My husband and I are currently in full declutter and downsize mode. Living in a small house with a lot of things can start to feel overwhelming and cramped. And so to combat that, I try to go through things and declutter every so often. Therefore, I thought I would share some of my tips for decluttering and/or downsizing things in your home.
One of the “perks” of being a military family, and moving a lot is that you get pretty good at decluttering ,downsizing, and really just keeping the stuff to a minimum in general. Over the years, I have gotten pretty good at letting go of things that I am unnecessarily holding on to, or just reimagining a space with the things I already have.
Here they are! My tips for decluttering your home
First, let me start by saying that I tend to fall between a minimalist, and a maximalist. I am not really sure what I would classify myself as, but I feel that we have a pretty good balance of having things that we enjoy, but not having too much that just takes up space with no purpose.
Also, I am no organizing professional. I am just a regular mom who has found a way that works well for me.
1. Think about the last time you’ve used an item
Like I said above, I am no professional organizer or anything. However, I have heard of the method where you look at something and it doesn’t bring you joy, get rid of it. And I find this approach to be a little flawed. Personally, I decide whether I am going to keep something or not based on how often the item is used, or when was the last time I even used it?
If you are trying to decide what to do with an item, try to remember when was the last time you used / wore that item. If you can’t think of an instance where you’ve used or worn an item in the last year, it is probably safe to get rid of it.
2. Think about how many of that item you have
Think about items like water bottles, coffee cups, notebooks, blankets, t-shirts, and so on. How many of that item do you have vs. how much do you actually need? (Blankets are a struggle for me…I love all the comfort items!)
The truth is you really don’t need the same water bottle in a dozen different colors, or 500 coffee mugs. And if you’re having trouble deciding which items to let go of, go back to tip number one and think about the last time you used that item.
On the other hand, if you are just so attached to an item that you can’t let go of it. That is ok! keep it! Try again the next time you downsize or declutter.
3. Try to reimagine items you already have as something else
Before you decide to throw something away or donate it, think if there is another way you can use that item.
Some items in my house have been used in different areas, for different purposes in our different houses. For example, I have a small bookshelf / cabinet that we originally used for storage in the bathroom of our very first apartment. (This apartment had an unusually large bathroom with absolutely no cabinets, drawers, shelves, cupboard, etc. It was kind of crazy! haha!) Since then, that cabinet shelf has been used for books, DVDs, towels, and diapers.
With a little creativity, many items that you already have can be used for many different purposes. Doing this will also save you from purchasing more things, and save it from a landfill. It’s a win-win!
4. Does the item in question have a permanent “home”?
Another thing I like to consider when deciding whether to keep something or not, is do I have an actual place to keep the item when it’s not in use? Any flat surface seems to get cluttered really quickly because everyone just drops their things there. So whenever I am trying to clean things up, if something doesn’t actually have a place to “live” or if I can’t find a good spot for it, I usually get rid of it.
Another reason this tips for decluttering works well, is because if the item was really important or necessary to have, you would easily be able to find a place to keep it.
Additionally, when you are making space to keep said items, you can usually find other things that are taking up space that you don’t need and can get rid of as well. Sometimes simply doing some rearguing can really do wonders for decluttering your home.
5. If the item is just something you enjoy, keep it.
If you just really love that blanket, or coffee mug, keep it! If the thought of letting go of that old t-shirt is too hard, keep it!
In my mind, there really are no hard and fast rules for decluttering and downsizing your home. Everyone’s homes are different, and storage capacity varies. Your idea of what is important may be different from someone else’s.
They key here is to ignore what everyone else is doing, and simply do what works for you. Don’t try to fit your life into a box. The truth is that trends come and go. And in my opinion, spending too much time and energy trying to keep up with them won’t do you much good in the long run.
Tips for Decluttering Your Home Made Easy
I know that sometimes the thought of deep cleaning, downsizing, or decluttering, can feel overwhelming. But honestly, it doesn’t have to be. These simple tips for decluttering are ways that have helped me keep the clutter in my own home to a minimum. Not to mention that if this is something you do every so often, it won’t be as overwhelming because there won’t be as much to do. (I hope that makes sense!)
I also know that kids things can be a tough one. The toys pile up, and they seem to take over completely. Some people swear by toy rotations, and I do think it’s smart. However, I will be honest… I am not that mom. Ha! First, I don’t have space to store totes of toys when they are not in use. And secondly, I just have enough to do, I don’t want to add rotating toys to the already giant list.
Note: I think toy rotation is awesome! If you are an avid toy rotator, keep it up!!! It just doesn’t work for me and that is ok! Don’t come at me now… haha!
A Few Little Bonus Tips for Decluttering Your Home
Since I just don’t have the space for extra toy storage, here are a few things that have worked for me.
- Store stuffed animals, small blankets, and small pillows in an empty bean bag chair. I purchased a small size, unfilled, bean bag chair on amazon and it works perfectly for storing things like this. The kids love to sit on the chairs to look at books. And when I notice they aren’t playing with some plush toys, I simply add them to the beanbag chair.
- I also love this because some stuffed animals or blankets are special to them and I don’t want to get rid of them.
- Save small toys that you are thinking about getting rid of for potty training rewards. I like to recycle those kid’s meal toys, or other small toys that just end up getting kicked around and use them for potty training. Some of the toys we have are on their third round of potty training, and honestly the kids are none the wiser! Haha!
- I love this idea because it saves me money on buying small potty training rewards, and it keeps more stuff out of the landfills!
- If you can’t decide on whether or not to keep or donate a toy, put it out of sight for a while. If the kids don’t ask about those toys, they obviously don’t miss them. And in that case it’s safe to let the toys find a new home.
- Check out my tips for managing kid’s coloring, drawings, and other artwork. Click here!
Remember: Do what works best for you!
No matter how you choose to declutter or organize your home, if it works for you it’s a great method! Like I said before, there are no hard and fast rules here. Do what works best for you, your family, and your home!
You’re doing great!
