Over time, it’s easy for your belongings to pile up and create clutter in your home. It can often be so gradual that you don’t even notice until it’s too cluttered to ignore. At that point, you know it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work, but you may not know where to start when decluttering your home. Here is your comprehensive step-by-step guide for decluttering your house.
Step 1: Decide on Your Declutter Project
Your first step is deciding which space of your home you’ll declutter first. Is it the kids’ playroom that is overflowing with toys? Is it the garage that’s chock-full of bikes, gardening tools, and more? Is it something as small as the junk drawer in your kitchen?
Figure out which room or space you’ll start with. When making that decision, think about what you can realistically manage in terms of your time and your comfort level. If you don’t have the time to tackle a whole room or if the prospect seems too stressful, start with a smaller area like a drawer or your closet.
Step 2: Assess the Space
Once you’ve decided which area you’ll declutter, you need to take a look at it in its current state. How are you using the space? What is it meant for? Are you using it for its actual purpose? How would you like it to look and function? Asking yourself these questions as you assess the space will help you figure out how you want to proceed with the decluttering process.
Step 3: Make a Plan of Action
Next, you’ll need to create a plan of action. If you start sorting through things at random, you’ll find yourself feeling overwhelmed and stressed in no time. A plan of action will help you stay focused and organized. Write out a list of steps you want to follow in the order you want to complete them. If you’re enlisting a friend or family member to help you, write out the tasks that each of you will perform so that you both know exactly what to do.
Step 4: Sort Your Items into Dedicated Piles
As you go through your belongings, you should sort them into three distinct piles. One pile should be for the things you want to keep, one should be for items that you can throw away, and the last should be for items you wish to donate. To make the decision process easier, ask yourself some of these questions:
- Do you like this object?
- Do you use it?
- Is it practical?
- Does it add value to your life?
- Will you maintain it if you keep it?
- Would you buy it now if you saw it?
Answering these questions honestly should help you figure out which pile the item belongs in.
Step 5: Put Everything Where It Needs to Go
After you’ve sorted everything into the right piles, the next step is putting everything where it needs to go. You’ll need to find the right spots for all the objects in the “Keep” pile in the space you were decluttering. The items in the “Trash” pile can head straight to the dumpster.
Finally, the items in the “Donate” pile can go to a charity near you. With charitable organizations all around the country, you should have no trouble finding one in your region; all it will take is a little online research. If you’re in Houston, be sure to search charity drop-off locations in Houston.
Step 6: Enjoy Your Clutter-Free Space
The last – and most enjoyable – step is enjoying your newly decluttered space. Sit back, relax, and soak in the rewards of your hard work!
Decluttering your home can feel like a tall task, but with the help of this handy step-by-step guide, the process can be made much easier. In no time at all, you’ll be cleaning your space, clearing your mind, and levelling up your home.
