One of the many reasons that home and business owners use self-storage is to give them the space to declutter. Self-storage offers a convenient and cost-effective solution for those needing a little breathing room in their home or business premises.
It could be that you simply have too much stuff, or perhaps your home is on the market, and you need to create a great first impression. Whatever the reason, a self-storage unit makes decluttering easy, and if you avoid the mistakes listed below, it is even easier!
Here is our list of the top ten decluttering mistakes to avoid.
Common Decluttering Mistakes to Avoid
If your home, attic, and shed are all starting to creak at the edges, then it is time to declutter!
However, once you decide to declutter, the process can seem daunting, but if you avoid certain common mistakes and follow the advice below, decluttering is as easy as pie!
1. Not Setting Goals
Human nature is such that we only decide to declutter when the problem has grown arms and legs. The temptation is to get just stuck right in and begin the process without any clear plan or goals in mind. This can leave you feeling overwhelmed, and enthusiasm for the project will soon wane!
Set yourself clear and realistic goals that break the project into manageable steps. This could be setting a target to get one room or even just a closet or wardrobe decluttered.
2. Declutter First – Organise Second!
Organising your clutter is something of a wasted exercise. Clutter will remain clutter even after it is organised, so it is sensible to get as clutter-free as possible for tackling the storage and organisation of what is left over.
A self-storage unit can be a great boon when decluttering. This makes organisation easy by freeing up valuable space as you declutter and also as a more permanent storage solution.
3. Don’t be over sentimental
Understandably, certain items have a meaning that goes beyond practicality or financial worth. But it is also true that we can take sentimentality too far and forget that the memories will always remain even if the belongings don’t.
Of course, this doesn’t mean getting rid of everything of sentimental value, not in the slightest. But, try not to go over the top – e.g. that sweater might be the one you wore on the first night of your honeymoon, but will you ever wear it again? And when did you last even look at it?
Self-storage units can allow you a little breathing space here. If you are not sure about whether you can bear to be without something, place it in self-storage until you make up your mind about it.
4. Not involving the family
It can be hard enough to decide what stays and what goes when dealing with your own belongings. But, the problem is far worse when deciding what stays and goes for other family members, and making decisions on their behalf can quickly end in tears.
Make sure to involve the whole family when decluttering, including the children, who can find it distressing when toys and belongings disappear without any warning.
5. Cramming everything into attics or sheds
It is always tempting when decluttering just to move things out of sight into attics or sheds. This might have the effect of giving your home a decluttered feel, but the problem is only shifted, and damp sheds and attics will quickly deteriorate any valuable belongings stored in these conditions.
A self-storage unit is a far more cost-effective storage solution. Not only are they more secure than garden sheds or garages, but they are also dry and clean.
6. Avoid starting with the hardest tasks
As we stated above, fully decluttering a home can be a daunting task. When faced with such a challenge, many people will decide to tackle the biggest tasks first. This can be a mistake!
Start with smaller challenges that can be quickly achieved, and you can soon build up momentum. Starting with larger challenges can quickly dampen any enthusiasm!
7. Putting off getting rid of things
It is all too easy to decide to hang on to clutter for just a while longer. After all, you never know when you might need that twenty-year-old bicycle with the rusty frame again. Once the decision is made to dispose of belongings, make sure that you do it at the first possible opportunity. Not only will this help you to see the effects of all your hard work, but delaying such decisions increases the likelihood that you will rethink the decision entirely.
For items that you aren’t sure about getting rid of, a self-storage unit can provide you some thinking time by allowing you to hang onto belongings until you are certain of their fate!
8. Re-cluttering the declutter
This is an easy one to fall foul off! All that glorious space and airiness that you just magicked up can quickly be filled with clutter again if you aren’t very careful!
Take a photo of each decluttered room when it is looking at its very best. This can provide the impetus to keep on top of things. Clutter has a nasty habit of sneaking up on us! By comparing your perfectly decluttered room with its current condition, you can keep on top of the situation and carry out decluttering on an ongoing basis!
…And relax
Following a few simple rules and avoiding some of the top decluttering mistakes can make decluttering your home or business far easier.
At U Store It, we are here to help. Our cost-effective self-storage units can help you take the strain as you declutter. They can provide plenty of extra storage space as you declutter and can also be used as long-term storage for those items that are too precious to simply dispose of.
And once the job is done, you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour in a bright, airy, decluttered home!
