5 Must-See Tips for Leaving Clutter Behind in the New Year

This year, we need a fresh start more than ever. With all of us working and learning from home, our clutter has increased exponentially.

Our space is a reflection of us and our surroundings can heavily dictate our mood. This time of year is perfect for decluttering and organizing…purging the old and welcoming in the new. A fresh start. A clean slate for 2021.

We will be sharing some tips for decluttering and organizing your home in the New Year that will set the stage for a healthy, happy year ahead.

1. Tackle Only One Room at a Time

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of organization and decluttering your home may need. Just clearing out the holiday decor is a lot! We suggest starting the process by tackling one room per day and in 2-3 hour blocks of time. The key to success is to focus on small sections and to keep moving forward.

2. Separate Yourself from Sentimental Items

Some things, such as sentimental items, can slow you down and leave you feeling unsure if it's something to keep or toss. If it is something that you enjoy seeing and reminiscing over, keep it! If the image of it brings you joy but you don't need to actually hold it, take a photo of it and create a photo album dedicated to the specific topic.

I was really overwhelmed with the amount of art projects my kids have made over the years so I took photos of them and started adding them to our family photo album. If you have years to catch up on, take photos and compile them all into one album. The same technique can be used for anything that you would like to see and remember but do not necessarily need to keep.

3. Sort with Your Significant Other or a Friend

Purging with a partner is so helpful. Not only does it help the project move faster, it will also hold you accountable if you start to hoard unused items! Before you begin the process of purging, it’s helpful to have large trash bags on hand that you can use for either donated items or items to trash. Hopefully, the majority of things can be donated and reused.

Having labeled bins nearby for different categories of things you know you will need to sort is also very helpful. A little prep work and having a partner are just a couple of things that will help make the process smoother.

4. Repurpose Items You Really Love

When we stage occupied homes, a common request is to have the homeowner remove clutter and begin packing away small objects. Since the homeowner is planning to move anyways, getting a jump-start on boxing up and organizing is helpful for everyone.

While packing things away is a great time to decide on new ways to use some favorite things in your home…just make sure to label the box clearly with the item’s new purpose. If you are not moving and just organizing your home, you may come across things that have been stored away and forgotten that you can find a new use for.

5. Repeat Regularly for a Continually Decluttered Home

Organizing and decluttering doesn't need to be a one-and-done process. Repeating the steps as often as necessary to keep your home feeling fresh and decluttered is all part of the process. Deep cleaning along the way is also important. It takes extra time, but in the long run, is well worth it!

We are hopeful that in 2021 we will start to see our lives turn back to normal and experience a renewed sense of gratitude. After you remove the clutter and get organized, feel free to reach out to us to continue to transform your home into your dream space!

If you love organizing tips you can use right away, you'll really love our newsletter. Subscribe here to get the good stuff. ;)

Warmly,
Alison + Andrea