Clutter is the bane of every busy homeowner’s existence. Even if you keep a clean house, clutter sometimes seems to crop up overnight. Getting rid of it can feel like an uphill battle. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. You can declutter your home with little time and patience. Here are a few tips to help.
1. Schedule Time to Declutter Your Home
Don’t try to declutter your entire house in one day. You’ll likely get overwhelmed before you accomplish much. Pick one area of your home to focus on, and set aside an hour to focus on that place. Once you’ve decluttered there, move on to the next space. You might start with an entire room or a single cabinet. Choose a spot you can successfully declutter so you’ll stay motivated.
2. Get Organized
Before you start decluttering, take time to sort out what you already have. Sorting will make it easier to get rid of things later. Make a pile for each category. As you go through your things, sort them into three groups: keep, donate/sell, and trash. Throw away the garbage and organize the items you’ll get rid of into two boxes. Create a box for things you’ll donate to charity and put it in your car when it’s full. The other container will hold items you will sell.
3. Declutter Your Home
Just because something has sentimental value doesn’t mean you need to keep it. If you haven’t used it in the last year (or longer), chances are you won’t use it again, so get rid of it! The same goes for clothing. If a piece doesn’t fit or you don’t wear it anymore, donate it to charity or sell it online.
4. Organize
Once you’ve decluttered your space, take a few minutes to put things you will keep back in their place. Having a designated area for each item will help prevent clutter from taking over again.
If you find items that don’t belong, invest in storage containers (baskets, bins, etc.) to hold them. At the same time, organize, group like items together, and label your containers. You’ll find it easier to locate your things when needed.
5. Repeat as Necessary
Decluttering is a process, not a one-time event—so don’t be discouraged if your home isn’t clutter-free after completing these steps once (or even twice). Make time each week to tidy up. Keep at it little by little; eventually, you’ll enjoy a clean, relaxing home.
Clutter doesn’t have to rule your life. Following these simple steps, you can declutter the living spaces and reduce stress in your home.
St. James Home Services offers inspection services in Durham and the surrounding areas of North Carolina. Contact us to schedule an appointment.