Do you ever watch a show and wonder why the homes on the show are always so neat and tidy despite having children running around? It probably makes you feel like “Why can’t I have that?” I want to let you in on two little secrets: the first one is that the shows are fake and the second secret is that you can have a tidy home. You just need to follow a home decluttering plan.
A home decluttering plan can be used for any living space or even an office. It’s easy to go about life collecting things while not realizing how piled up those belongings have become. The point of a decluttering plan is to help you stay on top of clutter consistently so that you aren’t waking up one day wondering how all of this stuff got in your home in the first place.
If you are someone who does well following a plan, then you will be happy to know this plan for decluttering your home will help you do exactly that. Follow along for details about how you can get your home camera ready at any given moment (you never know when they will decide to film the next season of your favorite show in your living room!).
6 Steps for Your Home Decluttering Plan
Start getting your home the way you want it to look with an easy decluttering plan. The following six steps of your plan will help you reach your goal.
Prioritize
In order to properly plan for decluttering your home, you will need to prioritize areas in your home that you want to tackle first. If you know where to start, then you will know where to go from there. Make a list of challenging areas that bring you the most stress right now.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be the messiest area first. Whatever area would bring you peace of mind once it is decluttered should be the room your start with. Your list of priorities will ensure you are spending the time getting these things done.
List all Spaces in Your Home
List all the areas of your home. From bedrooms to closets and pantries, you don’t want to leave anything out. Additionally, think of your garage and any outdoor sheds or basements that need some attention as well. When you have a full outlook of your home, it’s easier to make a plan of action to declutter.
Designate Bins for Clutter
A bin for clutter helps keep the clutter in one area. If you aren’t decluttering every day, then having this bin will help you weed out the clutter throughout the week so that it doesn’t pile up on you. When you get to your decluttering day the next week, it will be easy to have the bin already full. You can sort through it to find things to donate or designate to the trash.
Keep Similar Items Together
Part of your home decluttering plan should also include keeping like items together. Think about post-it notes, pens, blankets, towels, etc. When they are all in one spot, they are easier to find.
You will never have to say you don’t know where something is if it is in its place. Think of all the room you can save by consolidating and freeing up space in other areas.
Stay Consistent
Consistency is key in any part of life. Whether it’s weight loss, learning a new skill, or building a new routine, you need to stay consistent in order for it to make a difference. You can’t eat a salad for one day and weight loss expect results right away. The same goes for your home decluttering plan.
You need to have a weekly plan on how you are staying on top of the clutter so that it doesn’t get away from you from week to week. Another idea is to set an evening alarm to remind you to tidy up for 5-10 minutes each night after dinner. Plan based on your lifestyle and goals.
Commit to a Change of Lifestyle
When you shift your mindset and therefore your lifestyle, suddenly the clutter doesn’t seem to hang around as often. This could look like switching to a minimalist lifestyle completely or making a commitment to yourself that you won’t bring unnecessary items into your home that would be otherwise labeled as clutter. Your decluttering plan rests on your commitment to keeping up with it.
Home Decluttering Plans are Effective
A home decluttering plan is effective if you use it accordingly. Making the plan is only part of the battle. The other part is actually doing the work and staying consistent. You can’t meet your goals if you aren’t allowing yourself to commit to the change. Decluttering is not only good for your home, but it is good for your mental health as well.
Try out your home decluttering plan for a few weeks to see if it works for you. If it doesn’t, then create a new plan that you think will work better. You don’t have to stick to something if it isn’t working for you. The trick is to not give up, but instead to try again.
Decluttering can be overwhelming and daunting. Consider putting on some music while you are doing your tasks to liven up your mood. Start in one corner of the room and work your way around as you create categories of like items. Remember to reward yourself as an incentive each week for completing your plan. Lastly, consider hiring a professional home organizer like myself to get the ultimate decluttering and organization systems put in place in your home. Don’t settle for clutter; schedule your complimentary consultation now so that we can make your plan together.