Declutter tips for a more livable home

Everyone wants to have a home that feels comfortable, so declutter tips are worthwhile. Clutter can get in the way of having a livable home. When the clutter makes it hard to move around, that is cause for concern. Even if you just have a little clutter, you can always strive to be more organized.

Start by getting rid of trash around your home. Trash can make rooms look more cluttered and there is no reason to keep it around. Just get a trash bag and go around each room looking for things you can simply throw away. It’s a great way to get started on organizing your home.

Pick a small area to start. You don’t need to clear out your entire basement as the first step in getting organized. Choose something small that doesn’t overwhelm you, like a drawer, to begin. Before you know it, you’ll be on the next little thing. Small changes add up quickly. 

As you organize put things into four categories: trash, give away/donate, sell or keep. Make tough decisions. Be brutal in what you decide to get rid of in your organizing. Avoid keeping things for sentimental reasons or in case you might need it in the future. Categorize things objectively. If you can’t make these decisions on your own, ask a family member or close friend to help you. Let them know ahead of time that you want them to be objective. 

Realize that what you think has value might not have value to others. Sometimes it is easier to donate things rather than to try and sell them, and you get the tax deduction.

Go paperless whenever possible. Most bills can be sent to you electronically. Avoid paper clutter by stopping it before it ever reaches your door.

Everything in your home needs a place where it can be put away. This might be the most important of declutter tips. If you don’t have space for it, either get rid of it, or get rid of something else to make space for it.

Don’t hold onto things simply for the next generation of kids or grandchildren. Ask them if they want the items and give them away now. You might find out the hard truth that old furniture that has meaning to you, doesn’t appeal to them at all. It’s a brutal thing, but better to know now and not have those items collecting dust or taking up precious space.

You don’t have to do everything today. Organizing is a process and not something that happens one day and then it’s over. It’s an ongoing practice that has to be addressed regularly.

Organizing doesn’t have to be perfect either. Your home is where you live and you need to feel happy and comfortable there. If being minimalist is not your thing, don’t try to force it on yourself.

If you find your clutter overwhelming, you might need help. Contact me and we can figure out a course of action that suits your situation.