Decluttering isn’t just for making your home look neat; it’s about creating a more enjoyable and stress-free space.
We often get asked about decluttering, especially as people prepare their homes to sell, but also by friends and family who know we see a lot of houses.
It’s a topic that resonates deeply and affects just about everyone we know, simply because people accumulate so much stuff over the years! The thought of decluttering can be incredibly overwhelming, yet everyone who takes the time to declutter always says, “Why didn’t we do this sooner? We feel so much freer now.”
Decluttering isn’t just for making your home look neat; it’s about creating a more enjoyable and stress-free space. Over the years, we’ve observed that people often have much more stuff than they actually use. Here are some practical tips that we live by!
Identify and Tackle Hot Zones
A professional organizer once shared a valuable insight with us:: Consider your home in terms of “hot zones.” These are areas where you spend a lot of your time and need things to be readily accessible, like your back door area, your closet, or where you get ready every morning.
After you think about the areas in your home that cause the most stress or where you waste time looking for things, be ruthless about decluttering them! If there are itmes in these zones that you don’t touch every day, it needs to be removed. Make sure everything in these areas is something you use regularly and that it has designated space to be.
For instance, where does everyone in your family seem to dump their belongings when they walk into the house? Is it a hallway, a mudroom, a dining room table, or a kitchen counter? Anything that will get “dumped” there must have a specific spot instead. Have a designated spot for bills, coats, and backpacks. Make it easy to put things away, and more importantly, remember where things are. Even labeling can help keep things organized (especially for kids).
Another hot zone to tackle is your junk drawer. Keep it tidy by regularly dumping everything out and re-organizing it. Try to do this every 6 months. Life changing!
Slim Down Your Closet
Our closet is one of the most significant areas where we accumulate unnecessary items. A simple rule that has helped me is this: If I have not worn it for the last two years it gets donated (unless of course it is a special garment). And if you find that you don’t like it when you do wear it, get rid of it. To be in my closet it has to pass the I love it and am comfortable in it test. Be ruthless!
Simplifying your wardrobe can also make your mornings easier and quicker. I found that hanging jewelry organizers were a game-changer for me, especially since I love accessories. It makes everything visible and accessible, saving me a ton of time.
Seasonal Decluttering: Attack the Storage
With summer over and the kids back in school, it’s a perfect time to address your storage spaces. Storage facilities, basements, and closets can become black holes for items we don’t need, turning into a collection of seldom-used things.
Take a weekend to clear everything out. Rent a trailer and donate anything that doesn’t serve a purpose or hold significant sentimental value. We condensed from two storage units to one by doing just that.
For larger decluttering projects, sometimes a dumpster is the best solution. Get the biggest one you can and have it delivered for a few days. Plan a weekend, starting on Thursday, and go through every corner of your house, including the garage and basement, which tend to accumulate the most stuff. If you wouldn’t use it, don’t donate broken or substandard items. Dump them! Dumpsters are the BEST!
Another Strategy: Clear It All Out First
Another fundamental strategy that works wonders is to first take everything out of the space. Then, only put back things that are an emphatic YES. Everything else should go into one of three piles: donate, garbage, and store. Ensure everything you keep has a place and a purpose in your home.
Take it from us, we have been down this road too many times to count… By decluttering and organizing, not only do you create a more inviting home, but you also free up mental space previously occupied by the clutter. Try these strategies and experience the freedom and satisfaction of a well-organized home. I guarantee you you will feel so much freer and lighter after. SO worth the time investment. If you need help just let me know. We can hook you up with some professionals!
