By Cara Beth Smith
Decluttering is something that really should happen more often than it actually does for most of us. Cleaning out our collections of clothing, memorabilia, random items, and in many cases, junk, can be a huge undertaking… especially if it has been a while since the last time you tackled the chore. But what better time is there than a new month and a new year to tidy your space, from the inside out?
As you stand in your closet, your garage, your kids’ playroom, or your storage space, you may feel overwhelmed as you peruse the items you have collected and stock-piled over time. For many people, the hardest part of the entire task is simply (or… maybe not-so-simply) getting started.
Homes and Gardens (homesandgardens.com) shared, “A recent survey of homeowners showed that 44% of us experience ‘mess-stress’ at least weekly and 72% of ‘naturally tidy’ people have experienced stress from an untidy home over the pandemic.*”
Below are some tips on how to declutter and reclaim control of your space:
1. Take it one step at a time. Think about everything that needs to happen, and consider the order the list should be completed. Try starting with one shelf, or one corner, or one box, in one room. When that is completed, move on to the next area you would like to mark off your list.
2. Take before and after photos. This can help you see the difference that your efforts made, consequently providing a sense of pride and inspiration to continue.
3. Before you begin, get bags or boxes labeled with “trash,” “donate,” and “recycle.” This is the easiest way to sort the items you choose to part with. It is better to recycle what can be recycled and to donate any items with some life left in them instead of just throwing them away.
4. Try to make the experience more enjoyable by turning on some music, a podcast, or a TV show for background noise. This can also help the time pass faster, and can be a mood-booster.
5. As you get rid of what you no longer need, be sure to upgrade the way you store the items that are staying. Implement new organization systems to help you keep the space under control going forward. Try something new, like storing items in tubs/containers or labeling. It may change your life!
6. Try to find ways to make better use of your space. “When space is tight, it’s important to be clever with your storage. Thinking vertically and using space you wouldn’t usually think of, such as some wall-mounted or over-door storage, frees up space on shelves and in cupboards,” advises Simon Glanville, managing director of A Place for Everything.
7. “Does it spark joy?” Marie Kondo, referred to as the ‘decluttering maestro’ (homesandgardens.com), advises to only keep items that spark joy. By asking yourself questions like: ‘Why do I have this?’ ‘Why do I need this?’ ‘Does it have sentimental value?’, we can determine what should stay and what should go.
8. If you are too busy to dedicate hours and hours decluttering, try working it into your daily routine. For example, if your goal is to get rid of clothes you no longer wear, place a bag in your closet. If you notice an item that you know you no longer wear, you can simply place it in the bag. When the bag is full, you can take it to a donation site or a thrift store.
9. There are many things that you should NOT do during your decluttering endeavors. These “what-not-to-dos” include keeping a ‘maybe’ pile, starting without a plan, and grabbing stuff randomly and without reason, to name a few.
10. After you have completed the decluttering and reorganizing process, you then have to figure out how to actually keep it that way. Homesandgardens.com shared, “’Now you’ve removed your home of clutter, you need to keep your home as clutter-free as possible. Take some time to show your family their clutter-free home and set some ground rules for putting stuff away, whether that be with some clutter baskets in each room to sort out on a weekly basis,’ advises Chris Wootton,’ Managing Director of Poppies.”
Happy Organizing!
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