From Cluttered to Clear: Tips for Refreshing Your Home

Everyone has to deal with some form of clutter! It tends to creep into our lives easily and in our homes. If you do not deal with it in time, it will pile up. Over time, it will become overwhelming and may even cause anxiety and distress.

If you have been thinking of giving your house a refreshed look, spring cleaning is not the only solution you need. You may need to declutter your house and rid it of the excess stuff that is cluttering your space and your life.

That said, here are a few helpful tips for refreshing your home.

Starting small- aim for the quick wins

If your house is currently full of clutter, clearing it all out and getting everything organized may get quite overwhelming. It may even render you paralyzed and overwhelm you to the point where you are not able to make any decisions.

To avoid that, the best way forward is to start small. Any progress, big or small, is progress, after all. Start with clearing out a small area and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. This will also help you build momentum.

Start with a room or even a cupboard or a drawer. Break down the bigger tasks into manageable to-dos, and when you find yourself making progress, you may want to keep going.

Put the items in their designated places

Before you declutter, it is important to clear out and organize your items.

When cleaning, gather up everything that is in the wrong place or room and put it back in its designated spot. Be it picking toys from the floor to the playroom, dirty plates and mugs in the kitchen, dirty clothes in the laundry room and so on! Keep a box or basket in hand as you move from one room to the next.

This way everything is returned to where it is meant to be. If any item does not have a designated spot, it may be left where it does not belong. In such a case, consider where to place it and create a space for it accordingly.

Putting things back in their place will also help you separate items that you do not need any more or that need to be discarded. You can also get rid of a lot of junk in the process. Keep a trash bag nearby to toss all the trash in.

Invest in storage solutions

Storage solutions are a great way to keep things organized and out of the way. A few examples would be dividers in drawers, hooks inside cabinets, folding shelves in cupboards, vacuum bags, etc. You can also get storage boxes to maximize the space. However, be mindful that, over time, storage boxes tend to get cluttered. To avoid that, you must clean them regularly and only put relevant items that you need.

Review your space to declutter

Every once in a while, it is important to take a good look around the house and identify items you think you do not need anymore. If you are doubtful about a certain item, consider what your space would look like without it or if a better alternative is available. This gives you a good idea of what items you can get rid of for decluttering

Tackle one area or room at a time and consider what you can do to give the room a refreshed look. You may not necessarily have to discard a lot of things to renew its look. However, if the space is too crowded with stuff, you do not need or use anymore or have lost interest in it, discarding it would be a better option.

Keep, sell or donate

Many people tend to declutter during seasonal changes. This is especially true for clothes, as you may want to part with a few items you think you may not be using anymore in the next season.

However, clothes are not the only items you need to declutter from time to time. Other objects around the house, like books, crockery or toys, must also be organized so you can decide which ones to keep or give away. Depending on your preference and the nature of the item, you can decide to donate or sell it if you decide not to keep it.

You can even earn quite a bit of money in exchange for valuable items that you are unable to find any space for in your house. For instance, toy collectibles tend to be quite valuable. If you are ready to part with them, you can sell vintage toys and use the money for some other purpose.

Alternatively, you can donate objects that are in perfectly good condition and experience the joy of sharing with others.

Conclusion

Decluttering is not a one-time activity. Your house tends to get piled up with clutter over time. At times, it is because you decided to keep the item for later use but never used it, or you are emotionally attached to it.

However, the excess stuff can make your house cluttered and ill-organized. Use the tips mentioned here to declutter your space successfully. Once you begin decluttering on a regular basis, you will start enjoying your clean and refreshed space