How to Declutter Your Home
Decluttering your home is always the first and most impactful step in the organizing process. When you declutter before organizing, it not only saves you time, but it allows your organizing system to work more efficiently. This means you can easily find what you need, when you need it, and reduce the stress you feel in your home.
To declutter your home without feeling overwhelmed, let’s start with why you want to declutter in the first place. This can be different for everyone, but the most popular reasons include:
being able to relax in your home
being able to get out the door on time without having to look for keys, shoes, clothes, etc.
inviting friends and family over without feeling embarrassed
having a designated space for your kids’ things or your own projects
Reminding yourself why you want to get started will keep you motivated throughout the process.
Decide where to start to declutter. If you want to invite friends over, start in the entryway and work your way into the living spaces where you usually entertain. If you have a hard time getting ready in the morning, start in your closet or bathroom.
Start by throwing away any trash. Get rid of anything that can be easily discarded.
Take everything out of the space. Do this in sections- think one drawer at a time. Use the clockwise rule, if you can’t decide where to begin decluttering.
Sort into categories: trash, donate, keep, or relocate. It’s best to look at each individual item and decide if it’s worth keeping. Then decide if it belongs in this area.
Be honest with yourself. If you haven’t worn something in a while or haven’t even opened something, will you really ever use it? If you needed this item, would you remember you had it? Or would you purchase another one? Give yourself a deadline to either use it or declutter it by setting a reminder on your phone!
Relocate any items that don’t belong. Do yourself a favor and actually put these items away where you would look for them if you needed them. Don’t leave them in the box! They may never get put away if you don’t do this step now when you have the motivation.
Get rid of your donations. Bring your donation box to your car or take a picture and post for free on Facebook Marketplace. Just don’t drive around with the box in your trunk for weeks. Schedule a time to drop it off at a donation center, or better yet, call to schedule a pick up.
Need more motivation? Play your favorite music, listen to a podcast, or call a friend to come over and help you, then always treat yourself to a reward when you’re done!
Need even more motivation? A professional organizer is the perfect coach and accountability you need to get the job done. We go through all these steps with you, helping you to decide which items need to be decluttered.
Looking for more info on hiring a professional organizer in New Jersey?
