Whether you’re selling your home this year, trying to downsize, or simply want a cleaner, more streamlined space, you want to declutter for good. But how do you get started?
The thought of decluttering your entire house can be incredibly overwhelming. The amount of stuff most families accumulate over the years is huge, and time to go through it all is limited.
That’s why you’ve got to break it down into manageable steps. Here’s our recommendation.
Create a list of areas you want to declutter and make a schedule for tackling them.
The first step in making a decluttering plan work is to list out the areas you want to focus on. There’s nothing that says you need to address your whole home.
If it’s your closets that are bothering you, stick to those.
If the kitchen is out of control, focus on that one room and make a list of each cabinet, shelf, etc. that you want to address one at a time.
Then create a schedule that is realistic for you. That could be taking an afternoon to go through a closet, or spending 15 minutes cleaning out one drawer.
By breaking it down into small areas, you’ll be giving yourself manageable tasks and creating a sense of achievement each time you complete one. Custom Closet Storage from Bethesda can help your with your closet.
Identify items that could be put into storage.
Chances are you have items in your home that you don’t need access to every day or even every month.
Think family heirlooms, items with sentimental value, or pieces of furniture that you don’t want to get rid of, but don’t have a place for.
By going through your home and removing these items, you’ll be able to clear out space for the things you do need and want while keeping your storage pieces secure and out of the way.
Give every item a home.
This is a key piece of organizing and decluttering advice, according to A Blissful Nest. Every single item needs to have a place where it belongs. That could be in a decorative box on your counter, underneath a sink, in an office tray, etc.
It simply has to be a single spot where you know the item will be any time you’re not using it, and where you’ll return it when you’re done using it.
If you’ve got children, this rule becomes doubly important! Give kids storage spaces for their toys, books, art supplies, and other items so that they can get in the habit of staying organized from an early age. Not only does this help keep your home tidy, but it can help avoid meltdowns and stress due to not being able to find a beloved item!
Decluttering your home can be accomplished in as much or as little time as you have available. The key is to break it into manageable, achievable steps so you avoid being overwhelmed and burning out on the process altogether.
