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If you have rooms that you no longer use or need in your home, it might be time to either rent them out, or consider moving to a smaller place. 

 

If you have rooms that you can no longer use, it may be time to declutter.

 

How do you decide what to keep and what needs a new home? This can be a daunting task, so here are some tips and tricks to make decluttering things easier.

 

1. Consider how you want to live

Sounds easy, but what are your priorities? Write down at least three goals, and stick it to the wall (not permanently!) as you work. If you get stuck, look at your goals, and decide which decision best fits the goals you have set.

 

Example: 

a) I want to spend more time with friends and family

b) I want to spend less time cleaning

c) I want space for my hobbies

 

2. Timing

There are three things here. 

 

Firstly, start as soon as possible, so that you have time to declutter and make good decisions. You will need at least three months of paced work before you move. If you have more time, so much the better.

 

Secondly, set a timer - I like 30 minutes - so that you are working for a set amount of time which makes it easier not to get distracted, and to keep your energy levels high.

 

Finally, give yourself two seconds to make a decision about an object. If you cannot decide, then it should not be kept.

 

3. Help!

Don't be afraid to ask for help from friends, family or a local professional. People who will keep you motivated and accountable, and who may help with any heavy lifting are to be welcomed.

 

4. Choose a method of working

There are lots of different ways of organising. Have a look online to find one that will work for you. Popular choices include:

 

a) KonMari #konmari - Gather together all items of the same type, and keep the ones that spark joy. 

b) Minimalist game  #minsgame - get rid of the number of items that correspond to the day of the month, one on the first, two on the second and so on. Removes 496 items from your home in one month.

c) One method - get rid of one [item, bag, box, ...] every day for a period that you set.

d) Four box method - have four boxes, and give them a title. These can be whatever you like, but I use Keep, Gift/Donate/Sell, Bin/Recycle and Wrong place.

 

Also use the ones that can happen organically day-to-day as you get on with your life. For example, to work out which clothes you wear, turn all your coat hangers around, and as you put clothes back in the closet, put them in your normal way. Give it a few weeks, and this will help you to quickly see which clothes you are wearing, and reduce the number of decisions you need to make (remember seasonality is a factor). To work out what you use in a drawer, empty it into a box, and keep only what you use and put back in the drawer.

 

Remember that photo's take up less space, so consider taking a picture of things like cards, keepsakes and teddy bears and keep those rather than the objects themselves.

 

5. Focus

Don't try to declutter the whole house at the same time. Focus on a much smaller area. A drawer, a cupboard, a room and use your timer to give you a deadline to go and do something fun. If there is a space in the house that annoys you, start there, so that you can get a buzz out of fixing it.

 

6. Let it go

It's great that you have a pile of things ready for a new home, but they need to get to that new home. Take them to a charity shop, have your family collect them or list them for sale as you go so that you end up with a nice clear space.

 

7. Measure up

Once you have found your new home, measure up your space and your furniture, and decide what will fit, and what matches the lifestyle you want to have. Gift, donate or recycle the rest at least two weeks before your moving date.

 

8. Prepare for moving day

Moving day will be here before you know it, so start to get yourself ready. Decide where everything will go, and make a plan. Add your pets / plants to the plan and make sure they will be safe on moving day. Decide who will move your things to your new home, and make sure they understand your plan. Pack a bag so that you have the basics to camp out for a few days if needed (remember medication and chargers). Put together a tea / coffee station in a box that you can use in both your new and old home.

 

9. Move

Don't try to do everything. As long as the big furniture is in place, the rest can be sorted using your 30 minute timer again. The benefit of this is that you will find the right place, not the quickest place. Remember to enjoy your new space.

 

10. Keep up the good work

Now that your home is properly decluttered, how do you stop the clutter building up again? Firstly, be discerning about what you bring into your home. Does it meet your goals? Secondly, put things away - if you leave just one thing out every day, that is around thirty things out of place in a month (double for two people). Thirdly, have a regular decluttering schedule where you "top-up" your work.

 

Finally, you might want to ask for experiences rather than gifts - a trip to the cinema, a shared hike or tea and cake will all give you lovely memories.