How to declutter your home and keep it that way

If you want to keep your home neat and organised and reduce the time you spend cleaning, then regular decluttering is essential for keeping things in order.

Decluttering can seem overwhelming at first - especially when you have a lot of stuff, but once you have a clear plan, it becomes more manageable - and when it's done, you'll feel ok much better.

Here are our top tips for decluttering your home - and keeping it that way.

Have A Plan

The first step in decluttering is to have a clear plan. Start by going around your home and taking note of all the cluttered places.

Instead of tackling everything at once and setting yourself up for immediate failure, pick one place to start.

There's no right or wrong place to start, but if you've never decluttered before or don’t have a lot of time, it's best to start somewhere small.

Here are some examples of places to start when decluttering:

• A wardrobe, cupboard, or drawer
• A shelf or box
• A single surface (a desk, table, countertop)
• A single area of a room

Once you've decided where to start, take some time to look at what's there and determine what needs attention.

This may be obvious if there are piles of stuff everywhere, but sometimes it’s not so obvious - especially if this is an area that's been neglected, such as a hall cupboard.

If there's something specific bothering you about this space, like too many clothes hanging in the wardrobe that you know you’ll never wear, then focus on tackling those items first.

However, if everything looks fine except for a lonely pile on top of your dresser that hasn't been cleaned up, start with those items and find a place for them.

PRO DECLUTTERING TIP: If you can’t find a place for something, it's time to consider if you really need it.

Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to decluttering, especially if you’re used to hanging on to things longer than you should:

Permit Yourself To Throw Things Away

Ask yourself if you really need this item, and if not, then allow yourself to either throw it away or donate it to charity so that someone else can benefit.It’s not always easy to get rid of things - especially if they were given to you as a gift or you bought them with the best intentions.

However, if you haven't used something in a year, or it's been sitting in a cupboard unopened since you got it, the chances are that you don't need it anymore.

If it's broken or damaged, there's no need to keep it.

Donate, Sell, Or Give Away Useful Items That Are In Good Condition

While decluttering your home, you'll likely come across useful items from which someone else could benefit.

These can be donated to charity or given away to friends and family. You can also sell these items on places like Vinted and Facebook Marketplace if they're still in good condition and you want to raise a little extra cash.

Keep Only What You Love, Use, And Need

Successful decluttering starts with knowing what to keep and when to get rid of things you don't need.

When decluttering any room in your house, you should keep only the things you love, use, and need.

Don't keep it if it's not something that sparks joy in your life.

You don't have room for things just because they're expensive or because you feel obligated to keep them. If they aren't helpful or bring joy into your life, they can go.

It's also important to not hold onto items with the intention of one day using them again - especially things like clothes.

We hope this post has helped you see that keeping your home clean, tidy, and clutter-free doesn’t have to be difficult, stressful, or overwhelming when you follow a few simple steps.