Americans spend about $1000 a year storing clutter.
Even if you don’t pay for a storage unit, clutter has a negative impact on your life. Instead of your home becoming the welcoming sanctuary you deserve, it becomes another chore on your list and another stress in your day.
So how can you declutter your home so you feel in charge and in control?
These simple tips will put you on the right path.
Why Are You Holding On?
Some clutter shows up in our lives and just stays there, especially pieces that have sentimental value.
It’s okay to learn to let these things go and create a clutter-free home.
First, you need to realize why you’re hanging on to them. As Marie Kondo puts it, does it spark joy? Is it a happy memory that you’re holding on to? Or do you just feel bad about throwing out Christmas cards?
Let’s address that first. When you’re loved ones send you cards, letters, or gifts, they hope to bring a smile to your face. They never want you to feel obligated to hold on to something that doesn’t make you happy anymore.
If that’s why you’re still holding on, perhaps send your loved one a thank you note that tells them you appreciate their gift. Then let it go. You’ll feel more relief and gratitude for expressing your thanks and by getting rid of something that stresses you out.
If you really want to hold on to something like a card, you can check out these ideas to upcycle old cards so they’re as useful as they are beautiful.
If you’re holding on to something because it’s associated with a happy memory, honor it. Get a display or shadow box and get creative. How can you stylize your memorabilia in a way that gives it the respect it deserves?
Make Sure Everything’s Place is Practical
Undoubtedly you know everything in your home needs to have its own place. But if that place isn’t practical, your best organizational efforts won’t last long.
For example, maybe you neatly stack all of your pots inside each other in the cabinet. It looks so pretty when it’s done!
But you love to make big batches of pasta and soups, so you’re always digging out the biggest pot on the bottom. When you’re done cooking a big meal, it’s a lot of effort to put it back underneath all of those other pots.
It’s not practical for your lifestyle.
Instead, maybe put your favorite pot on an open shelf, or find another place where it can be easily accessed – and more importantly, easily replaced.
Pro Tip: Containers Make All Clutter Look Organized
Let’s say when you come home; you throw your keys, wallet, and bag on the end table next to the door. That’s clutter.
But when you add a decorative catch-all bowl for your keys, wallet, and bag, that’s organization.
The same thing applies to all areas of your home. If you have people take off shoes in the mudroom, you can store shoes in a big wicker laundry basket instead of scattered across the floor. They’re not matched. It takes two seconds to clean up, but it looks neat and organized anyway.
Throw Something Out Every Day
When you’re working on decluttering your home and your life, you may want to do a massive purge going room by room. This is definitely an effective way to do things, but you may face burn out quickly, especially if there’s a lot to tackle.
Instead, throw out three things every day. You can clean out the junk drawer, toss out food in the pantry that’s past its use-by date, or toss out magazines that you know deep down you’re not going to get around to reading.
Get a Toss Box When You’re Not Quite Sure
Often we hold on to things “just in case” we may someday need them. They just turn into clutter that jams up our lives.
If you’re holding on to something that you’re worried you might need, put it in a Toss Box or bag. Seal it up, and store it somewhere where you know where to find it. If you do end up needing that item again, you know where to find it. If not, toss the box after a month without looking in it.
Remember This is Your Life
A lot of decluttering or minimalist guides will give you long declutter your home checklists. They’ll recommend you throw out books, unfinished projects, old DVDs, or something similar and switch to digital copies.
But remember this is your life. When you’re decluttering, keep in mind the kind of space you want to create around you. If you love movies and value keeping physical copies, don’t throw them out! If you’re an avid reader, there’s no reason you need to clear your bookshelf – even if it’s overflowing.
Your space should be comforting to you. And if that means you have ten pillows on your couch or books on every spare surface, it is not clutter if it makes you happy.
Choosing to Declutter Your Home Should Help You Live a Better Life
When you declutter your home, keep two things in mind. You’re decluttering to create a space that you enjoy being in, and you’re decluttering to help you create an easier life.
If your organization isn’t practical, you won’t stick to it. And if decluttering means you have to throw out things you love, it’s not worth it.
Want to know the best way to relax, unwind, and de-stress? Check out our guide here.