Start the new year off right by getting organized! I’ve got some foolproof tips for decluttering to make the pricess simple and quick.
I had the idea of starting this new year off with a different post but this past week my mind has been on getting our home back in order from the onslaught of chaos that the Christmas season can be. I’m going through my process of decluttering and reorganizing currently, so this is an organic topic for me to discuss with you. It also is a glimpse into where my head is going to be this year. In the last couple of months the Lord has really been putting concept of simple, more purposeful living on my heart. Since the beginning of December I’ve really distanced myself from social media and all of the noise that is the cyber world. I’m completely aware of the irony of it considering that I’m a blogger and that’s a big part of the job. I did check in from time to time on Facebook and Instagram but in general I focused more on my family, friends and living a fuller life. I don’t feel a strong draw to social media much anymore and I honestly don’t see that changing much this year. I look forward the most to connecting with you all right here on the blog. If you’re not a subscriber already I’d love to have you join our little community!
With that being said, I’ve been focusing on my decluttering and getting our home back into shape. I’ve written before on decluttering and getting organized. You can find some of my tips for decluttering here, how I organized our pantry recently here and how I keep our home generally tidy here. Today I wanted to walk you through the exact process that I use. I don’t consider myself an organizing professional but I do declutter at least twice a year, once at the beginning of the year and a second time towards the end of summer. Here’s my foolproof method –
1. Make a list
Break your home into rooms and or categories that you’d like to declutter. I suggest starting with the least overwhelming space. Completing the smaller or easier places will give you the encouragement and push to accomplish the more cluttered spaces. Here’s an example of my list from last fall.
2. Start early in the day.
Decluttering and organizing once you’re tired is never a good idea.
3. Start by removing everything from the space.
Lay the items on a table or bed. Here’s a look at my hutch cabinet in our dining room before I emptied it.
4. Create three piles.
One to keep, one to donate or toss and one to sell. One make a sell pile if it’s something of worth and you plan to sell right away.
Keep only what you love and use on a regular basis. If you have not used it in the last year, toss it. There are exceptions to this, such as ski gear, tools, etc. You do need to be somewhat brutal though.
Once you’ve decided what to keep put it in it’s home. You may find items that need to be kept in a different place in your home.
You can see below how much of a difference it made getting rid of a few items that we no longer used or needed. I can now open the doors without anything falling out. I can easily find what I need and everything that is left is needed and loved.
Here are some things that I have found useful for keeping everything organized:
Baskets – You all know my love for baskets! They not only look lovely but they keep things organizes quite nicely. I use them in our dining room to hold table linens and recently to keep our bar essentials all together. We use them in our family room to store TV and gaming remotes and controllers, magazines and throw blankets.
They’re also very handy in pantries, on shelving to hold cleaning supplies and in closets to separate bedding and pillow covers.
Drawer Dividers & Containers – I personally use wooden silverware dividers in our bathroom drawers to organize makeup, tooth brushes and tooth paste and every day care essentials. I also love these below ideas using metal containers and round glass bowls for medicine and first aid items.
Keeping a space organized can be quite simple as long as items are kept manageable. It’s so important to declutter first to be successful at staying organized. Over the next few weeks I’m going to share my process in decluttering and organizing my home. If you plan to declutter and reorganize this new year I’d love to encourage and inspire one another! What’s your best tips or advise for decluttering and organizing your home?
I try to make decluttering as routine as brushing one’s teeth! Meaning as you go about the home straightening or cleaning, you deal with items you come across right then……yes being decisive is key. When in doubt, put item(s) in a box and place box in a spare room? basement? garage? It’s amazing what you can sell and find at garage sales if you have them, and I do. My findings go to the basement til the time comes to have that sale. And sometimes it can be amazing the haul that is there waiting to be priced! Rare I have taken something back, and yet sometimes the item can all of a sudden serve a better purpose and glad I still had it!
Thanks for sharing these ideas and tips. The Lord has really been speaking to me, as well, about decluttering and simplifying our home, but that can seem like such a daunting task!! I liked these very practical steps and look forward to hearing more tips/ideas. Thanks for sharing…..
On the black laundry room –
what rod are you using to hang the short/tiny valance/curtain?
what brand and color is the black paint?
Love the look. Thanks.
Thank you so much, Nan! The rod is just a simple, brass tension rod from Wal-Mart. The cabinet & bead board color is actually a very dark, rich green. It’s called Backwoods by Benjamin Moore.
Such great tips! Thanks for the inspiration!