Declutter Your Closet with a Project 333 Experiment (2024)

Declutter Your Closet with a Project 333 Experiment (1)

“Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers.” – Charles Dickens

A few years back, I experimented with reducing my wardrobe by joining Project 333.

The idea behind Project 333 is simple: Wear only 33 articles of clothing for the next 3 months. All clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear,and shoes count towards your number. Exceptions include wedding rings, underwear, sleepwear, in-home loungewear,and workout clothing.Clothing that no longer fits or becomes in poor condition may be replaced during the time period.

Originally, I decided to try it for a number of reasons:

  1. I needed an extra push to reduce the clutter in my closet.
  2. I find boundaries to be helpful in minimizing.
  3. The project sounded both challenging and reasonable.
  4. The Project 333 community seemed encouraging.

The project began on October 1 and concluded on December 31. And other than a few minor exceptions (think Ugly Sweater Christmas Party), I was able to stick to the rules of 33 articles of clothing with only minimal adjustments to my weekly routine.

It became an experiment that I valued and often recommended to others. I learned some valuable lessons about boundaries over those three months.

Consider the benefits of living life within boundaries:

1. Boundaries keep us restrained.

Artificial boundaries can keep us in check when our natural self-control does not. Over the years, I had amassed a closet full of clothes—far more than I truly need. Looking back, I am embarrassed at the amount of time, money, energy, and attention devoted to my clothes.

In similar ways, the average American carries $7,200 in credit card debt and watches over 32 hours of television per week. We are in need of boundaries. Good parents set boundaries for their children… and good adults should set boundaries for themselves.

2. Boundaries force our values.

When you are challenged to pare down your clothing to 33 items, you are forced to identify which items are absolutely necessary. You are forced to single out the most important, most versatile, and most loved items. You are required to identify the most valuable things in your closet.

Similarly, boundaries in life help to force this exact same thought process. Boundaries force us to identify the difference between “really important” and only “somewhat important”—just ask anyone who has ever been given a limited amount of time left to live.

3. Boundaries promote creativity.

Orson Welles said, “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” Limiting your clothing items to 33 items for 3 months forces art. Limiting your wardrobe to a capsule wardrobe does not rob you of personal style…it causes you to truly find it. For help getting started, try this: A Practical Guide to Owning Fewer Clothes.

4. Boundaries bring freedom.

This may sound contradictory…and depending on the exact boundaries, it may be. But in the example of clothing, I found great freedom in the project. It is a refreshing feeling to look inside a closet and see only clothes that you love. Getting ready in the morning is less time-consuming. Laundry is easier. And I saved a few dollars over the 3 months as well. The experiment granted me more time, energy, and money—the very things I was losing without it.

For me, Project 333 became something far greater than wearing fewer articles of clothing. It became about recognizing the value of boundaries. And the value of boundaries reaches far beyond our closets. It begins to spill into how we decorate our homes, the toys we buy for our children, our yarn supplies, and even how we choose to spend our time, money, and energy.

Why don’t you try giving it a shot?

You’ll enjoy the challenge. And you’ve got nothing to lose but the clutter in your closet.

Declutter Your Closet with a Project 333 Experiment (2024)

FAQs

What is the 333 method of decluttering? ›

The idea behind Project 333 is simple: Wear only 33 articles of clothing for the next 3 months. All clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, and shoes count towards your number. Exceptions include wedding rings, underwear, sleepwear, in-home loungewear, and workout clothing.

What is the Project 333 list? ›

The Project 333 rules are simple –

You should include clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry, and outerwear in this number. You don't count underwear, socks, sleepwear, workout clothes, and loungewear. In this article, you will learn more details, tips, and examples of how to do the challenge!

What is the synopsis of Project 333 the minimalist fashion challenge that proves less really is so much more? ›

Project 333 promises that not only can you survive with just 33 items in your closet for 3 months, but you'll thrive just like the thousands of woman who have taken on the challenge and never looked back. Let the de-cluttering begin! Ever ask yourself how many of the items in your closet you actually wear?

What is the 30 clothing rule? ›

The 30 wear challenge is a commitment to wearing a new item of clothing at least 30 times. It forces you to pause before clicking buy and ask yourself, 'will I actually wear this 30 times?” If the answer is not 100% yes, then you don't make the purchase.

What is the 5 second rule for decluttering? ›

Called the Five Second Rule, the idea is simple – pick up an object and if you can't remember when you last used it within five seconds then you have to get rid of it. Now, you can obviously make allowances for sentimental items, but it will make trimming down on certain household items much easier.

What is the 5 year rule for decluttering? ›

There's a saying that goes, “If it won't matter in five years, don't spend more than five minutes worrying about it.” If you're someone who gets stuck on what to declutter and what to keep, remind yourself of this rule to keep things in perspective.

What is the 333 movement? ›

It involves looking around your environment to identify three objects and three sounds, then moving three body parts. Many people find this strategy helps focus and ground them when anxiety overwhelms them.

Why is minimalism problematic? ›

First, let's sum up the most common criticisms of minimalism: Minimalism is elitist — it takes a lot of money to “live with less” Minimalism is bad for the environment — things that no longer “bring joy” end up in landfills. Minimalism is bad for the economy — if people aren't buying things, the economy will suffer.

What was the main goal of the minimalists? ›

But while minimalism in interior design can mean different things to different people, the goal of minimalism remains broadly the same: to find clarity, calm and value by living with less.

Who started Project 333? ›

In Project 333, Courtney Carver takes a new approach to living simply–starting with your wardrobe. Project 333 promises that not only can you survive with just 33 items in your closet for 3 months, but you'll thrive just like the thousands of people who have taken on the challenge and never looked back.

What is the 1 3 2 3 rule clothes? ›

But it can be helpful to follow the “Rule” of Thirds when putting together outfits. Apparently, clothing ensembles look more well-proportioned when the top takes up one-third of the outfit and the bottom occupies two-thirds of the overall look.

What is the 3 color rule in fashion? ›

The premise of the 3-color rule is not combine more than three colors in your outfit at any one time. The exceptions are black and white — they don't count, as they aren't technically colors, so they can be intermixed without actually adding a color to your outfit.

How much weight do you allow for clothing? ›

Clothing. Wearing clothing while weighing yourself can add up to two pounds—more if you're wearing shoes. Again, this isn't a big deal if you consistently weigh yourself wearing the same thing, but since our clothes vary with our moods and seasons, it's best to go without when you step on the scale.

What is the one touch rule in decluttering? ›

The rule is: put away your things immediately and avoid handling them more than once after you're done with them. That's it.

What is the 20 20 20 rule for decluttering? ›

The 20-20 decluttering rule says that if you can replace something for less than $20 and in under 20 minutes, it can safely be decluttered.

What is the 12 12 12 rule for decluttering? ›

Take the 12-12-12 challenge.

The rules are simple: locate 12 items to throw away, 12 to donate, and 12 to be returned to their proper home. That's it. Repeat if desired.

What should you not throw out when decluttering? ›

Here we go!
  • Not so gently used underwear.
  • Jewelry you received as a gift that you will never wear.
  • Costume jewelry that's rusty or damaged.
  • Extra buttons that come with every new shirt.
  • Clothes that are plus or minus 2 sizes too big or small.
  • Maternity clothes, unless you're planning to have another baby.
Nov 17, 2016

What should I remove first when decluttering? ›

Simple Ways to Declutter Your Spaces
  1. Start by removing trash.
  2. Begin by choosing one small area to organize — like a drawer.
  3. Sort items into three piles: Keep, donate and toss.
  4. Find a specific home for everything you intend to keep — for example, a hook for your keys.
Jan 12, 2023

What should you not declutter? ›

10 Things NOT to Declutter First
  • Photos. ...
  • Sentimental ltems. ...
  • Paper. ...
  • The Garage. ...
  • Kids' Toys. ...
  • Your Partner's Stuff. ...
  • Drawers. ...
  • Your Collections.

What is the warning of 333? ›

As a result, be wary and mindful of your actions and "take it as a warning to not gamble what you can't afford to lose." While the angel number 333 reminds to trust yourself and dream big, there must be a sense of balance. Set boundaries and foundations for yourself when it comes to taking risks.

Does the 333 rule work? ›

Many people find the 333 rule to be helpful with anxiety. The 333 rule combines the benefits of a grounding technique with a memorable title, making it easier to remember and reach for, even in a panicked or overwhelmed state. One way of thinking about anxiety is that it's like your body's emotional alarm system.

Why do people see 333? ›

The frequent appearance of the angel number 333 indicates a positive energy toward your quest. King further adds, if you are feeling limited in your life and seeing a lot of threes, view it as a sign of hope. While angel number 333 encourages you to believe in yourself and dream big, there must be a sense of balance.

What is the negative side of minimalism? ›

Being a minimalist is lonely

On the one hand, you might find that letting go of things—and people—frees you up to pursue your passions and connect with like-minded individuals. Yet on the other hand, you might feel isolated from friends and family who don't share your values. And that can be tough.

What is toxic minimalism? ›

Good Enough Isn't Good Enough

Toxic minimalists set their cost of living and are satisfied if their income and cashflow matches up with their cost of living.

Are minimalists actually happier? ›

Overall, minimalists are happier because they have less worry, stress, and chaos in their lives. To a minimalist, material things are trivial compared to what they value most, which consists of quality time for relationships, time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, and spiritual health.

What do the minimalists do with their money? ›

The bottom line is that many minimalists spend their money on DOING things. Minimalists also focus on spending time with friends and family doing those exact things! Experiences are usually worth more than the next kitchen gadget or electronic device that we've been told we need by advertisem*nts.

What are the 3 characteristics of minimalism? ›

So, while the minimalist doctrine is evolving to address our modern needs, its three most important qualities—functionality, simplicity and honesty—can continue to guide minimalist practices in our own homes.

Do minimalists spend less money? ›

One important benefit of minimal living is the simple reality that it costs less. As you accumulate fewer things, you spend less money. Additionally, it costs much less to store them, maintain them, repair them, clean them, and even discard them.

What is the 30 30 rule for minimalists? ›

To stave off impulse, I created a rule that helps me avoid unnecessary purchases. If something I want costs more than $30, I ask myself whether I can get by without it for the next 30 hours. Hence, “the 30/30 Rule.” (If it's $100 or more, I tend to wait 30 days.)

What is the 333 capsule? ›

For those of you who are unaware of what this is, it is a capsule wardrobe consisting of 33 items of clothing that you wear for 3 months. The Project 333 capsule consists of wearing 33 items of clothing for 3 months, hence “333”. These items include clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear and shoes.

What is the rule of five clothing? ›

The five outfit rule is pretty simple. When you see an item that you just have to have you can only buy it if you can think of five different outfits that you can wear it with. These outfits should come to mind straight away, no having to wrack your brains to desperately come up with things, and no cheating.

What is 5 4 3 2 1 packing guide? ›

Do the clothing countdown: If you need a mantra to help streamline your wardrobe, use the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rule for a weeklong trip: Limit yourself to no more than five sets of socks and underwear, four tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes and one hat. The list should be adjusted to suit your needs.

What is the 80 20 rule for clothing? ›

They say that the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, holds true with wardrobes: Most of us wear 20 percent of our clothing, 80 percent of the time. Why waste valuable space on the other 80 percent of your wardrobe that you rarely wear?

What is the rule of 4 in fashion? ›

The goal is to have at least four accessories or points of interest to every outfit. This has been a game changer for me because I tend to be a plain jane, and often I feel like my outfits lack a little something.

Can I wear 4 colours? ›

The underlying premise of the three colour rule is to not combine more than three colours in your outfit at any one time. The exception being black and white, which are technically not 'colours' but tones, and can be intermixed as a fourth colour in your outfit.

What is the 60 30 10 rule? ›

What is the 60-30-10 Rule? It's a classic decor rule that helps create a color palette for a space. It states that 60% of the room should be a dominant color, 30% should be the secondary color or texture and the last 10% should be an accent.

What time of day are you heaviest? ›

Typically, you weigh more after eating. You'll usually weigh less after strenuous physical activity because of the water you've lost through sweating. This is why one of the best times to weigh yourself is in the morning before you've eaten or exercised.

Do you weigh more after a shower? ›

“Your skin is the largest organ in the body and absorbs fluid easily,” says Dr. Keith Kantor, a leading nutritionist and CEO of the Nutritional Addiction Mitigation Eating and Drinking (NAMED) program. “After a swim or a shower, your body can absorb 1 to 3 cups of water, increasing your true weight by a few pounds.”

What is the one in one out rule decluttering? ›

The one in one out rule for decluttering is a practice that purges one item from your home each time you bring in one new item. You will not reduce your clutter but will also not add to it. You would donate, sell, or give away an item to manage a specific amount of items in your home.

What is the 80 20 rule for decluttering? ›

When applied to our homes, the 80/20 rule suggests that we roughly use 20% of what we own around 80% of the time. The remaining amount serves little purpose, taking up space and mostly just gathering dust. Think about it - how many of the utensils in your kitchen crock do you use daily? Probably very few!

What is the 20 20 rule for decluttering? ›

When struggling to make decluttering decisions, the 20/20 rule says you should consider letting go of an item if: You can replace it for less than $20. And you can replace it in less than 20 minutes.

What is the 90 90 rule decluttering? ›

The 90/90 rule for minimalism encourages you to keep only items you've used or will use within 90 days. This minimalist rule is all about timing. When using the 90/90 rule to get rid of stuff, you'll simply want to ask yourself two straightforward questions. Have you used this item in the last 90 days?

What is the 6 month rule for decluttering? ›

'At the core, the six month rule basically states that when you are organizing your space and decluttering, anything you haven't used in the past six months can probably go,' explain Ben Soreff, a declutterer at House to Home Organizing. 'The rule allows for exceptions including holiday decorations and keepsakes.

What are the 4 boxes for decluttering? ›

There are lots of ways to declutter your home and one of the easiest is the Four Box Method. Start by looking for four empty (big) boxes that you can label as TRASH, GIVE-AWAY, KEEP, and RELOCATE. You can also think of a more creative way to label each box just to differentiate them from each other.

What is the declutter 3 second rule? ›

Put simply, the three-second rule puts a quick time limit on your decision-making when it comes to throwing out an item. If you hesitate for more than three seconds, then this rule gives you permission to keep it. It's a method used by professional organizer Kayleen Kelly who specializes in chronic clutter and ADHD.

Which room to declutter first? ›

'The best room to start decluttering is where two things converge: the area that is causing you the most stress and the place that you live in the most,' she explains. 'The attic or a tucked away closet might be messy and nagging you but if the kitchen, entryway, or primary bathroom is too - go there first!

What is extreme decluttering? ›

Compulsive decluttering is a pattern of behavior that is characterized by an excessive desire to discard objects from one's home and living areas. Another term for this behavior is obsessive compulsive spartanism. The homes of compulsive declutterers are often empty.

What is the 30 day declutter challenge? ›

You may have guessed it already, but the 30 bags in 30 days decluttering method challenges you to throw away one bag of stuff every day for 30 consecutive days. Quite honestly, it's the simplest decluttering tip we've ever come across.

What is the 20 toy rule? ›

We can throw some things away and give some things away, but at the end of it all, you are only going to have 20 toys left.” We called it The 20-Toy Rule. 20 toys sounds like a lot… or maybe it doesn't. But you'd be surprised at how many things children can accumulate.

What is 31 days of decluttering? ›

What is The 31 Day Home Detox January Decluttering Challenge? The 31 day detox decluttering challenge is designed to jumpstart your decluttering and organization habits and will help you clear out all of that obvious unwanted and unused “stuff” that is clogging up your home.

What are the 7 steps to declutter your life? ›

15 Simple Steps To Declutter Your Life
  • Step 1: Start small. ...
  • Step 2: Go through your home room by room. ...
  • Step 3: Organize your workspace. ...
  • Step 4: Go through your digital spaces. ...
  • Step 5: Clear your mind. ...
  • Step 6: Start freeing up your time. ...
  • Step 7: Become aware of your feelings.

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