How to Implement the Container Concept in My No Mess Decluttering Process

The final step of the No Mess Decluttering Process is implementing the Container Concept. In this video, I give further clarification and thoughts on this step.

[lindacanaslee]

My husband cleaned out his bookshelf yesterday, and one of the questions he asked several times was “if you were looking for this where would you go first?” ❤ whenever he asks me where something is i ask him where is the first place you would look for it? It is amazing how simple this has made our life. Thank you Dana. We aren’t finished, but after downsizing from 3, 200 square feet to 1, 000 we have come a long way. Again - thank you so much from a 72 and 75 year old.❤

[lisam]

'Make it fit does not mean shove it in' made me laugh so loud!

[melaniev]

The container concept has been a paradigm shift for me. I'm not kidding. In so many areas....my mental place was always "we have to find more space for Now it is "we need to make these things fit in this space, and if they don't, then some have to leave."

[joannrose]

My absolute best word that you use is “get-to-able”

[dorothyhughes]

Thank you! My dear friend, Wanda, and I have been using your process together once a week for over 4 months - about 1 hour at my house and then about an hour at hers. We call ourselves the Dream Team because we have accomplished so much!! We really appreciate you!

[Dwynfal]

My house hasn't functioned for me for such a long time now (a couple decades!) that I was often stumped at "where would I look for this first?". I couldn't identify a specific spot (drawer, shelf, cupboard, etc) so I gave myself some grace and allowed the answer to be "in room x". So I would take it to that room, not worrying about exactly where (I did try to keep things tidy and not just dumping stuff everywhere!). By doing this I gradually came to grips with the spaces within the room and little by little each item's final home revealed itself almost by magic! My house still has a long way to go but I recently "finished" the first room, my master bedroom, and I was able to say "of course shirts (or whatever) go here" and used the container concept to edit out my least favourite. Now I can find things without thinking, putting things away is a breeze and I just love it!

[katsspace]

The container concept deserves an award of some sort….it has literally been what I’ve used to take control of our home.
Our home is now a container and every space is its own container, with its limits. Thank you Dana❤

[Lara-hyff]

I have a set number of coat hangers. When clothes no longer fit on them, it's time to do a declutter. I love my coat hanger container.

[KellyBoettcher-qotx]

We gave away 75% of our pots and pans. Best thing we ever did. Cooking is so simple now we kept our favorites only. Now no searching. They all sit just perfectly👌.

[rebeccajordan]

“The space you have is the space you have.” I don’t know why, but your definition of the container concept was the biggest aha moment for me. I use it all the time now. My husband was raised by a hoarder and he has bad clutteritis, and for the longest time, any blank surface would get covered instantly. But lately that’s changing. I think he’s actually a minimalist and he’s really starting to embrace the joys of having less. It’s really exciting. Thank you 🙏

[emmelia-]

Oh my goodness Dana: "I'm not rejecting the item; I'm just accepting the reality of this space." I love all of your content and have been following you for years, and still THIS sounded so fresh and helpful this morning! ❤ Thank you! (BTW your hair is beautiful 😍)

[elizabethdemerchant]

Get ready for a paradigm shifting idea. Your purse... Is a container! I know, right?! Thank you for the enlightenment, Dana!

[mombbjandag]

Perfect timing! I'm home from work sick today. Sick enough that I can't go in, but not sick enough that I'm in bed. Decluttering my bedroom closet now!

[carrotgold]

I had too many "Snap Ware" food containers but they were living on different shelves in different kitchen cupboards. When I consolidated them I realized The ones I don't use became "duh donations". My friend had been using empty food containers for decades and was excited to have real glassware. I gave her 12 containers with lids of various sizes. She is ecited to declutter old empty food containers 😊👍🥳

[RadCenter]

I've been trying to get my sister to embrace this concept. I just helped her move from a 3 1/2 story house to a two-bedroom apartment, and she still has a TON of stuff. Her knee-jerk reaction to reaching a space limit is to buy more containers or larger furniture for storage. I keep telling her, "You don't need a bigger dresser; you need less stuff!"

[karenmuller]

I can't tell you how much I like the Container Concept. So I have a dozen spatulas; they fit their space. Books? their space. The trick is not to seek out more space, of course. LOL

[kimpeterson]

I found you 3 weeks ago. Can you say binge watching 👀 that's me. Got your audible Decluttering at the Speed of Life, binging your podcast now😊. Best thing I've learned so far is how to declutter without making my usual HUGE MESS. I'm creative and make lots of silk purses 👛 out of pigs 🐖 ears 👂 I am NOT BUYING OR FINDING AND RESCUING ANY MORE LITTLE PIGS UNTIL I'VE MADE ALL THE ONES I HAVE INTO PURSES.😂😅😮😢😊❤

[lazygardens]

Interesting seeing the two approaches: Marie Kondo's "put your favorites back into the empty container" versus Dana's "remove your least favorite until the container has just enough".

I'm in of the "must see it all out in one spot" to sort school (out of sight, out of mind) for decluttering, but the first steps of Dana's methods are excellent.

Remove the things that require as little decision-making as possible first in a series of "binary sorting steps": trash / not trash, donate NOW / do not donate now, belongs HERE / does not belong here ...

[racheldee]

“If one is good, then ten must be great!” 😂 Oh my goodness yessss you are so relatable! I appreciate you so much!! Thank you!! 🙏🙏💕💕

[LedgerAndLace]

Other "organizer" people : "Pull everything out. Things have to get messier before they get better."
Me: "Hahahaha And I love that for you. DANA SAYS . . . ."