TL;DR
Get decor and gifts delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Professional organizers interviewed by House Beautiful say two familiar decluttering rules can be impractical: removing one item for every new purchase and discarding clothes not worn in a year. They recommend instead making sure belongings have functional storage and judging clothing by factors such as fit with a person’s current lifestyle and wardrobe.
A House Beautiful report says professional organizers question two widely repeated decluttering rules: getting rid of one item whenever a new one comes in, and discarding clothes that have not been worn in a year. The organizers interviewed say both tests can be too rigid, and suggest judging possessions by whether they have a place, serve a purpose or suit the owner’s life.
Under the “one in, one out” approach, a new purchase triggers the removal of another item. Kenika Williams, founder of Tidied by K., told House Beautiful that the method can work for people who prefer it, but said she does not think every purchase needs to prompt a purge. Jayna Lattimore, founder of Ordered Professional Organizing, said regular sweeps to remove items no longer used or needed can make a purchase-by-purchase purge unnecessary.
Williams said the priority is preventing new purchases from accumulating without a place to go. Lattimore said an organized home should leave room for growth, rather than filling every drawer, shelf and closet to capacity. The report presents these points as organizers’ advice, not as a finding from a study or a rule that applies to every household.
The second rule sets a one-year limit on clothing that has not been worn. Millie Naor, founder of Bella Organizers, said it can be reasonable to keep a limited number of clothes that are special to the owner, even if they are rarely worn. Beth Ruck, founder of Conquering Clutter, advised looking at whether an item works with other clothes and supports the owner’s current lifestyle, rather than relying on a time limit alone.
A More Flexible Way to Manage Belongings
The advice matters because strict rules can turn ordinary purchases or uneven clothing use into automatic reasons to discard possessions. The organizers’ alternative is not to keep everything: it is to make deliberate decisions based on available space, use and personal value. That can help households maintain systems without treating a single purchase or a calendar deadline as the deciding factor.
The report also draws a practical distinction between keeping an item intentionally and letting belongings accumulate without a plan. Under the organizers’ suggestions, new possessions should have a functional home, while clothing kept for sentimental or other personal reasons should remain limited and meaningful to its owner.
Popular right now
Dyson Big Ball Multi Floor Canister Vacuum, Yellow
KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, KSM150PS, Almond Cream
Ninja DualZone Smart Air Fryer, 10 Qt, 6-in-1, DZ950
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Two Rules Under Review
The report addresses two common pieces of decluttering advice rather than documenting a policy change, research finding or formal industry standard. It draws on comments from professional organizers working with household possessions and closets. The source material does not give survey results or evidence that most organizers have changed their recommendations.
Both rules offer simple tests: match each incoming item with an outgoing one, or use a year without wear as a reason to let a garment go. The organizers quoted by House Beautiful argue that regular reviews and individual circumstances can be more useful than applying either test automatically. Their suggestions are guidance, not a requirement to retain or discard any particular item.
“I don’t think every purchase needs to trigger a purge.”
— Kenika Williams, founder of Tidied by K.
Advice, Not a Universal Standard
The source is a lifestyle report based on interviews with organizers; it does not establish how widespread these views are among professionals or compare outcomes from different decluttering methods. It also does not provide a single replacement rule for deciding how much to keep or how often to review possessions. The appropriate approach may depend on household space, finances, needs and personal priorities.
How Readers Can Apply the Advice
The organizers’ suggestions point to two practical next steps: review belongings periodically, and decide whether each item has a place or a role. For clothing, readers can check whether a garment works with other items and suits their current lifestyle, while setting their own limits for pieces kept because they are special. The report does not announce a follow-up study or further development.
Key Questions
Which decluttering rules does the report challenge?
It questions the one-in, one-out rule for new purchases and the rule that clothes unworn for a year should be discarded.
What do organizers suggest instead of one in, one out?
Kenika Williams and Jayna Lattimore recommend avoiding automatic purges after each purchase. Lattimore suggests regular decluttering sweeps, while Williams says new items should have a functional place in the home.
Should rarely worn clothing always be discarded?
The organizers quoted in the report say not necessarily. Millie Naor recommends limiting such pieces to those the owner considers truly special; Beth Ruck suggests considering whether the garment works with the rest of the wardrobe and supports the owner’s lifestyle.
Does the report establish a new standard for decluttering?
No. It reports the views of several professional organizers and offers practical advice, but does not present a formal standard, survey or study showing that one method works for everyone.
Source: rss
