guru among my friends, I had A LOT of makeup products laying inside my room and I don't have a vanity.  I bought this acrylic drawer from the local MR DIY store to keep all beauty tools and makeup.  As per 2019 this is my 4th or 5th makeup de cluttering because I ended up collecting instead of actually using the products.  The 1st one was the hardest, getting to the 5th is no longer affecting my sentiments. I ain't using 4 year old expired liquid lipstick!  

I have two makeup drawers, one in my room and the other is in my office drawer, which I also did a mini reorganization using Daiso's utensils tray similarly to this pin.  Having less products and seeing only the things I actually use on daily basis finally makes me happier compared to my old lifestyle where I'm collecting makeup but leaving them out to expire.  Still this doesn't mean I'll never buying makeup, I mean hey I'mma gal, makeup is my holy grail so I'll keep on urging to get new releases but a constant reminder to keep it minimal would help my to save me a space or two.

Left: My latest bin stash | Right: My vanity settings where I'm using mirror from Swamp Queen palette where my face direction facing the window for maximum natural lighting.

Apart from makeup, I also have nail polish collection because I was obsessed on doing nail art after finding out Cristine's channel, SimplyNailogical.  Thus, I have a few stamping plates, stampers and of course nail polishes which I have transformed my lipstick holder into nail polish organizer.  Not to forget, I have 2 mini drawers used to keep my jewelries but I took them out and keep all nail art tools inside them instead.  Organizing is basically improvise your storage and make it work to your preference and not what the internet told you to do.  

Left: Now I have a neat drawer for my nail stuff, I'm so proud of the outcome | Right: Previously my nail tools sat on the corner of this table inside a shoe box and polishes on top of it collecting dust and hair. 

Chapter 7: Who Needs A Table If You Do Everything On The Bed Anyways

This brings back to my college days where I even eat on my bed because I'm crazy.  Sadly I have two huge tables in my extremely small bedroom because why not.  Well 2019 me saying, this bullshit gotta end!  So my first approach is to get rid of this large, annoying, bump-bruising furniture, my morbid square table.  I tried using it for purposes other than becoming a mountain building junk pile but it was never it.  Therefore my plan was using drawers functioned as my night stand and storage.  

So I bought another Lennart drawer from the holy sanctuary, Ikea.

I already owned one from 2-3 years back but I never planned on an extreme organization so it didn't help much.  This time around my aim was getting another one, arrange them together and make full use out of it.  Maybe putting a white wooden plank on top will emphasize a finish look for the twins but as far as I've done, I'm quite satisfied especially out of 6 available drawers, I've only used 3 of them that is to keep my:

• Nail stuff
• Female essentials 
• Hair tools

Yes it is crazy to see how much storage space I have now.  On top of the drawers I placed my night lamp, perfume, display books and jewelry box.  

I know this corner is not as fancy compared to spaces you see on pinterest, considering the walls having stains from redoing the parquet flooring 20 years ago and we never get to repaint them again, but I'm super happy to get a spacious zen corner that doesn't hurt my sight.  My stuff are now simplified and more accessible and maybe getting a white plank to sit on top of the drawers is a genius idea for the finish look.

My current progress: 

• Historical junks are gone
• Morbidly huge table is out
• I have more storage space under my bed 

Next goal:

• Taking out another annoying desk
• Marie Kondo-ing my clothes drawer.

Well this is part 2 of my adventure, hopefully to see you guys in part 3 soon.  Not sure how soon as I'm waiting for mom to get rid of her bedroom furniture and take back the PC desk which is currently in my bedroom.  Trust me I have convinced her to let me get rid of the desk but it's too sentimental for her so (awkward) yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh...

Bye!