It might be inspired by the beautiful, neat and clean Scandinavian interiors, but I’ve recently made the decision to start de-cluttering and getting rid of stuff. I feel there are so many things in the apartment and I just keep getting more and more, without actually letting anything else go in return. I’ve been reading up and found a couple of helpful resources, which have inspired me even more to finally get a grip on all the clutter.
- This article on Scandinavia Standard is a great source of inspiration
- I’ve read this book and found some good ideas in there (although I won’t go as far as the author in all instances)
- These 10 tips from Becoming Minimalist are an easy way to get started
Just so we’re clear, I’m not a hoarder, the floor of my apartment is still (mostly) visible, and I regularly donate clothes and shoes I don’t wear anymore. So what’s the big fuzz? Simply put, I still feel like there is too much stuff, and my apartment does not look the way I want it to. I’m never going to be a full-on minimalist, but I like the idea of a more focused approach to my possessions. So here are some of the rules I’ve decided for myself:
- Value quality over quantiy! This should be a no-brainer but sometimes I have a hard time sticking to the motto. I don’t want to be a complete minimalist, that’s just not who I am, but I like the idea of focusing on a smaller number of high quality items. Using a classic example of the “Little Black Dress” - instead of owning four different ones with slightly different lengths or fits, I decided to only keep the best one.
- No bargain shopping! I am any marketer’s dream, because if I see something on sale, I basically buy it. Which is terrible, because it leaves me with so many things that don’t really fit or I didn’t really want, and I am stupid enough to spend money on it. I now force myself NOT to buy something when I first see it on sale. If I want it enough to go back a couple of days later, I will buy it.
- One in, one out! I try to make it a rule that for every item of clothing or pair of shoes I buy, I have to get rid of another one. In the beginning, it’s easy to get rid of all those large t-shirts you once got as a freebie from a charity race or something, but sooner or later, you’ll have to dig into the real stuff.
- No cheap short-cuts! This goes especially for furniture and decorations. I often see stuff I like that’s quite expensive. I’m not a very patient person, so once I get an idea or see a great new chair, table or set of sheets, I’d rather have it yesterday than tomorrow. Since I can’t afford a new Bolia or Normann couch every month, I tend to try to make up for it by buying cheaper items that are only meant for the short-term. Obviously this is a stupid idea, because (a) it costs money, (b) I’m probably not saving up for the “real deal” anyways, and (c) it doesn’t look as good as what I originally wanted and I’m not happy. So no more of that!
So as I went about getting rid of some stuff, I thought I’d share some of the possibilities I found in Copenhagen for donation, recycling, etc. Here’s a (non-exhaustive!) list.
- Many Copenhageners use Den Blå Avis (DBA) for selling used stuff from cell phones to furniture to cars. Craigslist exists in Denmark, but doesn’t seem to be frequented that much. Of course, you can always try eBay, too, but DBA is the default place to go for most Danes.
- Clothes, bags and shoes can be donated to the Red Cross (Røde Kors). You either go to one of their stores, for example on Istedgade, Vestergade, or Fælledvej, or deliver the stuff to one of the donation containers. Alternatively, you can also sell them to a second hand/ vintage store. CPH Treasures is a dedicated website that has a lot of information on these types of stores around the city. Finally, if you must get rid of that old Chanel bag of yours or other luxury items, try Ivelina on Østerbrogade, where you can sell your stuff on a commission basis.
- If you are looking to give away LPs, CDs, and DVDs, try Mint Records on Gammel Kongevej.
- Your books are taking up too much shelf space? No problem - there are many used bookstores (“antikvariat”) in Copenhagen. Otherwise, try BogBasen. This article lists some good ideas on what to do with used academic books.
- Join the Facebook group Free Your Stuff Copenhagen to exchange and give away things for free.
- If you have old medicine that you no longer need to take or that’s past the expiry date, please don’t throw it in the trash, as it contains dangerous chemicals. All pharmacies take back old medicine.
- Finally, you can always put up a stand at a flea market - especially in the summer time, Copenhagen is full of them! This website lists all upcoming flea markets, and also gives the links for registering a stand.
What are your favorite tricks for de-cluttering? And how do you sell or give away your stuff?
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