How to Declutter Your Home – Seven Decluttering Tips

Getting organized to declutter your home is often something you need to think about ahead and get organized the night before. Think of decluttering as a  three step process which is taking ten or fifteen minutes to clarify your thoughts around the area you want to clear and organize, think through the steps you need to take and get your decluttering or oragnizing tool kit prepared. It doesn’t matter if you are clearing out a huge room or working drawer by drawer there are a few must do’s to ensure your clutter free success.

Try to really zero in on the area you want to declutter. Is it an entire room, a medium sized storage area or a series of decluttering projects that may take you a month to complete? Identifying from the beginning whether you are going to declutter a small, medium or large space gives you an idea of the size of the job, what you need to complete it and when you can schedule in the time to do it.

Evaluate how much time you need to finish the job and add anywhere from five to twenty minutes for putting away and cleaning up. Small projects can take fifteen minutes to half an hour, medium projects two hours and clearing out clutter in a room can take up to four hours. Schedule in uninterrupted time to complete the project, and factor in breaks, music to keep you motivated and high energy snacks to help to keep you on task until you finish the job.

What is clutter to you? Is it the things that are unattractive or items that have been storage for years? What items no longer give you pleasure to look at, use or make your life easier? What do you no longer need? For every space, big or small clarifying the potential clutter you want to get rid of  is the first step to creating space in your home and making your decluttering project easier.

Guesstimate how much clutter you need to get rid of in the area you are clearing to really make a difference. Think in tens so the night before decide whether you want to get rid of 10%, 20% or more. This encourages you to be a little more ruthless in getting rid of redundant items. Living in balance with what you own and the space you have is what decluttering is all about.

Establish some personal clutter free standards. This is the quickest way to get yourself in the zone of letting go. Taking a few minutes to decide you will not keep items that don’t work, or clothes you haven’t worn in a year sets guidelines which make quick decision making. If you feel insecure about decluttering set guidelines for what you want to keep. Using the Clutter Free Keys to keep what you love, use and makes you feel good is a good start.

Prepare your decluttering tool kit. This may be extra strong garbage bags for the things you want to get rid of and donate. A box for homeless items, cleaning tools for the area and any extras you need to make this project enjoyable.

Create a clear picture of the end result you want to create. What do you want the area you are decluttering to look like? Do you see half empty shelves with the books you love, a half empty closet or even a room with all the surfaces clean and clutter free. Imagine the space in order exactly the way you want it.

How do you declutter your home and stay clutter free forever? Follow these seven decluttering tips and take the time to clarify your thinking, think through the steps you want to take and get prepared the day before. This way decluttering your home won’t be hard at all.

Copyright ©2010 Jane Alais