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How to Declutter Your Home: Transforming Chaos into Calm

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by

theodorekorstanje
in ,

Imagine waking up in the morning, and instead of stumbling over a pile of toys, everything is in its place. This isn’t a scene from a dream but the reality you can create for yourself and your family when you learn how to declutter your home.

Among the demands of childcare and work, maintaining an organized home can seem like a distant dream. But what if we told you that with the right approach, it’s attainable. Decluttering is more than tidying up. It’s a path to reclaiming your time, your space, and, more importantly, your peace of mind.

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The Emotional and Mental Toll of Clutter

The essence of a home goes beyond its walls and decor; it’s the energy, the atmosphere, and the emotions it evokes. As homemakers, you invest your time and heart into creating a space that resonates with warmth and love. In the whirlwind of daily responsibilities, clutter can creep in. Before you know it, what was once a haven can feel chaotic and overwhelming.

It’s not just about aesthetics. Multiple studies have highlighted the adverse effects of clutter on our mental well-being. A cluttered environment can lead to worse moods, decreased focus, and anxiety. 

For stay-at-home parents, this is especially concerning. The home is not just a place of rest but a hub of activities ranging from childcare to work. When your environment is cluttered, the mental load becomes even heavier.

Children bring joy, laughter, and, yes, tons of clutter! Toys, art supplies, clothing, and school materials. These items, though cherished, can quickly accumulate and become sources of disarray. 

Decluttering is not about stripping your home of possessions but curating them. It’s about making deliberate choices on what to keep. This creates spaces that reflect and nurture your family’s needs and aspirations. 

An organized environment looks appealing, and can reduce the daily stress of searching for items or navigating through piles of stuff. By understanding and addressing clutter, you pave the way for a more peaceful home life.

Setting Your Decluttering Goals

It’s easy to become overwhelmed when thinking of how to declutter, especially when every corner is calling for attention. That’s why setting clear goals is the first step to a successful decluttering journey.

Goals act as your North Star, guiding you through the decluttering process. They ensure you stay focused and motivated. Without a clear objective, you risk aimlessly tidying up with no real progress.

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. The key is to start small. Don’t aim to declutter your entire home in one go. An initial goal could be to create an organized space for your kids’ toys or to declutter the kitchen countertops. These small victories provide immediate satisfaction and build momentum for larger tasks.

Examples of Decluttering Goals:

Streamlined Wardrobe: Reduce the amount of clothes hanging in your closet so that there’s only essential items you regularly wear.

Organized Pantry: Picture a pantry full of well-organized essentials where you know exactly where everything is.

Sorted Bookshelves: Imagine a bookshelf showcasing all of your favorite books with no wasted space.

Non-Chaotic Toyroom: Envision walking into a toyroom that only contains a handful of your children’s favorite toys.

Your decluttering journey is personal. While these examples can serve as inspiration, it’s essential to mold your goals to what resonates with your needs. Take a moment to jot down areas in your home that need the most attention or spaces you dream of transforming. These notes will become the foundation of your decluttering plan.

Creating a Personalized Decluttering Plan

With your goals in sight, the next step is crafting a plan tailored to your unique circumstances. An effective plan strikes a balance between ambition and reality. This ensures that you’ll make consistent progress without feeling overwhelmed.

Decluttering your entire home might seem like scaling Mount Everest. But, when broken down into smaller tasks, it becomes a series of manageable hikes. 

Marie Kondo calls this whole process a “tidying festival“. There’s a specific strategy she uses to make decluttering easier. Instead of going through everything room by room, try decluttering object by object.

She recommends starting with your clothes, then moving through your possessions until you’re eventually sorting your sentimental objects. By dividing the task you’ll build momentum as you declutter throughout your house.

For those with children, decluttering can also be a learning opportunity. Younger kids can sort toys by category. Older ones can help with categorizing books or clothes. It’s a dual win – you get helping hands, and they pick up valuable organizational skills.

Your plan should serve as a guideline, not a rigid timeline. Adjust as needed, and remember to celebrate the progress you make, no matter how small.

How to Declutter Your Home By Sorting Your Stuff

As you begin decluttering, addressing each room can make the process less daunting. Here, we provide an object specific breakdown for how to declutter.

Clothes:

Clothes are one of the biggest sources of clutter for most people.

While you don’t need to leave yourself a capsule wardrobe, consider getting rid of any clothes that you don’t wear regularly. You can get your family involved here by asking everyone to pick a few pieces of clothing they’re willing to part with.

Also, once you’ve winnowed down your wardrobe, consider adopting the one-in, one-out rule. For every new item you buy, donate or discard an old one.

Once you’re decluttered, start using organizers for accessories, shoes, and undergarments to keep everything better sorted.

Toys:

Toys can be tough because they’re not exactly yours. Still, if your kids have a ton of toys they no longer touch, they will hopefully be alright with you donating a good amount of them.

You can follow the same rules outlined above for clothes. Work with your kids to get rid of any toys they no longer play with. Once again, this is a great learning opportunity for your children to learn how to declutter themselves!

Once everything’s sorted, consider investing in some toy storage strategies to keep things better organized. Tidying up toys can also be a great chore chart idea for younger kids!

Books:

Go through all the bookshelves in your house and get rid of:

  • Books you’ve already read and don’t plan on reading again
  • Books you know you’re never going to read

This should leave you with a tighter collection of books you plan on reading, as well as a couple of favorites! Of course, go through this same process with your kids’ books as well.

Kitchenware/Pantry Items:

Think about what dishes and cookware your family regularly uses. Odds are you have far too many things like mugs, or pieces of random cookware (speaking from experience here).

Once everything’s decluttered, organize items by frequency of use. Seasonal or seldom-used items can be stored on higher shelves. Meanwhile, daily-use items should be easily accessible.

When it comes to food, toss or donate things you know nobody in your family is ever going to eat. Make this a regular habit to keep your fridge and pantry well-organized. Once you’re organized, consider using clear containers to store grains, cereals, and snacks. Also, label everything for easy identification.

Knick-Knacks & Sentimental Items:

Think about all the little objects scattered around your house that don’t serve any real purpose. If you want a truly clutter-free house, I recommend being ruthless with this kind of item. Only keep a handful of things that you feel really represent your personality, and chuck the rest.

When it comes to sentimental items, this is probably the toughest stuff to get rid of. That’s exactly why Kondo recommends saving it for last. You will have hopefully built up enough momentum to clear some of it out. Only keep the things that still truly spark joy, and gratefully let go of the rest.

And voila! You’re all decluttered.

Post-Decluttering: Organizing for Efficiency

Once you’ve figured out how to declutter your home, it’s time to start organizing. While decluttering is about removing excess and distractions, organizing ensures that what remains is accessible and well placed. A well-organized home reduces the time and effort required for daily tasks. This will leave you with more moments to cherish with your family.

Having a specific place for every item in your home is the cornerstone of organization. When everything has its designated spot, daily cleanup becomes a breeze. Also, the chance of misplacing items decreases!

Start by considering some alternative storage solutions like:

  • Vertical Storage: Make use of wall space. Think floating shelves or pegboards. These can free up floor and counter space while keeping essentials within arm’s reach.
  • Under-the-Bed Storage: Consider using flat bins to store clothing, shoes, or other items. This often-underutilized space can be a hidden gem for storage.
  • Furniture with Built-in Storage: Invest in furniture that serves multiple purposes. This includes ottomans with storage, or beds with drawers. They can be invaluable in homes where space is at a premium.

Remember, efficiency is about more than storage; it’s about flow. Arrange your spaces in a way that makes sense for daily activities. In the kitchen, for instance, ensure that prep tools are near the prep area, and pots and pans are close to the stove.

Also, never underestimate the power of a simple label. In areas like the pantry or storage bins, labels can help identify contents, making access a streamlined process.

Finally, consider Incorporating a quick, daily tidy-up routine. 5-10 minutes a day of returning items to their places can keep clutter at bay and your home organized.

Self-Care and Celebrating Progress

Decluttering and organizing isn’t just about the physical transformation of spaces. It’s deeply intertwined with personal well-being. By creating serene environments, you pave the way for improved mental clarity and happiness.

Research has shown that clutter can increase feelings of stress and anxiety. Conversely, a decluttered and organized space can bring about a sense of calm and focus. For those who prioritize their family’s needs over their own, this can be a real boost to well-being.

Every cleared countertop, organized drawer, and decluttered room is a step towards achieving your larger goal. Celebrate these milestones, no matter how small. Maybe it’s a quiet cup of tea in your newly organized living room or a moment of reflection in a clutter-free bedroom.

With the time and peace you reclaim from decluttering:

  • Pamper Yourself: Consider a relaxing bath, an at-home spa day, or even just an uninterrupted nap.
  • Pursue a Hobby: Revisit an old hobby or explore a new one. Maybe it’s painting, reading, gardening, or learning a musical instrument.
  • Stay Active: Take a walk, practice yoga, or indulge in any physical activity you love. An organized home can even provide a clear space for at-home workouts.
  • Mindful Moments: Create a small meditation or reflection corner in your home. A few minutes of mindfulness can help in grounding yourself.

P.S. Check out our full article on self-care habits for more ideas on how to incorporate this into your daily life!

Beyond the visible changes in your home, recognize the internal transformation you’re undergoing. Embracing decluttering as a form of self-care reaffirms your well-being. It also sends a strong message to your family about the significance of balance and mental peace.

Conclusion:

The journey of decluttering and organizing your home is so much more than a series of tasks to be ticked off. It can be a journey of self-discovery, and self-care, leading you to a more fulfilling, balanced life. Hopefully this article helped you get a better grasp of how to declutter, and where to start!

Where are you on your decluttering journey? Let us know in the comments below!

Once you know how to declutter, our program Home, Clean Home is the perfect companion to help you keep your home spick and span! Learn more here, or download for free below!

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