It’s that time of the year again when we have to start thinking about decluttering our homes. The clocks are due to go forward on the 31st of March, which means that we are not only losing an hour during the day but we’re also losing a perfectly good amount of time to organise our homes. With less time and brighter evenings imminent, there’s no way to avoid the clutter (and dust) that has likely taken up residence in our homes. The only solution is to tackle it head-on. In this EZ Living Furniture blog, we’ll discuss the 7 ways to organise your home without having to enlist any costly professionals.
1. Start Small
If you’ve ever seen the “Get Organised With The Home Edit” TV series or binge-watched “Marie Kondo”, you’ll know that they start working on one area at a time. Looking at a task in its entirety can quickly lead to you feeling overwhelmed. Instead, break it down and tackle it room by room. This will make the task seem much more manageable.
2. Physically Touch Every Item
To make sure that you are only getting rid of items you no longer need or want, it’s important to physically touch them. This process will help you to determine whether you need the item or not.
3. Ask Questions
When you have hold of the item, you will need to ask yourself a few questions to determine whether you should hold onto it or not. We have listed these below:
- Does It Spark Joy? If the answer is no, it can make it easier to let an item go.
- Would You Contact An Ex To Get It Back? This will help to determine what items you actually love. Would you really go through the emotional process of contacting a former romantic partner or even a friendship that ended on wobbly terms to get the item back? If you wouldn’t, you know exactly what you need to do.
- Can You Replace It For Less Than €20 & In Less Than 20 Minutes? This is known as the 20/20 rule. If you can replace it relatively easily and no longer have a need for it, it’s probably time to get rid of it.
- Have You Used It In The Last 90 Days? Will You Use It In The Next 90 Days? This is known as the 90/90 rule. If the answer is no, you won’t miss it if you decide to throw it away or donate it.
4. Be Prepared
You will need to create a dedicated zone or area for the things you intend to get rid of. In actual fact, you'll need several. Instead of filling each corner of the room and becoming even more overwhelmed, it's best to gather some cardboard boxes or rubbish bags. This way you'll know exactly where to put things that you've sorted through. Label each box or bag with Keep, Donate, Sell, Recycle, and Landfill. Donate items that are still in good condition to your nearest charity shop and sell valuable items to earn some extra cash. Anything that is broken or damaged beyond repair will need to be recycled or disposed of in a landfill. Once your bags and boxes are full, set yourself a deadline for getting rid of them because this will create urgency.
We don't suggest moving these bags out of sight and into a shed for example. This will allow you to forget about them. We've found that keeping them in an inconvenient place i.e. by the door will remind you to get rid of them every time you leave or enter the house.
5. Be Ruthless
Now’s not the time to “girl math” it with silly justifications. If you no longer use something or wear something, and it doesn’t bring you joy, it might be time to dispose of it. Of course, there are always exceptions to this rule, you might have a dress hanging up in your wardrobe in your bedroom that you don’t wear often because you can only really use it for “fancy” occasions. However, for the majority of the time, these items are better off being used to their full potential by someone else.
6. Find Inspiration
You’ve found yourself immersed in a sea of clothing and objects and are starting to lose hope and energy. Fear not, help can quite literally be found at your fingertips. Navigate to YouTube on your phone or tablet and watch some encouraging decluttering videos. You would be surprised how watching someone else reorganising their space can help you feel motivated to do the same.
7. Celebrate Your Progress
Instead of focusing on the things that still require attention, commend yourself on what you have achieved. Celebrate with a well-earned takeaway or glass of bubbly at the end of the day and enjoy your newfound space. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and decluttering takes time.
Looking for more advice? If you’re looking to downsize to a smaller home, we’ve got you covered.
Read: Downsizing? Here’s What To Expect.
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