Decluttering gets a bit of a bad wrap for being stressful and overwhelming, forcing you to get rid of items you love just because they do not serve a purpose, or other items are ‘more important’. Not with the French practice of L’art de Ranger, however.
This mindful decluttering method switches things around, asking you to make decluttering and organizing decisions based not only on the practicality of items, but the beauty of them too.
I gave this decluttering tip a go in my home office and instantly felt my stress about mess melt away. And it isn’t just me who loves this laid-back approach – here’s why home organizing experts think this French lifestyle hack is one we should all dip into.
L'art de Ranger decluttering
The idea of L’art de Ranger (a.k.a. the art of organizing) is simple but intentional. When deciding what to declutter, you think about the item's impact on the overall space to create a home that supports your happiness and wellbeing, which includes its beauty.
Marine André, professional home organizer and founder of En Route to Joy begins, ‘L'art de Ranger, the French way of organizing, has some delightful similarities to the KonMari method that I follow.
‘The main principle behind this method is to surround yourself with joy, and it is based on psychology and mindset. While Marie Kondo asks us if something "sparks joy," L'art de Ranger also nudges us to think about how each item fits together visually in our living spaces. This little shift from joy to beauty creates a unique relationship with your belongings.’
Marine continues, ‘I find it fascinating how the French really highlight the emotional impact of a well-curated space. Once you have tidied up and decluttered your belongings, L'art de Ranger adds extra value by viewing each room as a beautiful composition, evaluating items based on how they contribute to your overall feel.
'Both decluttering methods understand that our surroundings play a big role in our mental well-being. I love how L'art de Ranger adds an extra touch: beauty can be just as nurturing as simplicity, and I encourage my clients to express their personality via their decluttering journey.’
The KonMari method follows similar mindful practices to L'art de Ranger, encouraging you to keep items that make you feel 'joy' and elevate your life, no matter what its purpose is in your home.
How I used L’art de Ranger
When it came to reorganizing and decluttering a home office, I used to focus on cutting as much clutter as possible, remembering the general advice that a clear space equaled a clear mind.
However, this room also doubles as my hobby and craft room, meaning I've been clinging onto items that I love, only to feel guilty that the space feels ‘messy’. Similarly, I kept a lot of practical items because they are ‘essential’ to an office space, even though I have not touched them since I was a student.
As Hina Khan, performance mindset coach, explains, however, ‘L’art de Ranger is a wonderful philosophy for creating your environment. In my work with clients on self-image and identity, I often talk about our environment being a reflection of who we are.
'Sometimes, we do the inner work of growth and change, but have not changed our environment. We have objects that reflect a past version of ourselves and not the present or future version.’
This really struck a chord and made me realize that I needed to switch my priorities. Following this advice reframes aesthetic organizing tricks not as a minimalist system, but as anything that makes your space feel like ‘home’. It’s the perfect method for breaking away from social media expectations of what a well-organized space should be and what an organized space is to you.
So, it was away with the super practical stationery sets and old uni books that I no longer touched, and out came the small items I had crafted that had previously been thrown in a drawer in the name of ‘order’. Shelves were restocked with albums, and my office desk became home to a drawer set, like this wooden drawer organizer from Amazon, full of threads, paints, and clay tools. I also finally put up all the mismatched frames, actually decorating with art, rather than leaving them in a decluttering pile I had never found the heart to take to the thrift store.
Expert tips for trying L’art de Ranger in your home
Beyond being a great reflection exercise, L’art de Ranger’s positive outlook on decluttering and organizing is a great way to make decluttering fun. To make it really effective and avoid decluttering when you feel overwhelmed, however, try Hina’s three tips:
- When looking at items, look at them from the perspective of your future self. Does the person with your goal hold onto this, or would it be better off their radar?
- What emotion does the item or object spark? For example, joy, pleasure, etc. Keep only the ones that elicit a positive emotion.
- When releasing things that are no longer a match, do it with gratitude. Remember, they served their purpose and can now be donated or given to someone else to enjoy.
What to shop
There will be some items that aren't 'beautiful' or contribute to the aesthetics of the room, but you need to keep them. Beautiful woven baskets can help hide them, but keep them easy to access.
Storage furniture offers another great spot for hiding those essential everyday items that don't necessarily make you feel anything when you pick them up, while making a room look more beautiful.
With open and closed storage, this display bookshelf is perfect for displaying those items that you love dearly, and containing the everyday essentials.
Meet the experts
L’art de Ranger is certainly one of the most valuable decluttering lessons I have learned. As Hina concludes, ‘I would highly recommend L’art de Ranger as a way to release things that no longer serve you or are a reflection of who you are now. This process allows you to create a space filled with joy and possibility. It reflects your future instead of your past, which will help propel you towards your goals.’
If you like the L’art de Ranger method, you may also benefit from the lessons from Marie Kondo’s book too, helping you to clear clutter more mindfully and without any guilt.
