Where Do I Start With Decluttering?

Now that summer's finally here, it's time to start thinking about decluttering your home.

But where do you even begin?

There's no right or wrong answer when it comes to decluttering your home. It all depends on what works best for you and your family.

However, we've put together a few decluttering tips to help you get started:

• Start with the easiest room first
• Work in small chunks of time
• Focus on one area at a time
• Get the whole family involved
• Donate or sell items you no longer need or want
• Designate a spot for incoming papers.
• Start clearing a starting zone.
• Clear off a counter.
• Pick a shelf.
• Schedule a decluttering weekend.
• Pick up 5 things, and find places for them.

Start with the easiest room first

The easiest room could either be the smallest room in your house or the room that has the least amount of stuff in it. 

Starting with a smaller, easier room will help you get into the decluttering mindset and give you a sense of accomplishment when you're done.

Work in small chunks of time

Looking at the overall picture when it comes to decluttering can feel overwhelming, so try to break it down into smaller chunks of time.

Set a timer for 15-20 minutes and focus on decluttering one specific area. Once the timer goes off, take a break and come back to it later.

You'll be surprised at how much you can get done in just a few minutes!

Focus on one area at a time

It can be incredibly tempting to try to declutter your entire house all at once. But trust us, it's a recipe for disaster.

Instead, focus on one area at a time, whether it's the kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc. Once you've conquered that area, move on to the next one.

Trying to do too much at once will only leave you feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.

Get the whole family involved

Decluttering your home is a great opportunity to involve the whole family.

If you have kids, assign each of them a few items to declutter from their bedroom or playroom. For older kids and adults, try to get everyone to declutter one area of the house.

Not only will this make the process go by faster, but it'll also teach your kids the importance of decluttering and being organized.

Donate or sell items you no longer need or want

One of the best parts about decluttering is getting rid of all the stuff you no longer need or want.

Rather than throwing everything away, see if there's anything you can donate or sell.

There are plenty of organizations that accept donations otherwise, there are also a number of ways to sell your stuff, such as online consignment shops, garage sales, or even a Facebook yard sale group.

Designate a spot for incoming papers

Organised chaos is still... chaotic and so one of the best decluttering tips is to designate a spot for all those incoming papers.

Whether it's a basket, a box, or a folder, make sure everything has a place so it doesn't end up scattered all over your counters and tables.

Start clearing a starting zone

When you start feeling overwhelmed by the thought of decluttering your entire house, it can help to start with a small, manageable area.

We like to call this the "starting zone." This can be any area in your home, such as a countertop, a coffee table, or even a dresser drawer.

The goal is to clear off the surface and keep it clutter-free for at least a week. After that, you can move on to decluttering another area.

Clear off a counter

If you have a kitchen countertop that's always cluttered, make it a priority to clear it off and keep it clutter-free.

This may mean putting away dishes after every meal, wiping down the countertop every day, and getting rid of any unnecessary items that are taking up space.

You may also want to designate a specific spot for things like keys, mail, and sunglasses so they always have a home.

Pick a shelf

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the thought of decluttering your entire house, start with one shelf.

Pick a shelf in your closet, pantry, or even the fridge and clear it off. Then, take a few minutes each day to keep it decluttered.

The key is to not let the clutter build up again so that you don't have to start all over again.

Focus on one drawer

One of the most frustrating things about decluttering is dealing with all those pesky little things that always seem to end up in a jumble.

Rather than trying to declutter your entire house all at once, start with one drawer.

Focus on decluttering your junk drawer, sock drawer, or even your nightstand drawer. Once you've tackled that, move on to the next one.

One drawer at a time may not seem like much, but it'll make a big difference in the long run.

Start with your closet

Your closet is probably one of the most cluttered areas in your house, so it's no surprise that it can be incredibly overwhelming to try to declutter it.

The best way to tackle this space is to start with one section at a time. For example, focus on decluttering your shirts, then move on to pants, skirts, dresses, etc.

You may also want to consider investing in some storage containers or bins to help keep everything organized.

Related: 10 Of The Best Toy Storage Solutions Chosen By RiiRoo

Schedule a decluttering weekend

If you're serious about decluttering your house, then you need to set aside specific time to do it.

Decluttering can't be done in an hour or two—it takes time and patience.

One of the best ways to make sure you get it done is to schedule a decluttering weekend. Set aside a whole day (or two) to declutter your house from top to bottom.

Create a list of what needs to be done and then get to work. Remember to take breaks as needed and reward yourself with a break when you're finished.

Pick up 5 things, and find places for them

One of the quickest and easiest ways to declutter your house is to simply pick up 5 things and find a place for them.

This can be done every day, or even multiple times a day. Just take a few minutes to walk around your house and look for things that are out of place.

Then, put them away or find a place for them. This is a great way to keep your house decluttered without spending hours doing it all at once.

Don't bring anything new into the house

So, you've done the hard work and decluttered your house. Now, it's time to keep it that way.

One of the best ways to do this is to create some rules around what you bring into the house.

For example, for each and every new item that comes in, an old one must go out. Or, you may want to only allow yourself to buy things when you're getting rid of something else.

Whatever rule you choose, make sure you stick to it. Being mindful of what you're bringing into your house is the most effective way of keeping it decluttered.

Wrapping Up:

Decluttering your house can be a daunting task, but it's definitely worth it in the end. These tips should help you get started and make the process a little bit easier. Remember to take your time and don't try to do everything at once. And most importantly, don't forget to have fun with it!