Decluttering and organizing your home is an enormous task that can seem daunting. While you may be overwhelmed by the task, you can use these five tips to take control of your space. Start with a plan. Set a specific goal and visualize how the space you’d like to have will look when it’s fully decluttered. Separate the items from the ones you’re going to keep in your storage space at home from those you’re going to sell through online resale platforms like Backflip and things you’re willing to donate to somebody else. Also, create a decluttering schedule so that you can stay on track.
Organize your clothes
You may feel overwhelmed by all of the clothing in your closet, but that doesn’t mean you should give up. There are several ways to get creative with your closet organization. For starters, color coordinates within categories. Color coordinating makes it easier to locate and find specific items. Also, according to professional organizer Brenda Scott, color-coordinated closets make people happier. Use the “one in, one out” rule to organize your closet space.
When organizing your clothes, group them by color or function. You’ll find it easier to compare like items and toss out those you don’t wear anymore. Next, go through your wardrobe and regularly keep what you love and wear. Toss out the rest.
Sort your toys
You can begin separating your children’s toys by category. Active toys include bikes, scooters, and trampoline sets. In addition, there are board games, puzzles, and video games. Sorting your children’s toys will help you identify storage options and determine what should be donated or stored. Sticky notes on each piece can help you track where each toy belongs. If you want to keep certain toys, consider rehoming them into a memory box.
When decluttering your children’s toys, sort them by category. Having them visible helps you decide which toys are valuable and which excess. You may have an extensive collection of baby toys. Then, you can sort building toys, like blocks, Lincoln Logs, and K’nex. You can also sort imaginative toys, such as costumes and puppets.
Organize your kitchen
Decluttering the kitchen and maximizing storage space is a great way to improve your efficiency. Throw away things you no longer use and donate old items. Move non-essential items to another part of your house or a new location. Discard old linens and small appliances. Take inventory of everything in the kitchen and decide what you use. Keep items that you use most often. Things with multiple uses tend to be kept.
Think about how you use your kitchen and set up different stations based on common tasks. Then, build areas based on the time you spend in the kitchen. Be consistent with the system and stick with it. Remember, even small kitchens need regular maintenance. You can declutter your kitchen using these tips and get organized quickly.
Organize your basement
First, it’s important to organize the space. You can start by creating zones for each season and the type of item you want to store. Also, label each container and place it on sturdy open shelves. You can also purchase airtight containers for more protection against the elements. When choosing containers, consider how frequently you’ll use them. Make sure to use clear, durable labels. Lastly, make sure to label all containers so you can easily find them later.
Organize your basement by designing zones. Once you have defined zones, put like items in one spot. Make sure to store similar items together so you can easily access them. Don’t stack containers too high or too deep. Remember, a basement is where water can collect and cause damage. So, plan how to organize your basement so you can use it creatively for storage and decluttering.
Organize your attic
Before organizing your attic, ask yourself if you need everything stored there. While you may want to save items with sentimental value or family history, you might also want to discard some things. It is especially true of items that have accumulated in a storage unit and have been neglected for years. By getting rid of items you don’t need, you can create more storage space.
Whenever you find a pile of items you no longer need or want, ask yourself: “why do I have this?” If you’ve never dusted your attic, this is the best time to do it. Make a list and take photos of what you’re storing, and then get rid of the items that are no longer needed.
