Published by Adrian Vogel · Reading time: approx. 3 minutes
It's getting colder. The summer clothes want to go into the box, the winter coats back onto the hooks – and suddenly the wardrobe is too small. No reason for a big project. One shelf, one clothes rail, one cosy afternoon with a cup of tea: that is all it takes to head into winter travelling a little lighter.
Why now?
The change of season is the most natural moment to declutter. You are picking up every piece anyway – so you might as well decide whether it gets to stay.
And there's more: when it turns cold outside, plenty of people are looking for a warm jacket. What only hangs in your wardrobe could keep someone else warm this very winter – sold, given away or donated.
Three piles, one question per piece
The Swedish method of Döstädning makes it pleasantly simple. Every piece goes onto one of three piles:
- Keep – what you wear and love.
- Sell or give away – what is in good shape but no longer suits you.
- Discard – what no longer brings anyone joy.
And so you don't brood for ages, ask yourself just one question per piece: Did I wear it last winter? If not, it may move on. Exceptions are allowed – it's your call. And if letting go is hard for you: you're in good company – here's why.
Try it: five jackets, five decisions
In our Döstädning video we sort a wardrobe with five jackets and coats. Now it's your turn. Swipe left, up or right on your phone – or use the buttons on a computer. Will you end up deciding the same way we did?
Five little tips for your winter clear-out
- Start small. First the coat hooks in the hallway, then the wardrobe. Starting on everything at once usually means stopping halfway.
- One decision per piece. Moving things back and forth wears you out. "Not sure yet" is allowed – but only for a few pieces.
- Photograph what may move on straight away. With a good photo a coat is sold or given away much faster.
- Keep broken things out of the donation bag. What nobody can wear any more doesn't belong in a clothing donation. Your local council can tell you where old textiles go.
- Enjoy the space. A rail with room between the hangers feels surprisingly good.
And where does it all end up?
That is exactly what Order & Legacy in OWNAMIC is for: you photograph a piece, OWNY, the assistant in OWNAMIC, recognises what it is, and you swipe it onto one of the three piles – just like in the example above. Afterwards you can see at a glance what is to be sold, given away or discarded, and at the end the letting-go balance shows you what has already left.
Step-by-step guides: Decluttering room by room · Minimalism · Avoiding duplicate purchases
Declutter for winter – the video
Our short video shows what this looks like in real life. Keep? Sell? Bin it?!
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