Whether you have a chair in your bedroom piled with clothes, stacks of old paperwork on your desk, or cupboards bursting at the seams, a bit of decluttering will help you out.
No home is entirely free of disorder. But when your home or personal space becomes overly cluttered, it can impact your anxiety levels, sleep, and ability to focus.
Clutter is anything you keep that doesn’t add value to your life or that you no longer use.
If you feel overwhelmed by the items taking up space in your home, it may be time to take action.
We understand that this can be easier said and done. When so much clutter has gathered in your home, it can be overwhelming to know where to start and which items you are ready to let go of.
But don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people go through the same struggle.
To help you successfully overcome the clutter taking over your home, we’ve put together a list of our top dos and don’ts of decluttering.
Let’s dive in!
What not to do when decluttering your home
1. Trying to do everything at once
When it comes to decluttering, pulling an entire room’s contents out and throwing them in a big pile is never a good idea.
This will only make you overwhelmed and ready to call it a day halfway through. Instead, we recommend decluttering your space bit by bit.
For example, if you’re working on your bedroom – handle it in sections. Ensure one area of the room, such as the wardrobe, is wholly decluttered and organised before you move onto another space, like your drawers.
2. Procrastinating
Cleaning the clutter from your home can seem like an exhausting and stressful task – one you want to avoid. But the truth is the longer you procrastinate and put it off, the more out of hand the situation will grow.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is simply dive in and start. Try to stop overthinking it or waiting for the perfect time to begin.
Instead, simply do something today to start decluttering. Even if you only find one thing to throw or give away, it’s a good start!
3. Not setting goals
Having clear goals in sight will help motivate you on your decluttering journey. Knowing precisely what you want to achieve from the process can inspire you to let go of items you no longer need.
Once you know exactly what you hope to accomplish by decluttering, you can break the process into reasonable and reachable steps.
This prevents you from setting the bar too high and feeling discouraged because you couldn’t reach it!
4. Being too sentimental
Getting rid of sentimental items is one of the biggest decluttering struggles for many people.
We all attach feelings and memories to objects, making it difficult to let go. But when closets, drawers, and cabinets overflow with keepsakes, it’s easy to lose sight of the truly special ones.
Getting rid of items that don’t spark any joy within you means you can truly enjoy and focus on the objects that bring you the best memories.
Remember, something isn’t necessarily sentimental because we have owned it for a long time.
What to do when decluttering your home
1. Start with something easy
One of the best ways to succeed at decluttering is to start with something easy. Begin by tackling a small space, like a cupboard or a corner.
Every time you complete one small area, you’ll feel a sense of achievement, and your confidence will begin to grow. Soon you’ll feel ready to tackle some of the most cluttered areas of your home.
2. Spread it over a few days
It’s important to remember that decluttering is a journey and doesn’t all have to be completed in a day.
We recommend taking your time and going at a pace that suits you. If you try to do too much at once, you’ll soon become exhausted and fed up.
Why not make a decluttering schedule spanning a few days or weeks, so you can work at a pace that suits you and your lifestyle?
3. Get all the family involved
Another thing to keep in mind when decluttering is that help is needed. This is why it’s important to get the whole family involved.
The first step is to sit everyone together and set a decluttering goal you hope to meet. Communication is key when tackling such a big project.
When you have a game plan, it’s time to designate areas where people will be decluttering and cleaning. If you’re working with children, try your best to give them age-appropriate tasks to complete.
4. Get a storage unit
Not all clutter in your home isn’t of value to you or your family. Sometimes, there isn’t enough free space to comfortably store your essential belongings.
When this is the case, those extra items, although important, can quickly become a burden.
Renting a self-storage space is an excellent way to safely and securely store your possessions, including patio furniture, Christmas decorations, sports equipment, and other seasonal items.
Decluttering or freeing up space in your home has many incredible benefits for you and your family.
We hope this blog has helped you gain some useful tips on the dos and don’ts of decluttering as you begin your journey of freeing space in your home.
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At Self Storage Centre, we understand how overwhelming it can feel when you run out of space in your home.
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At Self Storage Centre, we offer state-of-the-art self-storage facilities, available in various sizes on a short or long-term basis.
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If you’re interested in learning more about our storage solutions, don’t hesitate to contact us or get an instant quote today.
