As the year comes to a close, you are probably excited about the prospects of 2021. You may have personal resolutions for your health and well-being, but also goals to make your living spaces more functional and attractive. Decluttering your home is a great way to ring in the new year.
Where to Begin Decluttering Your Home
Organization experts recommend starting your decluttering project in the most cluttered area. Begin by decluttering the messiest space in your home and it will only get easier as you move through the house. The project may seem more manageable if you start with a part of the room, like a bedroom closet or kitchen pantry. Complete all the steps for decluttering your home in one small area, and then move to the next.
Remove All Items From the Space
Once you have decided on an area to start decluttering, remove everything from the space. If it is a bedroom closet, take everything out and lay it on the bed. If it is the kitchen pantry, place all the items on the counter or island so you can easily see what they are. Spreading everything out lets you take stock of your possessions so that you can sort them out.
Sort Items to Keep, Donate, and Throw Away
The point of decluttering your home is to get rid of items you don’t want or need so that your belongings are easier to organize. Once you have everything taken out of the space, sort each item based on whether you’ll keep it, donate it, or toss it. Think about when was the last time you wore or used an item. If you don’t need it, evaluate whether it would be useful to somebody else or if it is just junk. Have a box ready for items to take to the thrift store and a bag for trash. Throw the trash bag out right away and put your donation box in the car for the next time you run errands.
Deep Clean the Area Before Putting Things Back
Take the opportunity to deep clean the area while it is empty. If it is a cupboard or drawers, wipe them out. If it is a closet, clear cobwebs from the walls, get rid of broken hangers, and vacuum the floor. These areas rarely get cleaned because they are full of stuff, so deep clean them thoroughly.
Designate a Place for Everything When Decluttering Your Home
Once you are left with only the useful items that you are keeping, organize them and put them away in a logical fashion. Things that are used more often should be towards the front to be accessible, and less frequently used items can be kept in the back. Most importantly, there should be a designated place for everything, so that it’s easy to keep the space organized.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Decluttering Your Home
- Put things back when you are done using them.
- Continually take stock of your belongings and get rid of things you don’t need.
- Invest in storage solutions for your home.
- Use color-coded bins to keep storage areas organized.
- Buy matching hangers to save space in closets.
In-Depth 360 Home Inspection Services offers home inspection services to the Puget Sound area. Contact us to request an appointment.