If you find yourself saying “I need to declutter and organise my home”, then now is the right time to do so. No time like the present is what I always say!
To declutter and organise your home can be as simple as you choose to make it, but it does require strategic thinking and careful planning. Without a plan, it is hard to move forward. There are a couple of golden rules to an uncluttered home: a place for everything and everything in the right place, and to only have in your living space that which you need, use, and love. Everything else is just ‘extra’ and can either be disposed of in one of several ways, or placed somewhere that does not clutter up your home. Remember, less is more. A cluttered home can look chaotic and can cause exhaustion, as our senses cannot cope with the amount of ‘things to look at’. It really is as simple as that.
Firstly, I always recommend that you prepare yourself for things looking worse before they get better. Once you realise that, you can forge forward. I always suggest that you start room by room, area by area. As much as it would be lovely to have a holding space where you can bring things in, create categories and work through systematically, very few people are blessed with the space to do this. However, strategically speaking, it is necessary to create categories which make it easier for you in the long run. For instance, if you take, say, a spare bedroom that is full of stuff, create a list of categories and then create ‘piles’ of that category. For example, quite often I find myself clearing a drawer. I put all the items onto a clear surface, items placed together, and then I work through each ‘pile’ in turn, discarding as I go, anything that is no longer required. In some cases, an item might not belong in said drawer, so having a bag that you can use to move any ‘bits and bobs’ you find to the right room is helpful.
In fact, I am currently working with a client, and if, say, we come across things that belong in the kitchen, then those items get put into the kitchen (whether the kitchen is full or not). We are still only working on one room, but we are putting like for like together, with a plan that we will work through that other room on a different day.
This client’s apartment is full, so it is a case of ‘keep calm and carry on’. All the ‘stuff’ has been placed in various places in the apartment, but not necessarily the right places, due to lack of space. So, things like makeup, for instance, can be found not only in bedrooms, but also in the bathroom and living room – anywhere that space is still available.
I find this a common theme in clients’ homes. But the truth is this: if you find you have more ‘stuff’ than you have room for, it is only natural that once a room is full, you will find another room to put that ‘stuff’ in. Of course, that then means you will find yourself forgetting about things that you can no longer find (as they are not in the logical place) and then buying them again – see, decluttering can save you money in the long run! Remember one of the golden rules: like with like, and a place for everything. There are logical places for most things, if you give it some thought.
As I say, start by room.
Make sure you have the right ‘tools’ with you. This may include box cutters for any unopened boxes, bin bags for items that can be chucked, and bags for charity donations. If you plan to try and sell items, then I suggest you find a box to place these items in, and make sure it’s clearly labelled. Labelling is key, because if you have a heap of bags and no idea what’s in them, it is easy to get yourself in a pickle and lose the energy to continue. Remember this: if you want to declutter and organise your home, you must be prepared.
It is important to keep yourself thoroughly hydrated too – decluttering is thirsty work! And if you need a break, take one. Timers are also a good tool. I often use my phone to keep me on track, so using one whilst decluttering makes sense. That way, you keep yourself on target and don’t get distracted – especially if you come across items you have not seen for some time, or which evoke memories. It is easy to get over involved and lose focus on what you want to achieve. If I am in the room, I make sure my clients do not get distracted, as we could lose valuable time.
Keep asking yourself the question, “do I really need this stuff?” Many of my clients have browsed charity shops and come back with knick-knacks that are not really needed. These can quickly fill your home and make it look cluttered, and therefore overwhelming. Try and avoid the ‘browsing’ shopping sprees and only shop for that which you need. We all make shopping lists for our food, but when it comes to other types of shopping we tend to go out without purpose, and often find ourselves with an item of clothing that was never on the list… or is that just me?
Remember too that gifting is a great way to ‘let go.’ Letting go can be hard, especially if you convince yourself that an item may be needed in the future. This is the most common reason for clutter. That, and “I will fix that later”. Be truthful with yourself. Are you actually going to fix that thing? Or can the item you are clinging on to be easily and inexpensively replaced?
Giving to charitable causes is heart-warming and the charities will benefit from your generosity. After all, if you don’t want something anymore, it makes sense to give it away.
When it comes to selling (which is popular these days) be honest and ask yourself what the item is really worth? If it is worth very little, then using your valuable time listing and liaising with buyers is exhausting – far better you give it away. If it really is valuable, then it may make sense to contact an Auctioneer to handle the sale for you.
If you feel the time is now to declutter and organise your home, then go for it! A growing movement of people who want ‘less, not more’ and realising that a simple life is theirs for the taking, is gathering momentum. These people are moving towards having very little, but are happier for it. Minimalism is not just about a more streamlined home, it is about streamlining your entire life, so that you can focus on all the fun stuff that life has to offer!
Beth X