Clearing the Clutter: Where to Start
Decluttering your home can feel like a massive project that intimidates you into quitting before you’ve even started. Although tackling the clutter may seem like an overwhelming challenge, here’s a little secret to getting the decluttered home of your dreams: you just need to start.
Organizing and decluttering your home can be a very personal journey - we get that! You have to consciously get rid of items that do not bring value to your home, and to do this in every room of your home can seem daunting. But, hiring a professional organizer may not be the way you want to use your budget - we get that too!
Thankfully, you do not have to be a professional to get professional-looking results. You just need a few pointers to get your momentum going!
First, what is clutter?
Clutter is an instant energy drain. When your items don’t have a place to go, you’ll find yourself spending more time sifting through things just to find what you want. A house full of clutter, which is anything you keep around that doesn’t add value to your life, only adds to your stress level.
Relieve some of that stress and take back your space! The most important rule is to just start doing it. Start small and work your way up to areas that seem extremely intimidating (the garage) or emotionally charged (your kids’ baby clothes).
Tackle the least sentimental area in your home first.
What do we mean by that? If you are struggling with the major task of having to declutter and get rid of items, starting with your child’s kindergarten mementos may not be the best place. In fact, let's save that part for last.
Start with an area (preferably a small one) that has little to no sentimental value. Maybe your junk drawer? Or under the kitchen sink? Tackle small, simple projects in your home before moving onto the bigger, harder projects. Going through something as trivial as a junk drawer may seem silly, but it’s going to be a lot easier to let go of the 30th pen you find than it will be to let go of the outfit you wore to your baby shower. Sentimentality plays a huge role in clutter, so finding the items that truly hold value is key, but letting go is equally important.
Organizing your home in sections will make the process smoother.
Once that organizing bug hits you, you may want to tackle the whole house! Word to the wise: hold your horses! Clutter and disorganization can quickly take a toll on your mental health. For this reason, organizing in sections will give you breathing space throughout the process.
You won’t lose momentum, trust us! If anything, once you tackle one room, tackling the rest of the house won’t feel so bad. Just take it slow so you don’t get lost in your decluttering madness! When you follow your plan (we’ll get to that a little later), your decluttering process may take longer than a professional organizer might have, but you’ll feel satisfied as you discover more space and less stuff along the way.
Can we take a second to say how proud of you we are for doing this huge task on your own?!
Get rid of trash or donations immediately.
It can be tempting to let your items sit in a pile to the side that you’ll take care of after you’ve organized your entire home. But putting those boxes in the corner of the garage or in the back of your trunk is just another way to procrastinate in completing your decluttering process.
When you dispose of the items, it helps to clear the clutter - physically, emotionally, and visually in your space. Once these areas open up and you can see them without the clutter, it becomes a breath of fresh air!
Follow some easy steps to see you through to the end.
At The Orderly Space, we use a systematic approach and unique methods of tackling each organization project with our clients. We tailor our approaches to fit them perfectly, but you can follow simple, universal steps that will ensure your decluttering project does not turn into a physical and emotional fail.
Step 1: Set Realistic Goals. Write them down, map out your rooms, and focus on doing one space/room at a time. Set completion dates and plan time to work on your project.
Step 2: Create a sorting system. Make use of the “Three Box Method” - Keep, Get Rid Of, or Put in Storage.
Step 3: Get rid of that clutter. Find ways to donate, recycle, or sell your items that no longer add value to your home. Some items may be worth selling, while others have run their course.
Step 4: Find new homes for everything. Invest in your new space with some great tools that will keep clutter from returning. At The Orderly Space, we love bin clips, felt bins, and multi-purpose bins for keeping everything organized.
Enjoy the process.
Yes, decluttering is stressful. Yes, it can feel like a massive project when you first set out. But, with a little plan of action and a lot of gumption, you can easily transform your home into an organized oasis. Starting the project will always be the hardest part, but once you get going and work your way through your home, you will find immense satisfaction in a job well done.
We can’t wait to see what your DIY decluttering looks like!
