The War on Stuff: A Six Month Hiatus

Cornelis de Bailleur, Interior of a Collector's Gallery of Paintings and Objets d'Art (1637).  In the collection of the Louvre, image courtesy http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/b/baellieu/collecto.html. 

I have been surrounded by stuff for my entire life.  Whether it is stored inventory for The Trent Collection or a Trent Estate client's possessions, I am no stranger to stuff.  However, those experiences have made me incredibly conscious of my own stuff.  So much so that, after a summer move, I decided I needed to take a hiatus from stuff and writing about stuff - no matter how valuable or aesthetically pleasing.

This hiatus lasted 6 months and created a blank Christmas list.  I just could not fathom any more stuff.

Rule #1 of purging:  If you are serious about getting rid of stuff, don't acquire new stuff during the purge.

While moving, I was confronted with belongings I had stored prior to a cross-country move a year ago. One of the easiest ways to evaluate whether or not you want an item is to pack it away for a year and decide how you feel about it.

Before I moved a single box out of storage, I took a look inside.  The storage unit became reorganized rapidly.  Either a box would go to my apartment or to a charity donation center or dumpster.

Tip: Don't lift a box until you know what it is.  This works for both safety and sanity.

I conducted this move and purge without any assistance and it paled in comparison to some of the jobs Trent Services has had.  Despite this, it led me to reflect on advice for anyone deaccessioning.

Once you have realized you need to downsize and committed to doing it, you should ask yourself a few questions: 

• Why do I still have this? 
• Does this hold any memories?
• Will I still want this a year (or more) from now?
• Do I need this?
• Is keeping this worth $(continued storage cost)?

All of this advice assumes an individual has realized he has too much stuff (or just more stuff than he wants).  The most difficult part of working with clients is not when they are sorting what to sell (or eventually donate) and what to keep, but getting them to accept the need to downsize (whether due to selling a relatives house, a move or financial concerns).

How have you fought the war on stuff?  Even within the antique business, I have found that you must always keep stuff in perspective.  If a wall of paintings is preferable to blank paint, wonderful.  If you reach a point where you want some breathing room, feel empowered to clear wall space, floor space or shelf space.