Useful Decluttering Tips

If you feel that your home needs some space but do not know where to start, do not panic. There are simple steps you can follow to declutter your space.

Start Small And Build Your Way Up

If you decide to declutter and feel overwhelmed because there seems to be too much stuff, start with one or two items. It may seem small, but if you remove an item every day, that’s seven by the end of the week. Keep up with this, and your space will be decluttered in no time. You can increase the number of items you get rid of with time and as you grow more comfortable. A good trick to get things out of the way is to tell yourself that you will get rid of anything you have not worn or used in over six months. Donate the clothes you do not wear to goodwill.

Have A Checklist

If you cannot start your process because you do not know where to begin, then a declutter checklist will come in handy. A good way to do this would be to create a numbers challenge. For instance, 12-12-12. Pick 12 items to toss out, 12 to donate, and 12 to keep in your home. You can also try to look at your home from the perspective of a visitor. See what they see when they walk in and if you do not like something about it, try to change that.

Visualize The Space

Try writing down what your first impression is and what you would like it to be. The process will allow you to see what you need to remove and what should be kept. You can also take a picture of any part of the house that you feel looks cluttered. Clean off what is unnecessary, then proceed to take another photo. Once you see how it could look, you will be motivated to continue the process.

Ask For Help

Enlist some help from your friends and family. They can go through your house with you and suggest the items that you need to get rid of and those you need to give away. Doing the cleaning and decluttering with someone is a good way to get an opinion, especially when you are attached to certain items. If you want to keep an item, your friend or family member will listen to your reason and, if they do not agree with it, the item goes. If you have larger items, such as furniture, you may need at a later date consider self storage.

Use The Four Box Method

Label four boxes as keep, re-locate, give away, and trash. Go into each room and put all of the items into each box. Do not leave a single item out. It will be able to let you know what to do with each of the items.