HOW TO DECLUTTER AND ORGANIZE YOUR HOME

Most of us are spending more time in the house these days than we’re used to. That means it’s more important than ever to make sure your home is organized and pleasant to live in. Research has shown that clutter isn’t just inconvenient, it can increase stress and dissatisfaction at home. If you’re ready to spend some time curating an organized and livable space, here are a few tips for clearing the clutter and getting everything in order.

Pace yourself. Decluttering and organizing your entire home can feel like an unattainable task if you look at it all at once. Instead, plan to tackle it in stages. You might start by going through a specific closet, all the bookshelves, or your clothes — you don’t have to complete it all in one stroke. It may be a good idea to set a decluttering schedule that you can follow over the long-term, not just when you’re feeling inspired.

Give every item a home. Unless this is your first organization rodeo, you’ve probably already tried to give every item in your house a place where it belongs and form the habit of putting items back where they belong after use. But if you’ve found that it hasn’t stuck, it may be time to reevaluate. Choose places that make sense not just for what the item is, but how and when it’s used. For example, if your coat closet is far from the front door, you might choose to put up a coat rack by the door instead.

Learn to say goodbye. Tidying expert Marie Kondo has made a living out of teaching people to get rid of their unnecessary possessions with the KonMari Method. Think about when you last used an item, and ask yourself if it’s worth the space it takes up in your home. Don’t fall for the sunk cost fallacy, which says that you should keep something just because you invested a lot in it. Instead, try to keep only items that either serve a purpose or bring you happiness in some way. Sell, donate, and throw out the rest to clear up space in your home.

Get everyone on the same team. If you live with a partner, a roommate, family, or children, make sure they’re all on board for the decluttering squad. Instead of fighting an uphill battle tidying up while others redistribute the mess, work together to form a plan of action and set goals. This is a great opportunity to teach kids about the value of straightening up!

Once you’ve gotten everything in order, it’s also important to learn to maintain it. Try establishing a designated place for things that need to be dealt with (like mail, items that need to be returned to friends, things that need to be repaired, etc.) and then set a day that you’ll go through those things and deal with them, such as every Saturday. Remember, decluttering shouldn’t be stressful — the goal is to reduce stress! Instead, learn to build it into your regular routine so you can feel more in control over your space in the long term. The more organized your space, the easier it is to enjoy being present there.