Decluttering your home can be overwhelming for most of us, but your efforts should result in a refreshing and less stressful environment. Here are a few tips from the experts to help you get started. Declutter and Fall in Love With Your Home Again.
Have a goal in mind.
Figure out the intent of your decluttering project. Do you want more space, less stress, or more organization to your space? This goal will keep you motivated.
Start with the little stuff.
As we said, tackling the decluttering of an entire house can be overwhelming. Start with a specific area, and when we say specific, we mean specific. This can be a drawer. Next, try a closet, then a room, and work your way from there.
Sort with purpose.
Experts suggest sorting your belongings into three categories. “Keep,” “Donate,” and “Toss.” As you go through your task of sorting through items in question, ask yourself if the item is useful, or more importantly, if the item brings you, or anyone you know, joy.
Digitize your paperwork.
Scan important papers to reduce paper clutter and store digital copies on an external hard drive or in the cloud. Digitizing sentimental paper items can encourage you to keep only those paper items that are the most meaningful to you and take digital photos of others to store on a hard drive.
Utilize creative storage solutions.
Use storage containers, shelves, and bins to help you get and keep things organized. Consider furniture available with built-in storage options, such as ottomans or beds with storage drawers.
Categorize with storage bins.
Once you have put “like” items together for storage, label them clearly for easy reference. Categorize your items using logic. Group as “Kitchen,” “Clothing,” “Books,” etc.
Create home zones.
It’s easier to think in terms of zones when you organize, so why not organize your living spaces by creating designated zones for a specific purpose? When your space is divided by zones for “relaxing” or “working,” it helps prevent clutter from spreading throughout your home.
Declutter on the regular.
Once you’ve successfully decluttered your home, keep up the routine. When you bring something new into your home, get rid of something old to maintain your clutter. Set aside a specific time each month to address clutter before it gets out of hand. So, declutter and fall in love with your home again.