As the famous Marie Kondo phrase goes, “Does it spark joy?”
This is something to ask yourself when it comes to decluttering your space. No one enjoys living in an area that is messy. Being confined in a messy area causes stress, and that is not what you would like to feel when you come back home after a long day of work.
What should be done to have a clean and cosy home? How should you declutter your space? What items should be kept and how do you dispose of things you don’t need? Here are a few tips.
Be Organised
When you are picking up a particular item, ask yourself, “What is its purpose? Why am I picking it up?” If you are unable to answer these questions then it’s time to put it down. Taking it and placing it somewhere else without a reason will only create a separate clutter pile.
Organise your items. Allocate specific areas to put certain items and take note of it so that you won’t forget. You could arrange your items into sections – items you use frequently and items you hardly touch. Once in a while, it would be a good idea to look at your items again. If you do not use the item as much as you thought you would, put it into the storage pile. Similarly, within the storage pile, if you realise that you don’t ever use the item, dispose of it!
Find ways to maximise your space
When it comes to organising, it is good to think about arranging your things in a way that would create more room. To do this, it would be a good time to invest in additional shelves or drawers if you don’t already have one. If you’re creative enough, why not customize these shelves to fit into corners that you usually are unable to fit an item of furniture in. This saves you space while filling out awkward spaces around your house. The objective is to find a space for items that would be otherwise be strewn randomly on the floor.
Additionally, you could get furniture that have storage compartments in them. Many sofas, beds all come with a storage space that you can hide your clutter.
You could also head down to the nearest crafts and discount stores to get yourself some baskets and boxes to organise your items.
The “Tomorrow” Basket
It is understandable that you might be tired when you come back from work and having to place an item back to its designated place can be a chore. To solve this problem, have a small basket (or box) to place these loose items for the time being. The next day, actively check the basket and then put away your items.
Don’t have Feelings for EVERYTHING
When it comes to items, it is not ideal to be overly attached to every single one of them. Is it really necessary to keep every sweater you bought in college? Neither is it a must for you to have every piece of artwork done by your child at your fingertips. Keep the ones that mean the most and frame them on the walls or pin them up on the fridge.
If you’re storing all of these ‘precious’ items in a box and not looking at them everyday, are they really that important to you?
What then can you do with the items that you don’t really need?
Donate
Not everyone is as privileged to have all the necessary items at their disposal. By donating items that are still in good condition to the less fortunate, you not only create less waste but others can also benefit from it.
Hold a Garage Sale/ Thrift it away
Within all this mess, there is one benefit: earning some extra cash. If you have more than one of the same item, why not sell it? Hold a garage sale or use online platforms such as eBay to sell your items.
Recycle
When it comes to the latest technology, we upgrade our devices as fast as they come out. This means that there are a lot of gadgets that are still of good use lying around the house. The ideal way to get rid of these things, while saving the Earth, is to recycle them. Usable parts from your old mobile phones or television can still be salvaged out to be used in a new product. As for books, if your library is willing, they could accept them for others to read.
Just Throw It
There will be certain things that cannot be sold off or donated. Don’t be clingy, throw them away! If these things haven’t been in use for a long time, there is no point leaving it in the house to take up more space.
Curb your Urge to Shop
It is totally understandable that some people turn to shopping as a way to relieve stress. What’s more, the act of shopping is very fun! But if you are trying to declutter your space, stop buying more things! If you must go shopping, at least take up a “one-for-one” mentality where you get the opportunity to buy a new item for every item you remove from your house. If not, buying without a reason will only add onto the clutter back at home.
To keep track, it would be advisable to have a shopping list when you go out. Remember not to stray from your list. We understand that it’s hard, but you can do it. Maybe try to pick up a new hobby to pass your time.
Share the Workload
The whole process of decluttering does not have to be done alone. Make it an activity that involves the entire family or every member living within the household. Turn the decluttering process into a game to interest young children. Get your teenagers to make sure that they keep their coats and school bags in proper places. If everyone in the family is actively involved and making a conscious effort, say goodbye to living in a cluttered house!
Lastly, Be Fully Committed
Make sure that this habit of decluttering or organising things becomes one that everyone in the family diligently adheres to. In doing so, everyone would play their part and have a cosy, neat and comfortable home to turn to and be happy.