Did you decide you are going to get rid of some of the excess clutter in your home? This is totally doable and will lead you to more time, more happiness, and an overall sense of feeling good. If you do a quick Google search you’ll find there are many benefits to decluttering your home.
If you made decluttering a goal but you haven’t done any research or know how to get started, you should check out a couple of my previous posts that go over some decluttering basics.
If you have done your research, you have probably found a wide variety of methods and opinions for how to declutter your home. The truth is there isn’t a single solution that works for everyone, if there were, nobody would have clutter!
Here are a few pointers to help you find the method that works best for you, your family, and your home.
Where to get started in your home?
I have read about a variety of different ways on how to get started with your decluttering project. Some people recommend starting at the entryway of your home and moving throughout your house as a guest would. I have read others who recommend starting in your closet or some other place you use on a daily basis. The way I see it, there isn’t a perfect place to start. You need to consider your home as a whole and think about why you decided to declutter in the first place. Is there a specific area in your home that has been driving you crazy? Is there a room in your home that you need to reinvent? Whatever the space may be, this might be the perfect place to get started. The reason being-you are bothered by this space so you have more of a motivation to get started and to complete the project. The act of decluttering creates a snowball effect, the more you get rid of, the better you feel, and the easier each additional project gets.
What to do with the clutter?
It is super easy to box up the clutter that you find and just move it to a quiet corner of your home. But clutter is clutter no matter where it is. Make sure you have a plan for removing the clutter from your home. Assigning boxes to go to different donation centers or checking with friends who might need something are quick ways to find a new home for your unwanted belongings. The most important part is actually making sure those items get there. When I first started my entire home decluttering project I made weekly trips to the local donation center if not more. Mark it on your planner or put boxes directly in your car so this is a priority. Taking clutter out of one room and just putting it in another room in your home is not decluttering. You won’t gain the full effects of getting rid of clutter until it is actually gone from your life.
How much should you plan?
You’ll need to find a balance between “winging it” and having a plan when it comes to decluttering. I would recommend taking some time before you start to determine what you think the goal of each room in your home is. This will help you decide the best place to house the items that you own. The main things to remember are that you need to be flexible and you need to work within the space you have.
What should you do if you get overwhelmed?
Decluttering your home can be very rewarding but the process can be stressful, especially when dealing with sentimental items or even just getting overwhelmed with the volume of stuff. If you find yourself getting bogged down or frustrated don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Leave a comment or contact me. I would love to assist you with becoming Happily Decluttered!
Great post, Suzanne! I also find that having a glass of wine helps when I start feeling overwhelmed . . . 🤣🌞🤣
Haha! Love it😁
Thanks Suzanne. Where to start is always a good question. I find it works well to tackle high traffic & high use areas first. But sometimes, I just stand in a room and the mess bugs me so I start there.
I agree with what you said about there being no single method that works for everyone. Some people swear by the Marie Kondo “rip off the band aid and get it done” method. I know that if I needed to plan a multi-day decluttering event, it would never happen.
Yeah. Getting a whole house done all at once isn’t an option for most people. My first major project took several months. I did enough each week to keep up momentum and notice changes but I didn’t overwhelm myself or have any major impacts to my normal daily responsibilities.
It’s always good to make some space, adds on comfort and improves the general look. This is helpful, thanks.
I’m glad you found it helpful. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Welcome.
Some people find it so hard. My brother is like that. I always think if you are not using the item at all then that’s a good indication.
That is definitely a good indication that it is time to let something go!
My husband is one of those people too who find it difficult to get rid of things. He likes to keep things around “just in case”.