Decluttering 101: Where to Start?

Where did all the space go? Decluttering seems like such a nice thing to do, but where should you start? How will you start? Will you ever get things done?

Have you ever thought of the first time you moved into your house and marveled at the spaces you need to fill? The wide area in the living room, that big blank corner in your bedroom? And now, after living in your house for a year or two, you wonder where did that space go? How did you manage to accumulate that amount of stuff over just a brief period of time?

Decluttering at first thought, may seem like a daunting task and can really take a lot of time and effort, especially if you are sentimental and attached to things you have purchased.

Keeping less things in your house does not necessarily mean your house would become sparse or even boring. Keeping things simple can make your house look spotless and peaceful. You’d feel more relaxed looking at your immaculate spaces, instead of lamenting about how packed and disorganized your house looks.

1. Ask yourself why you want to declutter.

Not seeing the surface of your desk in your office under piles of paperwork? Embarrassed to invite people to you home due to all the clutter? Feeling overwhelmed when you open drawers and closets?

Being aware of the problem is the biggest step in resolving the clutter issues. Identifying your goals and why you want to declutter in the first place is a strong motivation for you to get things done.

2. Start with a plan.

Look at the spaces and the rooms in the house and outline which ones are the easiest to start with. Declutter one room or even one space at a time. When you start with the easier ones, it will give you more drive to conquer the rooms that demand more of your strength in purging clutter, especially after seeing the difference your decluttering will make.

3. Set target dates to complete them.

Make sure you set timelines that are achievable. You did not accumulate stuff overnight, so do not expect yourself to declutter everything within a few days or so as well.

4. Come up with a sorting system for the things in your spaces/rooms.

You can use the 3-box method: KEEP, GET RID OF and FOR STORAGE. The KEEP box is for the things that you use daily and the things you need to be within reach at all times. The GET RID OF box is for the items that you no longer have use for- these items could be further sorted for recycling, garbage, sell and donate . These are usually the things that just collect dust or maybe those behind or underneath the cabinets. The FOR STORAGE box is for things that you need depending on the season or things that have sentimental value to you. But make sure that you make a good distinction between things to get rid of and things for storage. You would not want your storage to be filled to the brim just because you do not want to throw things away.

These are just some simple tips to get you started on your decluttering. If you look at your house and feel that it is impossible to declutter, again, start small. Start somewhere that is easy to declutter. As your momentum builds up, you would be able to make decluttering a regular habit!  To help you out, let Home Makeover HK fill you in on how to get started.