How do 2 single women with homes down size into one and agree on what to toss and what to keep?

Question

Both my friend and I have more than enough furniture and junk for 2 homes, but one is moving into the home of the other and selling her home.  Both of our homes are cluttered and with too much stuff collecting how do we agree on what to keep and what to toss out so that our home is neat and tidy? Are there any guidelines we can go by so we both stick to it?  I have better furniture than she does but she has some old pieces she wants to keep.

kill_yr_television · Accepted Answer

Put everything except the necessities into storage. Make weekly "shopping" trips to the warehouse and bring home a car load every week. After a few months, have a yard sale to get rid of the stuff in the warehouse.

mentalben · Answer

First, each of you has to agree to de-clutter.  Then go through your stuff, and discard, or put in a pile to discard, 1/3 of whatever you touch.
Guidelines: Have I used this in the last year? in the last 5?
Does it fit now?  Do I really  think I will fit in it again, and will it be in style then?
After much teeth-gnashing and soul-searching, go through your stuff again.  Discard, put in a tag sale, or donate, 1/3 of it.
Last, each of you go through the other's pile of keeps, and set aside things that you think are questionable.  This is not a judgement process, but a questioning one.  If either person wants to keep what they still have, it is ok. NO ARGUMENTS! The owner of the items is always right , at this point. 
If you still don't have enough room at this pont, consider storage, for 6 mo.  After this, go thru the items in storage again, and REALLY decide if they are worth paying a monthly fee for storage.
Items that have sentimental value, or are valuable antiques are negotiable. Just keep in mind that not all that each of you owns needs to be involved in the decor of the house.

Simple is best.  Keep in mind clean lines, welcoming spaces, and some sort of harmony among the items that you agree on filling your living spaces with.

Good luck.

Blackb3lt · Answer

Being a packrat myself, if you both have cluttered homes, you two will never agree in throwing out 1 full house full of stuff, I would suggest get a storage unit, and then try to compromise with what's inside the house.

RAWRRitsSARAHxx · Answer

Keep nessesities in the house, and junk and such in a storage unit. They're not that expensive at all. Furniture wise, you might want to alternate. "I want that chair, but I want that table."

forjj · Answer

I would suggest a naked tickle fight-winner take all.  If you decide to go this route, please call me, and I will be happy to referee the match.

Just kidding, I think you should just agree to respect each others wishes, and have a big yard sale.

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How do 2 single women with homes down size into one and agree on what to toss and what to keep?

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