(Newswire.net — September 24, 2019) — Marie Kondo’s book and subsequent Netflix series, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo,” have sparked a revolution in American homes. People are sifting through their homes, pondering whether an item “sparks joy” or not, and thanking what doesn’t before disposing of it or giving it away. That’s good news for thrift stores, which have seen a constant flow of donations inspired by Kondo’s decluttering program, but the movement’s long-term impact is still unclear. In particular, what lies ahead for estate sales if people are letting go of items earlier on in life? And will they regret getting rid of so many things?
Release Or Regret?
When people declutter, they take a lot of elements into account, but what Marie Kondo’s philosophy emphasizes is this notion of “joy.” Unfortunately, that can lead people to regret getting rid of certain things down the line. In particular, people often regret getting rid of distinctive clothing, old photos that didn’t come out perfectly, art and other items that don’t fit in their current home, and a variety of pieces of jewelry. While letting go has its advantages in terms of space and short-term pleasure, over time, different things will come to spark joy – or at least acquire a different sort of personal value.
What’s Left Behind
Most of the people undertaking Marie Kondo-style decluttering projects are younger, so they aren’t necessarily thinking about the legacy of their belonging. Thinking forward to the future of the estate sale, though, what will today’s minimalists leave behind? Today, estate sales are often where collectors and resellers find the finest items, shopping estates to find vintage jewelry, fashions, and the sort of high-quality furniture you can’t get today. Those are precisely the items that are at risk of getting lost in the decluttering shuffle as people decide these items don’t serve them.
Junk, Quality, And Everything In Between
In addition to the risk of getting rid of high-quality items, even things that might be considered heirlooms such as vintage engagement rings from the original diamond boom, decluttering has also helped many people flush out the junk accumulated in their homes, and for estate sale coordinators, this is good news. It has, however, created extra work for thrift stores, whose limited staff are now spending a disproportionate amount of time sifting through junk versus valuable products. That takes some of the strain off of loved ones who might otherwise have to sort through these items after a relative dies, as well as narrowing down what’s left behind for estate sales. Everyone wants the junk gone, but the catch-22 is that a lot of valuable items get lost in the process.
Cautious Cleaning
It’s too early to say whether Marie Kondo’s decluttering strategy is largely a fad or here to stay, but either way, it’s worth taking a moment to slow down the process. That’s how the Swedes have long approached decluttering, through a process known as death cleaning or döstädning. Rather than taking a completely minimalist approach to decluttering, this slower strategy aims to keep one’s death from being a burden on loved ones. By taking the long-view of items, people are less likely to get rid of potential heirlooms and other quality items that might be appreciated down the line.
Perhaps the primary lesson of decluttering is not that we need to let go of what we have, but that we need to acquire fewer things in the first place. By focusing on quality in our goods, we leave a legacy, reduce our impact on the environment, and cut out the junk that litters our homes and our thrift stores. Then, what gets passed on – either directly or through estate sales – will be made to last.