5 Decluttering Tips to Simplify Your Home
Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by the clutter in your home? You are not alone! Many of us accumulate things over time as we move through life; before we know it, our homes are filled with items we no longer need or use. Here’s the encouraging part: decluttering can be a manageable task that brings order and calm to your once-chaotic home. In this blog post, we’ll explore five simple yet effective tips to help you start decluttering.
What is Clutter?
Clutter is anything that is not serving you in your life today. It is all the things that are in your home that you no longer need, use or love. Clutter affects the physical space and can contribute to feelings of stress and overwhelm. Clutter also costs us time, space and money, so let’s clear the clutter!
1. Start small
The thought of tackling your entire home can be daunting. Instead, start with a small and manageable area like a drawer, shelf, or closet in a room of your home that is causing you the most frequent frustration. Completing one small space will give you a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to continue decluttering.
2. Make a Plan
Set aside 2-4 hours to tackle your decluttering project. Have the following materials on hand to complete the work:
· garbage bags
· recycling bags
· boxes/containers to sort (keep, relocate, donations, sell)
· painter tape to label boxes/containers
3. Work with someone and focus on one space
Commit to a single area of your home at one time. Ask a friend for help; decluttering and organizing is more fun when you have a partner. Do not move around your home, shifting items from one space to another. Things that need to be relocated can be placed in a relocation bin and put away after you have decluttered the space as planned.
4. Be ruthless and ask yourself these questions
Do I love it? ~ Does this item hold sentimental value for me? Does it serve a practical purpose and add value to my life?
Do I need it? ~ Is this item essential to my life now
Do I use it? ~ Have I used this in the past year? Will I use it soon?
Would I repurchase it?
Is the item a duplicate? ~ Do I already have a similar item that serves the same purpose? Do I need more than one of these?
Is it worth the space? ~ Does the item take up valuable space in my home? Is the space it occupies justified by its usefulness or significance?
5. Schedule donation drop-offs immediately
Once you have sorted items for donation, schedule a donation drop off or pickup as soon as possible. This is a proactive way to ensure that your decluttering efforts result in items leaving your home promptly, helping you maintain a clutter-free home.
Decluttering is about making room for the things that truly matter. Start small, make a plan, stay consistent and soon you’ll be enjoying a more organized and clutter-free home. Happy decluttering!
