Why I’m Documenting This Journey

Moving in together is supposed to be an exciting milestone, a moment of blending lives and creating a shared home. And in many ways, it was. When Brayden and I first moved in together, we were filled with optimism, thinking we would effortlessly combine our belongings and create a cozy, functional space.

That didn’t happen. Not even close.

Instead, we found ourselves drowning in clutter, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stuff that neither of us had truly considered before the move. The reality? We never really condensed our things—especially me. We both came from bigger spaces and, rather than making the hard decisions before we moved, we simply brought everything with us, figuring we’d sort it out later. Later never came, and before we knew it, we were navigating a sea of boxes, overstuffed closets, and furniture that didn’t quite fit.

The truth is, I was the main problem. I’ve always had trouble letting go of things because I constantly worry that I’ll need them later. This meant that instead of making tough choices about what to keep, I kept everything. Clothes I hadn’t worn in years, old notebooks, random souvenirs and gadgets—if there was a chance I might use it “someday,” I refused to part with it.

Add in three cats—Sushi, Slippers, and Supra—and our apartment quickly became an obstacle course of cat towers, misplaced belongings, and an ever-present layer of fur. We weren’t just dealing with clutter; we were dealing with chaos.

To make matters more complicated, we’ve been living in this apartment since November 2021. That’s over three years of accumulating even more things, rearranging, and trying (but often failing) to get organized. Over time, we’ve replaced a lot of our furniture, like our bed and bookcases, which originally came from our childhood bedrooms. But even with these upgrades, our apartment still doesn’t feel functional—it still feels like we’re just making do instead of truly settling in.

This blog series is my way of holding myself accountable. I want to document our journey of maximizing space, finally decluttering, and finding cleaning routines that actually work—while navigating the challenges of creating a functional living space that accommodates the needs of three active cats in a small apartment. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in your own belongings or struggling to keep your home functional while living with pets, you’re not alone. This is our starting point, and here’s how we plan to tackle it.

Step One: Admitting the Problem (And Accepting the Mess)

The first step in fixing any problem is admitting you have one. I resisted this for a long time. I told myself we were just busy, that we’d “get to it eventually,” or that the clutter wasn’t really that bad. But eventually, I had to face the truth: our apartment wasn’t just messy—it was unmanageable.

• We had furniture that didn’t fit properly, making the space feel cramped and dysfunctional.
• There were entire boxes we never unpacked because we didn’t have space for their contents.
• With insufficient hanging space, clothes ended up in piles on desks, chairs, and the couch instead of being properly stored.
• The cats took over any surface they could find, knocking things over and turning cluttered piles into their own resting spots.

We weren’t just struggling with space; we were struggling with habits. The apartment had become a dumping ground, and we needed to break the cycle.

Step Two: Setting Realistic Goals

The problem didn’t happen overnight, and it won’t be fixed overnight either. I’ve accepted that this process is going to take time, trial and error, and a willingness to change our approach to organization and cleaning.

Here’s our plan:

1. Declutter Before Organizing

We can’t maximize space if we’re holding onto things we don’t need. That means finally letting go of items we’ve been avoiding dealing with.

2. Create a Functional Layout

Instead of just placing furniture where it “kind of fits,” we need to be intentional about making our space work for us.

3. Implement Cleaning Routines That Stick

Sporadic deep cleans don’t work. We need daily and weekly habits that make cleaning manageable.

4. Make the Apartment Cat-Friendly Without Sacrificing Functionality

The cats need their space, but we need ours too. We’ll experiment with designated cat areas that (hopefully) keep them from turning every surface into their personal jungle gym.

Step Three: Facing the Biggest Challenges

We already know this process isn’t going to be smooth sailing. Here are some of the biggest hurdles we expect to face:

1. Letting Go of Stuff

This is going to be my biggest challenge. I have a bad habit of holding onto things “just in case.” Old clothes, sentimental knickknacks, kitchen gadgets I never use but feel guilty getting rid of. Brayden is much better at decluttering than I am, which means I’ll be the one struggling most in this step.

2. Finding Storage That Works (And That the Cats Won’t Destroy)

Every small apartment storage solution seems great in theory—until you add three curious cats who see every shelf as a climbing challenge and every basket as a new bed. We’ll have to get creative in finding storage that maximizes space without becoming another playground for Sushi, Slippers, and Supra.

3. Keeping Up with Cleaning

A small space gets messy fast. Add in three cats who shed constantly, track litter everywhere, and knock things over daily, and you’ve got a never-ending cleaning battle. The goal is to establish cleaning routines that make maintenance easy rather than overwhelming.

Why This Journey Matters

A cluttered, messy apartment isn’t just about aesthetics—it affects mental health, productivity, and overall well-being. Living in a disorganized space makes everything feel harder, from cooking meals to simply relaxing at the end of the day. We want our home to be a place of comfort, not stress.

This journey isn’t about achieving a Pinterest-perfect home. It’s about making our space work for us, creating a home that feels functional, comfortable, and manageable—even with three cats ruling the place.

If you’ve ever struggled with clutter, downsizing, or keeping up with cleaning while juggling pets, I hope you’ll follow along. There will be trial and error, plenty of cat-related setbacks, and moments where we question our sanity—but there will also be progress, solutions, and (hopefully) a more peaceful living space at the end of it all.

This is our starting point. Let’s see where this journey takes us.