A Guide to Decluttering Your Home
As we approach the start of 2024, it’s the perfect time to embark on a journey to create a clutter-free and organised living space. Decluttering your home not only brings a sense of order but also paves the way for new beginnings. Let’s explore some practical tips and strategies to transform your living space and welcome the new year with a fresh and organised home.
1. Set Clear Goals
Begin by setting clear and realistic goals for your decluttering journey. Identify specific areas or rooms that need attention, and breakdown the process into manageable tasks. For me it’s my home office. For some reason it’s become the dumping ground for everything that doesn’t have a natural home somewhere else in the house. My starting point will be sorting through all the paper I have gathered over the years. I’m sure there’s car insurance renewal documents from twenty years ago lurking in box files. Files that are now so full that there are piles of paperwork needing kept, sitting beside them. I’ll be tackling this room first, with a decluttering plan to help me stay focussed and motivated.
2. Decluttering Room by Room
Once I’m finished with my home office, I’ll be moving onto my kitchen cupboards! By taking a systematic approach, decluttering room by room, starting in the areas that accumulate the most clutter, I’m more likely to succeed. I’d recommend that you sort through your belongings, categorising them into three piles: keep, donate/sell, and discard. Be ruthless in your decision-making to avoid holding onto unnecessary items.
3. Donate or Sell Unwanted Items
Instead of discarding unwanted items, consider donating them to a local charity shop. At Rettie we support Barnardo’s, and you can find your nearest shop here.
4. The KonMari Method
Have you heard of the KonMari method developed by Marie Kondo? It’s a mindful approach to decluttering where you evaluate each item deciding if it sparks joy! If it doesn’t then you need to let it go from your life. On the KonMari website we’re told ‘through tidying, you can reset your life and spend the rest of your life surrounded by the people and things that you love the most.’ For me, when I start decluttering my home office, I know I two items that accompany me day to day and spark joy, and thus will be staying. My rescue dogs, Meera and Marley. Rescued through Rehoming Cyprus Pointers they have adapted well to being office dogs, often feeling the need to join me on a Teams call.
5. Staying Organised
Invest in organisational tools and systems to maintain order in your home. Use storage bins, shelves, and containers to categorise and store items neatly. Labels can be helpful for ensuring everything is in its designated place and helping maintain a clutter-free environment in the long term. For me that also extends to DVDs in alphabetical order, although admittedly in my last decluttering stint, they were moved from the bookcase in the living room to newly fitted shelves in a hall cupboard, as more and more we stream our movies. Not quite ready to move them out of the house, they still spark a little joy, but I’m sure it’s coming.
6. Digital Decluttering
Don’t forget about digital space. Take the time to declutter your digital life by organising files, deleting unnecessary documents, and organising your email inbox. A clean digital space can contribute to a clearer and more focused mindset.
7. Create a Cleaning Routine
Now that you’ve decluttered your home, establish a cleaning routine to maintain your newfound order. Regularly schedule cleaning sessions to prevent the clutter building back up again, giving you a clean and organised living space and a stress-free lifestyle.
As we step into 2024, let the spirit of decluttering your home guide you through the year. Embrace the opportunity to let go of the old and make space for new possibilities, setting the scene for a positive and fulfilling year ahead.
In the words of Kirstie and Phil, take the opportunity to decide for your home if you love it, or you want to list it. Remember if it’s the latter we are always here to help, creating possibilities for more people in property.
A very happy clutter-free new year to you all.