A reader writes, asking how they can order without getting rid of the things they will want later.

Big question. Let’s get one thing out first. Most people think that clutter is only done during spring cleaning. But the concept of spring cleaning doesn’t make any sense. Spring is when you go out and prepare your garden to plant and refresh the landscape. You take in a great breath of fresh air after being in the house all winter and want to stay outside.

The right time to do an important “spring” cleaning is when you’re stuck in the house. Winter is without a doubt the best time to look around the house and clean from top to bottom, and get rid of what you don’t need. Especially after the holidays and before the new year. Why not start the new year by tidying up a bit?

The first thing to do is find out what you are happy with and what you are not. One of the reasons Marie Kondo’s book on tidying is so popular is that it tells readers to get rid of the things they are not “thrilled” with. In other words, you must feel a connection to each of your material possessions. The problem with this method is that what you loved five years ago you may not like now.

This is where to start.

• Reserve a quiet time to stand in each room of your home with a notebook. Let the scene soak in. Is everything you see contributing to the overall picture of beauty and functionality? What’s extra, what’s missing, what’s out of sync? Write what you see. When you have completed this exercise, you may find yourself calling the charity truck to pick you up. Do not do more than one or two rooms at a time, or you will be overwhelmed.
• Focus or mental attitude. It’s not about the organizers you buy, it’s about being disciplined for keeping only what you wear and love.
• When you feel like your world is organized and where you want it, keep it that way. To do this, clean as you go and put things in place immediately after use. Instead of putting lots of little things in organizers or keeping them out of sight, store them in drawers, cabinets, or trunks. Yes, you CAN teach children to do this.
• Make consistent decisions about what delights you and stick with just those things. If this scares you, put things in a closet for a few weeks to experience what it’s like without it. You can always take it out if you really love it.
• If you’re really nervous about making sorting mistakes, spend the money to store it. See how you feel.
• Never feel bad about spending money on new settings, designs, etc. Over time we change how we think about our things.

Do not look back. You are going to make some mistakes. Remember that it is a material world, the real gifts and possessions that you have are in your mind.