Do you feel overwhelmed by the clutter in your bedroom, living room, or other rooms in your home? Do you feel you have too small of space for all your stuff, but don’t know how to make decisions on what to get rid of? If so, you’re not alone! It’s estimated that more than half of all Americans often feel overwhelmed by their clutter but simply don’t know what to do about it. Fortunately, with just a few decluttering tips, you can get a handle on clutter and clear out your space.
Here are some essential tips—including storage options—to help you declutter and organize.
1. Set Aside Time
Decluttering doesn’t happen on its own! You need to set up time to put toward it. If you’re the type who likes to put in a lot of time and effort and get everything done at once, you can reserve a day or weekend for your decluttering project. If you get overwhelmed easily, it might be a better option to set aside an hour or two each day for a week to accomplish your decluttering goals.
2. Have a Plan
You need to have a plan of action before you start your decluttering project. Maybe step one would be to identify which items can be donated or thrown away, step two is researching storage solutions, and step three is installing storage and putting everything away.
3. Start Sorting
Not sure what to keep and what to donate or discard? A good rule of thumb is to go through your items and identify which you have not used, worn, or needed in the past six months. Unless the reason for not using the item is seasonal, the six-month rule is usually a good indication that you don’t need the item and it can be discarded.
4. Know Where it Will Go
When you’re sorting, you need to identify two things: where the items will go and how they will get there. For example, you may want several large trash bags on hand for items that will go in the dumpster and several large bins for items that you plan to donate.
5. Choose Good Storage Options
Clutter is usually the product of two different issues: too much stuff and not enough storage. You need to address both if you want to keep your space clutter-free. When looking at storage options, consider credenza cabinets, clear bins, metal storage cabinets, under-bed storage bags, and closet organizing solutions.
6. Create a Routine
A one-time decluttering can go a long way, but clutter will inevitably pile up again if you don’t have a routine to address it. Create a schedule that involves regular decluttering and storage of items so you don’t end up with the same problem.
Choosing Storage Solutions to Declutter
Need help finding the right storage solutions for your clutter problem? Consider working with a storage specialist who can help you evaluate your situation and make recommendations for the ideal storage solutions. When you have the right storage space, you can easily keep your room neat, tidy, and clutter-free.