Decluttering top tips to get you started

Need to remove clutter from your home, but don’t know where to start? Here’s a list of quick and simple decluttering top tips to get you on your way.

Clutter creeps up on us slowly and is often the result of deferred decision making. A cluttered environment prevents your home from running efficiently. You can end up wasting time looking for things you need but can’t find.

Cluttered surfaces mean you are having to clear work-spaces to make room for the task at hand. A cluttered home drains your time and energy, and can leave you feeling low.

Decluttering isn’t purely about removing excess possessions from your home. It’s also important to look at the reasons behind why the clutter accumulated in the first place.

Just as the clutter in your home grew gradually over time, so it will take a determined and sustained effort to clear the excess and create a harmonious home you truly enjoy.

DECLUTTERING TOP TIPS TO START

BEFORE YOU START – Gather 3 bags, boxes or baskets and label 1 Donate, 1 Rubbish and the other Put Away. As you declutter, assign each item to one of these categories.

HAVE A PLAN – Decide which area you plan to clear. Choose a day and time when you will be able to give the task your full attention without distraction.

START SMALL – Choose a shelf or drawer to start with rather than tackling a whole room. Break the task into smaller more manageable bits so as not to become overwhelmed.

SET A TIMER – Using a timer gives you an allocated time to complete the task. Set it for 30 mins or 1 hour and do what you can in that time. Don’t forget to allow time at the end to tidy up.

MORE DECLUTTERING TOP TIPS

MAKE DECISIONS – Handle each item only once. Make a decision to donate, discard or put away before moving onto the next item.

REMOVE ITEMS IMMEDIATELY – Once you have chosen which items to donate place them in the car ready to drop off at your local charity. Rubbish should go straight into the bin.

GET RID OF THE EXCESS – Make a commitment to remove as many excess items as possible. Donate items that are no longer useful to you and discard broken items.

DAILY CLEAN UP – Grab a rubbish bag and go through the house looking for any items to be discarded. Broken or out of date items and anything you no longer want to keep.

TIDY UP EACH NIGHT – Do a quick pick up and put away of items left lying around at the end of the day, Then you won’t be faced with today’s mess, tomorrow.

1 IN – 1 OUT RULE – Whenever you bring a new item into the home, find the same amount of items to donate or discard. For example: you buy 3 clothing items, find 3 to donate.