A Professional Organizer's Guide to Decluttering

Photo Credit: Raya on Assignment

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It's easy to get overwhelmed by clutter. The piles of papers on your desk, the items that've been hiding under the bed for months—all of that stuff can start to feel like a weight on your shoulders. It might even seem impossible to clear it all away, but we promise you, it isn't! We've helped many clients declutter their homes and simplify their lives over the years, and we've discovered a few tricks along the way that make this process much easier than you think!

How to decide what to keep and what to toss.

When deciding what to keep and what to toss, consider your needs. What do you need the item for? Do you use it now, or at least once a year, for a specific task, or are you keeping it “just in case”?  For just-in-case items, if you do end up needing them in the future, is there another way to get the item  (like borrowing from a friend or purchasing a new one)? If it’s something you can easily replace for under $20, if you need it in the future, then worst case is you’ll spend under $20 to replace it, and you can donate it. The space and mental clutter you clear now by letting go of all those “just in case” items makes the risk of needing to buy one thing again in the future seem not so bad.
If you're having trouble determining whether an item has sentimental value, ask yourself: If I didn't have this [item], would I miss it? Do I remember where I bought/gave/received [it]? If it’s not something you remembered you had or even care about seeing on a daily basis, it’s not something worth holding onto. We encourage many clients to take a photo of the item, so they can remember it, then let it move on to another owner!

Making the most of your space.

When decluttering, it's important to make the most of your space. A lot of people think that if they clear out their drawers and cabinets, they'll be able to fit more stuff in them. But this isn't always true! If you're trying not only to organize your things but also maximize storage space, here are some tips:

• Don't overfill drawers and cabinets--it makes them harder to close and opens up an invitation for clutter spillage onto other surfaces in your room.
  
• Use shelf dividers and bins/trays so that you can find what's on each shelf without digging through everything else.
  

Setting up organizing systems.

• Decide what you want to keep, and what you want to throw away. Once something is in the toss/donate pile, do not pull it back out. Make your final decision and be done with it.
  
• Using containers makes daily life simple. You’ll know where everything goes, and if an item doesn’t have a home, this can be an indicator that either you already have too many items or it’s not something worth keeping.
  

Tossing things you don't need.

There are a few ways to get rid of unwanted items, including donating them or selling expensive items. However, if you don’t already have a plan in place to sell those items, chances are they will sit around for a while. Even the best of intentions can get pushed to the side due to overwhelm. If your stuff isn't worth much in monetary value (it can help to set an amount, say $50 or more per item), consider recycling or donating it. If it’s totally unusable or not worth repairing, toss it. You’ll instantly feel lighter!

Avoiding clutter in the first place.

It's not always possible to avoid clutter, but with a few reminders in place, you can avoid clutter in the future. Some rules we like for maintaining an organized home are: Don't leave things lying around - put them away as soon as you're done with them. Don't buy things you don't need, and don't keep things you don't use just because you paid money for them.

Say Goodbye!

As you declutter, it's important to keep in mind that not everything needs to be kept. If it doesn't bring you joy, or if it doesn't serve a purpose in your life, then it's time for that item to go.
The same goes for things that aren't used often enough and have no sentimental value attached to them. There are many reasons why people hold onto things like this: maybe they think they might need them someday; maybe they don't want to throw away something expensive; or maybe they feel guilty because it was a gift. . It’s time to let go of the guilt and reasoning with ourselves as to why we need to hold onto things we don’t love or use. If they aren’t serving a purpose in your home, let them go! 

Hopefully, this guide has helped answer some of your questions about decluttering and how to get started. However, if you’re overwhelmed or just want a partner in decluttering, we are here to help. As professional organizers, we can simplify the process and get your home decluttered and organized efficiently.

Ready to get started? We’d love to chat! Reach out to us today for your free phone consultation!