‘’When life gets too cluttered, we neglect the important things.’’ – Emilie Barnes
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, clutter in the home can slowly collect over time. And once it gets ahead of you, it tends to stay there!
Decluttering is an exercise many people go through to create a visually appealing living space and foster a sense of calm and efficiency. According to studies by USU Extension, decluttering improves mental clarity, quality of life, and problem-solving skills. It also improves mood through the release of endorphins and dopamine hormones.
Once you’ve finished one task, you follow with another until, little by little, you have a more organized, peaceful, and healthy living environment that brings you peace of mind.
Getting ready to declutter
Before diving into decluttering, ask yourself a few simple questions:
- What is important to me?
- What activities take place in my home?
- What are my lifestyle needs?
- How would I like to remember my home?
Based on your honest answers, you can then create a plan to systematically tackle each room one at a time. Establish goals for each space, identifying what needs to be organized, donated, or discarded.
Gather essential decluttering tools such as trash bags, storage bins, labels, and cleaning supplies. Having everything you need on hand streamlines the process, prevents procrastination, and keeps you focused on the task at hand.
Decluttering room-by-room
Every little item in your house needs to have a home. By going from room to room, you’ll be able to determine each room’s purpose and what activities take place in them. This approach will help you categorize which items belong in which room.
Remember, you can’t organize clutter, but you can label each piece as follows:
- Throw it away
- Give it away
- Put it away
So yes, decluttering every room in your home may seem formidable, but with this strategic approach, you can create a more organized and harmonious living space.
Let’s go ahead and tackle decluttering together with these tips broken down by each room:
Living Room
Evaluate your furniture arrangement
Take a critical look at the furniture arrangement in your living room. Remove unnecessary pieces that make the space feel crowded to make it more inviting.
Implement a one-in, one-out approach
For every new item you bring into the living room, consider letting go of an existing one. This strategy helps maintain a balance and prevents unnecessary accumulation that leads to clutter.
Invest in storage solutions
Utilize stylish storage solutions such as ottomans with hidden compartments or built-in shelving units to house items such as remote controls, magazines, and toys when not in use.
Kitchen
Organize pantry and cabinets
Sort through your pantry and cabinets, discarding expired items and donating unopened non-perishables you won’t use. Use clear containers for better visibility, organization, and accessibility.
Declutter countertops
Keep countertops clutter-free by storing only essential appliances and utensils. Store the rest in cabinets or drawers to create a streamlined and functional kitchen workspace.
Minimize kitchen tools
Assess your kitchen tools and gadgets to determine which you frequently use. Donate or discard items you rarely need to declutter drawers and countertops and make cooking more enjoyable.
Tackle Tupperware chaos
Organize your Tupperware cabinet by matching containers with their corresponding lids. Invest in stackable containers to maximize storage space and maintain order. Consider discarding old or mismatched tubs.
Create a meal-planning system
Reduce food waste by designing a meal planning system that ensures you only purchase what you need. This approach also helps keep the kitchen free from unnecessary boxes, bags, and containers of food.
Bedroom
Consider donating clothing items
Evaluate your clothing, shoes, and accessories, keeping only those items you truly wear and love. Donate or sell items that no longer serve you. Also, consider seasonal rotations to maintain a streamlined closet.
Use under-bed storage
Maximize space by keeping storage containers designed to be stored under the bed. You can use the containers for storing out-of-season clothing, extra bedding, or sentimental items.
Limit decorative items
A clutter-free bedroom promotes better sleep and relaxation. Limit the number of decorative items on nightstands, dressers, and other surfaces to maintain a serene and calm atmosphere.
Bathroom
Declutter vanity and cabinets
Dispose of expired toiletries and medications. Organize the remaining items in designated under-sink storage containers or baskets to make the most of vertical space.
Install wall-mounted storage
If space is limited, consider installing wall-mounted shelves or cabinets to help free up floor and counter space and keep essential items easily accessible.
Clear surfaces
Use storage solutions like baskets or trays to hold smaller items like cosmetics and grooming tools for visually appealing and easy-to-clean bathroom surfaces.
Home office
Digitize documents
Scan and digitize essential documents to prevent paper clutter, and consider shredding and recycling old paper documents. Store digital documents in organized folders on your computer or the cloud.
Set up a cable management system
Tackle the mess of cables and cords by using organizers or clips to keep them neatly bundled. Managing your cables this way reduces visual clutter and makes your workspace easier to clean and maintain.
Optimize furniture placement
Arrange furniture in a way that promotes productivity and functionality. Keep only the items you need for work within arm’s reach to avoid unnecessary distractions.
Remember that decluttering is an ongoing process, so maintaining the organization you’ve established will require consistent effort. However, the benefits of a clutter-free home and the sense of peace and tranquillity that comes with it are well worth it!
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