If you started the New Year wishing you had a tidier, less cluttered home, you are not alone.
Pledging to declutter your home is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions and January is a great time to start to make sure you’re not feeling the same way at the start of 2023. So how can you get your home the way you want without becoming overwhelmed or stressed?
Decluttering an entire property takes time and some people can find this demoralising, especially if you’re working hard but still can’t see a noticeable difference. Putting some of your clutter into storage can help you achieve a more spacious home straight away, while you work out what you want to keep and what you plan to sell, donate or throw away. This solution works best for people who need to make space quickly as well as those who are struggling to decide whether or not to keep certain items. If you put your ‘maybe items’ into a self-storage unit and find you don’t actually miss having them in your home, this can help you realise it is time to part with them. Andrew Porter Limited’s Self Store has units available in a wide range of sizes with flexible terms so you can decide how much space you need and how long you need it for.
If the clutter has got on top of you, it can be difficult to know where to start. Pick one area of your home – this could be a drawer, cupboard or even the corner of a room and declutter that first before moving onto somewhere else. The important thing in any decluttering journey is to start somewhere rather than procrastinating. Sort your items into four categories – keep, sell, donate or throw away.
If you’re someone who struggles to get rid of things, you probably come up with lots of reasons why you should keep them. Perhaps you think it will come in useful one day or you feel guilty getting rid of something which was given as a gift or which you once loved? Decluttering guru Marie Kondo recommends that you should only keep items which spark joy. Assess each item and ask yourself whether you still use it or whether it adds anything positive to your life. If the answer is no, then decide whether to sell it, donate it to charity, recycle it or throw it away.
When you buy new technology like a tablet, smartphone or laptop, trade in your old appliance rather than just sticking it in a drawer. You can often get a discount on new technology by trading in your old items or you may be able to sell it. Even if it isn’t worth very much, it is better for both the environment and your home if you trade it in so it can be recycled or refurbished rather than clinging onto something you no longer need.
Making the switch to paperless bills can help reduce the mountain of paperwork taking up space in your home. Most banks, credit cards and utility companies now offer this option so you can still have the information you need without having to find somewhere to store it. Shred any old paperwork you no longer need to create space. Never destroy any important documents like birth certificates, passports and marriage certificates and keep bank statements for seven years if you are self-employed and 12 months if you are an employee.
Once you have cleared an area, give it a good clean. This will help you feel like you are reclaiming your home and you will find cleaning so much easier when there is less clutter to contend with. Make sure you have all the supplies you need to finish the area in one go so you don’t get distracted and end up doing something else.
