6 Steps to Declutter Your Home This Weekend
Spring is here, and that means the days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer and you may have the urge to refresh your space and clear out the old.
Spring cleaning might not be the most exciting thing in the world, but once you get started you’ll love the end result. Clutter can cause feelings of chaos and stress at home, which is why a good decluttering plan is exactly what you need to get things under control! It can help reduce stress and anxiety while creating positive feelings of accomplishment that can boost your mood.
We created a quick and easy decluttering guide that helps you sort through everything one room at a time. You can tackle your whole house or just focus on one or two rooms this weekend.
The goal is to only keep the things that add value to your life, because you use them often or you love them. Decluttering isn’t about what you’re giving up, it’s about what you gain when you let go of the clutter, the excess and the extra distractions.
Follow the steps below and download our weekend decluttering guide to help you create a schedule and give your home a refresh this weekend!
1. MAKE A LIST OF THE ROOMS YOU WANT TO DECLUTTER & HOW MUCH TIME YOU’LL NEED TO GO THROUGH EACH ONE
Some rooms, like bathrooms, might only take 20-30 minutes, while your bedroom might be more like 1-2 hours. When making your list, you want to limit yourself to no more than 1-2 hours per room, that way you don’t lose focus.
When you limit your time in each room, you have to get down to it and make progress. It doesn’t allow for time to reminisce about each object, it forces you to make quick decisions in the moment.
If you’re following along with the decluttering guide, you’ll find a place to list your rooms and the time you’re going to spend on each of them.
2. CREATE A SCHEDULE
Once you’ve made a list of the rooms in your house you want to tackle on your decluttering guide, it’s time to block out the specific date and time you’ll be going through each one. When planning, don’t forget to leave some time for breaks and fun, remember you don’t have to do the whole house in one weekend. Just take the first step and see how good you feel!
3. GET YOUR SUPPLIES IN ORDER
Make sure you have some big trash bags or empty boxes nearby to fill up with things you’re getting rid of. We recommend sticking to those time schedules you made, so set the timer on your phone to keep track of when it’s time to move on.
If you have a lot of stuff you’ll be selling or donating, it’s helpful to keep sticky notes and pens or markers nearby so you can label what’s inside your bags and boxes. We also recommend putting on some of your favorite music or even a great podcast while you’re decluttering to make the day less tedious!
4. START IN ONE SECTION OF THE ROOM & PULL EVERYTHING OUT
Take everything out of the drawers, shelves or floor space in the space and put it into a big pile in the center of the room. Throw away trash while you go and give the inside of the drawers or shelves a quick clean.
5. CHOOSE WHAT TO KEEP & WHAT TO GET RID OF
Sort the giant pile into two separate piles:
- What you use regularly and love
- What you’re going to get rid of – Pick up one item at a time and make an instant decision — when was the last time you used this? If you haven’t used it in a few months (6 months at the longest), get rid of it (exclude seasonal stuff like winter jackets etc).
If you’re really torn on something and can’t decide whether or not to keep it, put it aside in a separate pile and keep going.
When you’re finished with everything, you can go back and spend a little more time on your unsure pile, just don’t put everything in this pile 🙂
6. SORT YOUR GET RID OF PILE INTO: TRASH/RECYCLE, SELL OR DONATE
Once you’ve sorted through the pile, put back the stuff you love and use. Put the other pile into a box to be thrown away, donated or recycled or given to friends/family.
You will want to do some research to see what items different charities accept. Some will even come pick up the stuff from your home, so you don’t need to make a trip.
You’ll find a space to write where you want to sell and donate your items on our decluttering guide.
FEELING REFRESHED?
We hope you enjoyed our weekend decluttering guide and you find that you have created a healthier environment, including a calmer and more peaceful mind. Let us know below which room/rooms you’re tackling this weekend!
