Summer is the ideal time for a good decluttering of your personal effects. It’s not always easy to decide what you want to keep and what should go, but there are a few general rules when you go about tidying and decluttering.
Keep reading to find out the best ways to declutter your personal space and sort out your belongings in an efficient manner so that you don’t keep hold of things that you don’t really need.
Decide on your goals
Whichever space you’re organising (your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, or closet), only after you’ve visualised your end goal should you begin. Having a goal in mind will help you decide what to keep and what to throw away, as you’ll know how you want the finished space to look like.
There are a few things you should consider before you start. Firstly, think about what you want to use the space for. Then, consider what layout or look you want. For example, do you have a plan for all of the items in the space? Are you going to have some things on display, and what will those items be? Do you want storage boxes that are clearly labelled and colour-coded?
It’s important to be realistic and consider the space that you have available. If, for example, you’re sorting out your kitchen, it might be that you just don’t have an adequate amount of space on your countertop to have all of the items you want. When you’re deciding how to organise your belongings, always bear in mind the storage space available. If you plan ahead, you’ll find the whole process to be a much smoother operation.
Don’t buy on impulse
If you know that you’re going to undertake a decluttering mission, decide beforehand that you won’t buy anything new a few weeks before starting. This is a great way to save money but also to stop you from cluttering up your space even further.
Also, it’s not unusual to unearth things during the decluttering process that you had forgotten about. It could be that the item you’re thinking of buying already exists somewhere in your home, but you’ve just forgotten about it. So, to prevent buying things unnecessarily, you should hold off on any purchases until you’ve finished your decluttering mission, and only then should you buy things that you absolutely need.
Prepare in advance and make a schedule
There are people who love cleaning and find the entire process enjoyable and even therapeutic, but let’s face it, for most, it’s a chore, especially when it comes to decluttering on a large scale.
So that you maximise this process in its entirety and not get bored and give up halfway through, do not expect things to get done in record time. Maybe clean your closet one evening and then sort the pantry the next. Choose a reasonable and achievable schedule that suits you and stick to it.
Love it or leave it?
When you’re trying to decide what you want to keep and what you want to discard, you’ll need to ask yourself a few questions. Think about whether or not the item serves a useful purpose and is used regularly. If you haven’t used it in over a year, then the chances are you don’t actually need it at all. This is not to say that you can’t keep things that don’t serve a purpose, of course. For other items, you should think about why you have held on to them for so long. Is it something you really love, or are you being over nostalgic? Does it improve your life in any way?
To help you through this process, consider making two different piles – one pile you’ll keep and one you’ll throw away. There isn’t a rule on what to keep or not; this is for you to decide as the value of an item is subjective, depending on several personal factors. Whatever you choose to discard, make sure you dispose of things in a responsible way. If things can be recycled or donated to charity, even better.
Use your storage space wisely
If you live in a small space like an apartment, your storage space is probably limited.
Think about utilising the space you already have in a creative and effective manner by hanging storage organisers, using overhead bins, or hidden drawers. Remember, you’re not limited to the confines of closets or cabinets either. You can often display items in your living space or use them creatively!
Even if you’re fortunate to have a lot of storage space available, don’t decide to accumulate stuff just because you can, this will only delay the problem and make it more difficult to declutter things in the future.
Donate anything you no longer want or need
You know how the saying goes; one person’s trash is another one’s treasure. Simply put, if you decide to get rid of something from your home, it doesn’t mean it’s designed for landfill. There’s always a good chance that someone else will find those items useful – especially if you’re donating them. Anything that’s in good, useable condition will be gladly welcomed by other people. So, whenever you decide to declutter your space, have in mind that you can donate accessories, clothes and other items you no longer need.
What’s next
It’s normal to find it difficult to throw things away, even more so if you’ve had something for a long time. If there are certain items that you can’t bear to part with, there’s a great solution to help ensure your home is kept clutter-free. Consider using a self-storage unit to safely store any of your belongings that you can’t throw away but don’t need to keep in your home.
For further information on home self-storage rental, just give us a call, and we’ll happily find you a budget-friendly and suitable solution for your needs.
