Decluttering your home is a bit like going to the dentist: you know it needs to be done, you know you’ll feel better once you’ve done it, but the process itself is never something you look forward to, and so you find yourself putting it off until it’s gotten out of hand and really can’t be ignored any longer. Figuring out what to do with all those odds and ends, buying boxes, and finding storage space for rent all seems like too much work. But the thing is, like most chores, the anticipation is much worse than the chore itself. Once you get started, you might be surprised how quickly you can move it along. You never know, you might even find yourself enjoying it! The trick is to break it down into manageable steps. For this blog, we’ve put together a guide to help you declutter your home in just five steps.
Step 1: Know Your End Goal
Knowing what you’re working towards is obviously important for the finished result, and it will have a huge effect on your motivation. If you have decided to do this, it’s probably safe to assume that you’ve decided you want less clutter in your life, but are you planning to eventually downsize or are you just tired of having to deal with mess and wanting to make the most of your spare room? Work out how pared back you want your living spaces to be – it is possible to get rid of too much, after all, which could leave your home looking a bit sparse and empty. Think about this before you start.
Step 2: Divide & Conquer
Make separate piles for donations, rubbish, and other categories that might suit you. For example, you can make a pile of things to be repaired, provided you will actually repair them, rather than allow them to find their way back into the clutter. What we strongly advise against, however, is making a “maybe” pile, or if you must have one, use it as sparingly as possible. Not being able to decide what stays and goes is probably a big part of how you got here in the first place, so you’ll have to be a bit ruthless with yourself.
Step 3: Make the Most of Self Storage
You might find that, while some things no longer have a place in your home, they can’t really be thrown out altogether either. This is especially true if you have grown children who have moved out of home and left things behind but currently aren’t in a position to take them with. These might be bulky items like furniture or just a collection of bric-a-brac. Whatever they are, renting a self storage unit can be a convenient, affordable option that lets you power through with your decluttering without having to throw out something you might want later.
Step 4: Pre-empt Future Clutter
If there are places clutter tends to build up, set up those spaces so that it’s easy to avoid. If clothes tend to accumulate in a particular corner, for example, place a storage basket there and be diligent about always putting your clothes in there and emptying it when it fills up. The same goes for benches where you tend to throw letters, keys, etc.
Step 5: Create Attractive Storage Spaces
We’ve all been guilty of shoving miscellaneous items into drawers and forgetting about them. Use cabinets, storage bins, bookshelves, and sideboards to create neat and attractive storage for your home. Decide what items will go where and stick to your system.
Contact Moor Room Today
Moor Room has been helping homeowners, renters, and businesses declutter for over 20 years. Get in touch today and find out how a self storage unit can give you room to breathe.
