Keep these helpful tips for decluttering as these will make your job easier.
Decluttering can be a daunting task, but these helpful tips can make the process more manageable.
Next time you declutter your home, try a few of these decluttering tips to see what works for you.
15 Tips for Decluttering
1. Be intentional – When disposing of unwanted items, it’s important to be deliberate and purposeful.
Being intentional about disposing of unwanted items can help you let go of things that no longer serve a purpose in your life, and create a living space that reflects your current needs and lifestyle.
By taking a deliberate and thoughtful approach, you can create a more functional and efficient living space while also benefiting others and the environment.
2. Keep the clutter away – After decluttering, refrain from online shopping as a means to fill the space you’ve cleared. Avoid impulsive trips to the store for unnecessary bargains.
Instead, focus on purchasing only what you genuinely need. In case you struggle with overspending, take action and seek support to overcome this issue.
3. Clothes and Shoes – Have you taken a look at your wardrobe recently and wondered what clothes and shoes you actually wear? It can be challenging to part with items that we’ve held onto for a long time, but decluttering your closet can help simplify your daily routine and make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
One helpful tip is to throw out clothes and shoes that you haven’t worn in a long time or don’t see yourself wearing in the future. This may be difficult, but it can free up valuable space and make your wardrobe more functional.
To identify the clothes and shoes that you wear regularly, try the “coat hanger trick”. Simply hang all of your clothes with the hangers facing the same direction. After you wear or wash an item, hang the hanger in the opposite direction. At the end of the month, take a look at the clothes that haven’t been turned around. This will give you a clear indication of what you haven’t been wearing and what can be removed from your closet.
Remember, it’s okay to let go of items that no longer serve a purpose in your life. By being intentional about what you keep in your wardrobe, you can create a more streamlined and efficient space. Plus, donating or selling clothes and shoes that are in good condition can benefit others in need.
4. Bags – Do you find yourself accumulating an excessive number of bags? It’s time to evaluate the ones you have and determine which are truly necessary.
Start by decluttering your bag collection and discarding those that are worn out or no longer serve a purpose. This can free up space and make it easier to organize and access the bags that you do use regularly.
To determine which bags you use the most, store them in a designated area and track their usage. After you use a bag, place it in a separate area. This way, you can easily identify which bags you reach for most frequently and which are your favorites.
By keeping only the bags that you use and love, you can simplify your storage space and streamline your daily routine. Plus, it can be a great opportunity to donate any bags that are still in good condition but no longer fit your needs to someone who can benefit from them.
5. Baby items – Keepsakes are an important part of preserving our memories and sentimental value, but it’s easy to get carried away and accumulate too many. To ensure that your keepsakes remain meaningful and well-organized, it’s important to be selective about what you choose to keep.
One effective strategy is to store your keepsakes in a designated container or box, such as a plastic container or a keepsake box. This helps to keep them organized and protected, and also limits the amount of space you have to store them.
If you find that your keepsake collection has outgrown its container, it’s time to reevaluate what you’re keeping. Instead of upgrading to a larger container, take a look at the items you’re storing and determine if they’re all truly necessary to keep. Sorting through your keepsakes can be a difficult process, but it can help you prioritize what’s most important to you and eliminate any items that no longer hold significant value.
By keeping your keepsakes to a minimum and carefully selecting which items to keep, you can create a collection that is both meaningful and manageable. And remember, it’s okay to let go of items that no longer hold sentimental value, as it can help you to focus on the memories that truly matter.
6. Kid’s stuff – Managing the overwhelming amount of artwork, books, and toys that accumulate over the years can be a daunting task. It’s important to be strategic in how you approach decluttering and organizing these items.
One effective method is to start with items that your children have outgrown and no longer use due to their age. These items can be donated or passed on to other families who can benefit from them. For items that are still in use, consider consolidating them into a single container, so that they’re easier to manage and keep track of.
When it comes to artwork and drawings, it can be challenging to know what to keep and what to let go of.
One solution is to create a scrapbook or memory book, where you can store your child’s artwork in a chronological order.
This can be a fun and creative way to preserve memories and look back on your child’s artistic development over time.
However, it’s important to be mindful of the space that the scrapbooks take up. If they start to become too bulky, it may be time to reevaluate what you’re keeping and be more selective about which items you include. Remember, it’s okay to be ruthless when it comes to decluttering, as it can help to create a more manageable and organized living space for your family.
7. Photos – It’s common to accumulate multiple copies of the same photo, which can add to the clutter in your living space and make it more difficult to appreciate your memories. To simplify your photo collection and make it easier to enjoy, it’s important to declutter and organize your photos.
One effective approach is to sort through your photos and select the best ones to keep, discarding any duplicates or low-quality images. Once you’ve narrowed down your collection, consider organizing your photos in albums or other storage systems that can keep them safe and accessible.
By storing your photos in an organized and accessible way, you’ll be able to easily find and enjoy your favourite memories whenever you want to reminisce. Plus, you’ll have more space in your living area and less clutter to distract from the things that truly matter.
8. Books – Do you have books on your shelves that you haven’t read and don’t plan to? Or maybe you’ve read them once but don’t feel the need to read them again? If so, it’s time to declutter your book collection.
Start by identifying the books that you have no intention of reading or using again. These might be books that you’ve lost interest in, books that no longer align with your interests or values, or books that you’ve outgrown.
By removing these books from your collection, you’ll free up space on your shelves and make it easier to focus on the books that you truly enjoy.
When going through your collection, it can be helpful to ask yourself whether you realistically have the time and energy to read all of the books that you’ve accumulated. If you find that you’re unlikely to get around to reading certain books, it may be time to let them go.
By being intentional and selective about the books you keep, you can create a more streamlined and enjoyable reading experience. Plus, you’ll be able to appreciate the books you do have more fully, without being weighed down by unnecessary clutter.
9. Old school stuff – Many of us have a habit of holding onto stationery and books, thinking that we might use them in the future. But if we’re being honest, how often do we actually put these items to use?
To declutter your home and free up space, start by sorting through your stationery and books. See if you can use what you already have next year if your kids are still in school. Consider selling books in good condition but say goodbye to outdated or unlikely-to-be-used books.
By decluttering your stationery and books, you’ll create more space in your home and reduce the amount of clutter you have to manage. Plus, you’ll be able to focus on the items that you truly need and use, rather than being weighed down by unnecessary items.
10. Knickknacks – Do you have unnecessary knickknacks or things on surfaces?
Let go of the ones you no longer need or like, while cherishing the memories.
Avoid filling the space with new things, as you likely have enough already by keeping only what is significant and meaningful to you.
11. Furniture – It’s worth considering if any of your furniture is serving primarily as storage rather than its intended purpose. If you find that you have excess furniture that is merely taking up space and collecting clutter, it’s time to evaluate whether you truly need it.
Take, for instance, a coffee table. Take a look at what’s on it. Are these items necessary or can they be placed elsewhere or even disposed of? Also, consider if the coffee table is being used for its original purpose. If not, perhaps removing it would create a clearer and more spacious area.
It’s essential to remember that we are striving to eliminate clutter, not store it. Therefore, take a good look at any furniture that is being used primarily for storage and decide if it’s worth keeping or if it’s time to let it go. By clearing out unnecessary furniture, you may even create more space for other items that truly deserve a spot in your home.
12. Tools – Do you have multiple tools that serve the same purpose?
Consider whether you really need all of them. While opinions on how many tools one needs may differ between genders, having an overflowing toolbox is unnecessary.
I recommend keeping a few essential tools accessible in your home, while storing the rest in a single toolbox in your garage.
13. Do not jump in and do it all at once – Dumping all your belongings in the middle of the room may seem like an easy way to start decluttering, but it’s not a practical or efficient approach.
This method will leave you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, and you’ll likely end up rushing through the process, leaving some items untouched.
Instead, take a step-by-step approach, starting with one area or category of items at a time. This way, you can focus on each section of the room and declutter it properly without feeling overwhelmed. It’s important to finish one area before moving onto another to avoid leaving half-finished jobs and creating more clutter.
Take your time, and don’t rush the process. Set realistic goals for each day or week and stick to them. By gradually decluttering your space, you’ll be able to make better decisions about what to keep, donate, or discard. In the end, you’ll have a more organized and stress-free living space.
14. Being over-sentimental – When we hold onto items solely for sentimental reasons, we can become stagnant in the decluttering process. It can be difficult to let go of items that hold emotional significance, but sometimes it’s necessary to move forward and make room for new experiences and memories.
It’s important to recognize that while these sentimental items may bring back fond memories, they are not the memories themselves. Our memories reside within us and not within the physical items we keep. By letting go of these items, we can create space for new memories and experiences.
It can be helpful to ask yourself why you are holding onto a particular item and what purpose it serves in your life. If it’s merely taking up space and collecting dust, it may be time to let it go. If it holds a deeper emotional significance, consider taking a photo of the item or finding a more practical way to display or use it in your home.
Ultimately, the goal of decluttering is not to get rid of everything, but to create a more intentional and meaningful space. By letting go of the excess and being mindful of what we choose to keep, we can create a space that truly reflects who we are and the life we want to lead.
15. Avoid the “maybe I will use this later” or “just in case” mentality – Adding another container or pile for such items will only create more clutter in the long run. In fact, I have tried this approach myself and found that such items often remain untouched in their containers, taking up valuable space in the garage or linen cupboard for years.
It’s important to resist the temptation to hold on to items that you may not use in the future. Instead, let go of them and get them out of your space entirely.
This way, you can make room for the things that are important and useful to you now. Remember, decluttering is not just about creating more space but also about simplifying your life and reducing stress.
I hope you find these decluttering tips helpful, and feel free to share them with your friends and family who might benefit from them as well.
If you need a refresher on how to start your decluttering journey, don’t hesitate to click on the link provided. Remember that decluttering is not just about organizing your physical space, but also about improving your mental and emotional well-being.
Enjoy the process of simplifying your life and creating a more peaceful and joyful living environment.
Put on some uplifting music or your favourite podcast, and start decluttering!
