Friday 29 March 2024

Decluttering and Organizing Your Home: 5 Tips To Start The New Year On A Fresh Note

If you couldn’t manage decluttering your home before the holidays, now is the right time to get started. That’s because once your new year energy starts to fade, you won’t be as excited about clearing out the clutter. What’s more, looking at piles of unwanted and useless stuff is sure to dampen your spirits!

So if you’re ready to start the new year on a fresh note, here are 5 tips to help you cut household clutter and keep everything organized.

Take Your Time

Relax! It’s just the start of the year and you don’t have to worry about getting things done in a particular time-frame. With time on your side, you can clear out clutter bit by bit at your own pace.

Limit decluttering to weekends and consider clearing out your whole house room by room. You can even plan to clear out a different room or area of your house each month.

Getting the clutter out of your home can be taxing and impossible to do at one go. So go at a slow but steady pace. Make sure you don’t make promises to yourself and then put off decluttering- work will only pile up that way and create undue stress.

Give Every Item a Home

The reason for cluttered tables and counters could be that you have several items that don’t belong anywhere. Perhaps your dresser is crowded with nail polishes because you don’t have an organizer or you pile glassware on your kitchen counter because you find it convenient.

To keep things organized, ensure all your belongings have a dedicated storage space so that you don’t have to leave anything out in the open. Further, store items in rooms that they have use for so that putting them away is easier.

Most importantly, make it easy to access storage areas. If you have to reach high up or bend low to put away items you use regularly, you’ll most likely just leave them wherever you please.

Don’t Be a Hoarder

Don’t buy items just because you’ve taken a fancy to them or because they are available at a discount. When you see something worth buying, ask yourself if you really need to buy it and if you will use it. If a new item is just going to lie around and take up space in your house, you’re probably better off without it.

If you do buy new stuff, do away with older, similar items or those that are broken, non-functioning, or not in use. For gifts that you receive, consider if you have use of them and throw away or donate one old or unused item for each gift that you make use of. Gifts that you don’t have use of can be gifted to someone else now or later.

Refrain from Splurging on Organizers

The key to an organized home isn’t expensive organizers, so don’t head to your local store to buy dozens of them in various shapes and sizes. Start with weeding out items that you need to dispose of and consider the amount of stuff you have and the storage space available. Once you understand the problem, you’ll be able to come up with the right solution to your organization woes.

A simple solution to keep items organized is to use clear plastic boxes and store like items together. Say, for example, you could store your lipsticks or manicure tools in one box, or your shoeshine kit in one box! Label boxes if required so you know what items to find where and get everyday chores done in a jiffy.

When buying organizers, look for simple solutions like drawer dividers, can risers, lazy Susan baskets, bins, and containers. If you don’t have enough storage space, create additional storage by making use of vertical space- fit racks or shelves in tall cabinets, and use hooks on the side of cabinets or on the inside of cabinet doors.

Follow a Schedule

Spaces like wardrobes need to be organized once in 3-4 months while spaces like kitchen counters need to be decluttered daily. Know what areas in your house need decluttering and organizing on a frequent basis and create a schedule that’s easy to stick to. For example, hang clothes on wooden or plastic hangers the minute you change into your PJs, check your fridge for unpalatable leftovers every weekend, and declutter and organize your cosmetics every 2-3 months.

Make a list of organizing tasks and write down the amount of time it’ll take you to complete those tasks. Remember that decluttering and organizing can be time-consuming, so give yourself ample amount of time to complete tasks, and plan effectively to avoid having to rush through organizing later.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve read these tips on decluttering and organizing your home, get started on the job as soon as you can. Take things one at a time and you’re sure to get everything in order without stressing yourself out.

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