The Home Edit Life
Clea Shearer, Joanna Teplin
19 min
8 Key Points
4.8 RateWhat's inside?
Discover the secrets to decluttering and organizing your space for a stress-free and efficient lifestyle, while embracing the things you love and use daily.
You'll learn
1. Easy tips to tidy up your home2. Keeping your home neat and tidy forever3. Sorting and arranging stuff made easy4. Make your home look pretty with organization5. Mixing practicality and style in your home6. Feel good in a tidy home.Key points
01Embrace your stuff, don't fight it. Just keep it tidy
Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin have a fresh take on owning stuff and keeping it organized. They say it's totally okay to have things, and that it's better to accept this fact than to fight it. They point out that we often feel bad about the stuff we have, especially if we think we have too much or don't really need it. But they believe this guilt is a waste of time. Instead, they suggest a guilt-free way of owning things, where we love what we have and arrange it in a way that makes our lives better. Shearer and Teplin break down the stuff we own into three main types: things we like, things we need, and things that mean something to us. The first type includes stuff that makes us happy or that we enjoy, like our favorite clothes, books, or decorations. The second type includes stuff we can't live without, like kitchen tools, toiletries, or important papers. The third type includes stuff that has sentimental value, like family heirlooms, old photos, or mementos from our childhood. They believe that if everything we own falls into one of these three types, then we shouldn't feel bad about having it. These things are part of our lives and add to our happiness, comfort, and sense of who we are. But if we have stuff that doesn't fit into any of these types, then it might be time to say goodbye to it. They call this process of getting rid of unnecessary stuff "editing" or "decluttering." To decide whether to keep or get rid of something, they suggest asking ourselves which type it falls into. If we can honestly say that we like it, need it, or it means something to us, then we should keep it. If not, then it's probably best to let it go. Once we've decluttered and organized our stuff into the three types, we're left with the things that really matter to us. Shearer and Teplin say we shouldn't feel bad about having these things. They're part of our lives and show our unique needs, interests, and values. For example, if we have a new baby, it's totally okay to have a closet full of diapers. If we have a teenager who loves sports, it's totally okay to have a closet full of sports gear. In short, Shearer and Teplin's way of owning and organizing stuff is about accepting our reality, understanding our needs and wants, and creating an organized and guilt-free space that shows who we are.
02Use the 80/20 rule to declutter. Most mess comes from a few items
Let's talk about the 80/20 principle, a super handy rule of thumb for keeping your home tidy and organized. And no, it's not about going minimalist and living with less. It's all about being smart and efficient with what you have. Here's the thing: being organized doesn't mean you have to own less stuff. It's all about treating your stuff and your space with respect. You can't own everything, but you can own a lot, as long as you manage it well. That means not just tossing things out willy-nilly, because you might end up needing to replace them later. But hold up, that doesn't mean you should start hoarding every shiny thing that catches your eye. Every item you own takes up space, and even the biggest homes have their limits. So, how do you find that sweet spot between owning what you want and keeping your home organized? That's where the 80/20 principle comes in. The 80/20 principle is like a golden rule that says you should aim to fill your home to about 80 percent of its capacity, leaving 20 percent as a buffer. It's like eating until you're comfortably full, but not stuffed. If you overfill your home, just like overeating, it can lead to discomfort and chaos. When your home is getting close to that 80 percent mark, you'll start to notice that things don't fit like they used to. You'll be stuffing items into drawers, wrestling with pantry space, and constantly trying to make your home look tidy. It can be a real headache. But if you stick to the 80/20 principle, you can dodge this problem. This rule helps you create and keep space in your home, while still owning the things you need, want, and use. It's about being aware of your space and your stuff, and making smart decisions about what to keep and what to let go. In a nutshell, the 80/20 principle is a practical and sustainable way to keep your home organized. It promotes mindful ownership and efficient organization, so you can enjoy your stuff without feeling swamped by clutter. By following this rule, you can create a home that's both comfy and organized, a true reflection of you and your lifestyle.
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03It's cool to have health stuff. Just keep it neat
04Work stuff is important. Keep it, but keep it tidy
05Got kids? You'll have stuff. Just keep it organized
06Show off what you love. It makes your space yours
07Don't just tidy up. Make your space feel like home
08Conclusion
About Clea Shearer, Joanna Teplin
Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin are professional organizers and co-founders of The Home Edit, a home organization company. They gained popularity through their Netflix series, "Get Organized with The Home Edit," and have authored multiple books on organization.
