5 Tips for Minimizing Clutter in Your Home
- Real Estate Tips
- January 8, 2019
There are many articles and books about the positive aspects of minimizing clutter in the home. The book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo started a cleaning craze around the world. People started becoming more conscious of their purchases and limiting the items allowed in their home.
Decluttering the home has been proven to have many positive benefits. Including having increased confidence, reduced anxiety, increased energy, and more. Having less can actually mean having more. If you want to declutter your home, follow these 4 helpful tips to get started.
1. Tackle Clothes First
There are many categories of items that may be currently cluttering your home. Start with clothing first, because it is usually the easiest place to start. Spring clean your entire wardrobe. Consider what clothes and accessories you love, what you stopped wearing, and what you are simply holding onto. If you haven’t worn an item in the past year, then donate it.
Clothing items should have a designated space in your home. If you have items balled up on shelves or overcrowded in the closet, then it may be time to consider limiting the number of items you have.
2. Avoid Nostalgia
When spring cleaning or decluttering your home, it can be easy to fall into a hole of nostalgia. You’ll find items you forgot you had, and mementos that you thought were long gone. Don’t become overly nostalgic about these items. A lot of people find it hard to declutter due to a desire to hold onto letters, clothing items, and other nostalgic objects. But look at what you have objectively. You can’t save everything. If it has no practical purpose—if you can’t use or wear it now—then let it go.
3. Folding vs. Hanging
Though we may hang a lot of clothes in the closet, folding items can actually save up a ton of more space. There are plenty of different ways to fold and organize larger clothing items, such as tees, bulky sweaters, and jeans. And rather than shoving underwear and socks in a drawer, fold them with purpose. Roll your underwear and “army fold” your socks into military tidiness. Not only will you have more space, but your items will be easier than ever to find.
4. Respect What You Own
The key to minimalism is to only own items that have a purpose—including giving you happiness. If you find your home is cluttered with knick-knacks, then gather them up and rethink how you want your home to look. What design elements are you trying to convey? What are you simply holding onto? Give your items the space and appreciation they deserve. In no time, your home will feel brand new and you’ll have the newfound confidence to tackle 2019!
