Decluttering A Home in 3 Steps
Each year, when the leaves turn, and that first hint of fall hits the air, I instinctively want to make more room indoors by purging my clutter (and everyone else’s). However, in some years, like this one, autumn starts busy and doesn’t slow down until after all the holidays have passed. This is not my desired time for decluttering a home when so much more has been added to it because of gift-giving, but I have found seeing the new things I’ve acquired through the love of family and friends puts things I’ve struggled to let go or haven’t needed into sharper perspective.
Truthfully, there is no right or wrong time to throw out the old, donate the unused, and bring a sense of calm and order to your home and your mind; the right time is whenever you are ready. If, like me, you want to ensure your home has only what it needs and what you love within it before those long nights of winter keep us shut indoors staring at all our stuff, here is one method I have found for doing the “big picture” reorganizing and decluttering before the more meticulous deep clean of spring.
Step 1: Take Out The Trash
This may seem like an obvious and unnecessary step, but be honest, it is incredible how many broken or damaged items we hold onto, or actual bits and bobs or trash that wind up finding a “home” in our spaces: old receipts, clothing tags ripped off and laid on the dress in the excitement of wearing something new, a toy from 3 months ago we swore we would find a way to fix for our kids (and they have forgotten about); as responsible as we all wish we were to walk to the bin every time something breaks beyond repair or we empty or pockets, we all make and keep junk despite our best intentions. Clearing it from our spaces is the easiest way to feel good about decluttering a home.
Step 2: Consider Function
When birds build nests, they start with the most prominent twigs to create the desired shape and stability before weaving in smaller ones with leaves and other delicate things. Since winter is a time for nesting, I find this hint from Mother Nature practical when considering what does and doesn’t belong in the spaces of my home.
No matter where you start, the first question to ask yourself is, “What do I need to do in this space?” Answering in the simplest, most obvious ways for the space you are in will be the most helpful. For example, a bedroom’s most apparent function is a place to sleep and prepare for and wind down from the day. Starting with these “big twigs,” remove anything from the space that doesn’t help you get ready, sleep, or wind down. If you have a hall closet you thought would store linens but has somehow become taken over by craft supplies, that’s ok; the closet’s most apparent function now is to store and organize craft supplies, so remove anything that doesn’t serve that purpose.
It is incredible how much stuff ends up in places in our homes where it doesn’t serve the functionality of that space. Once the items that don’t contribute to using that space are out of sight and out of mind, organize what remains so that it is in the proper place to use it.
Step 3: Consider Feeling
Once you have identified a space’s function and paired it with items that serve it, it is time to ask yourself, “What do I want to feel when I’m doing what I have to do in this space?” This is when the more challenging work of pairing down what you have to the items that make you feel your best in your space needs to be done.
Considering the bedroom again, does it motivate you to see a corner of your closet filled with clothes that no longer fit? Or does it just make you feel guilt or shame about the body you’re currently in? Do you have a shelf of memorabilia that brings you joy, but the thought of dusting fills you with dread? Consider shrinking the collection to a few highly prized pieces and gifting the rest to another fan, or find a new way to store these items so their maintenance is less taxing.
While these steps may not transform you into a minimalist, asking these questions routinely can be a great way to help you master decluttering a home and keep you full of joy throughout the year.
