I Tried the “Weight Rule” for Decluttering, and It Keeps My Small Apartment Clutter-Free

When I tell people I live in a studio apartment, I think they have visions of an expansive loft, but my reality is quite different. My place is really small with limited storage space. I have one closet and a few kitchen cabinets. This is all fine most of the time because I live alone and rarely host, but what makes it unbearable is when clutter starts to pile up. 

As a lifestyle journalist, specializing in food and beverage content, I am often testing random food products, kitchen appliances, and tools. It was during the pandemic that I realized I was quickly being spaced out of my own place and devised a method of maintaining my own sanity and keeping my apartment as decluttered as possible. The “weight rule,” as I like to call it, keeps the clutter at a minimum in my home.

The weight rule follows this principle: if I bring something in, something of equal weight has to be taken out. It’s like a leveled-up “one in, one out rule” but keeps things even more manageable because they have to be equal in the amount of space they take up in my apartment. 

Here’s an example of how I’ve used the weight rule in my home. I recently tried out some new sneakers for a story, which meant that an older, worn-out pair had to make way for it. (Trust me, it was time!). Similarly, when I procured these adorable martini glasses with pink bows, it offered a great excuse to toss dated glassware I had long since matured past using. 

The idea behind all of this is that by removing something equal in weight to whatever I am adding, I will not add to the clutter of my apartment when new things enter the space. Of course, the ideal would be to remove greater weight than I am adding — like two pairs of shoes for every one or several sets of glasses for each one. Sometimes, that does happen, but other times, it’s not quite as possible. But it’s also about keeping my environment manageable and organized in the face of limited storage options and the inability to create more space. 

As long as I’m keeping my clutter current and maintained rather than growing out of control, it feels like I’m winning the battle! As much as possible, that is.