After over a decade of covering organizing, these are my top takeaways.
By: Leslie Corona
I consider myself extremely lucky to write about all things home, including decorating, cleaning, and organizing. I’ve been covering these topics for over a decade now, and while I think I’m naturally a bit of a homemaker, my job has certainly played a huge role in how I maintain my apartment.
People always comment on how neat and tidy it is. And guests are often shocked when I tell them how much stuff I actually accumulate from my job (I’m frequently sent products to test for content). So they always ask how I manage to keep clutter at bay in my home, and I give a lot of credit to the organizing experts I’ve spoken to over the years for my stories—I’ve adopted so many good habits thanks to them!
And because I don’t believe in gatekeeping, here are the eight decluttering rules I swear by to keep my apartment organized.
Create a Decluttering Schedule—and Stick to It
To really keep clutter to a minimum in my home, I’ve learned that I need to move things out on a consistent basis before they pile up. I’ve created a decluttering schedule that I can stick to—the trick is to make it realistic so that it works with your lifestyle. I try to do a seasonal edit of my wardrobe, then about once a month I bring products I’ve been sent to test for work down to my storage unit in the basement. (Items live here until I have enough things to schedule a donation pickup, which happens about twice a year.)
Throughout the year, when the mood strikes, I’ll declutter small pockets in my home. (More on this later!) Then in December, I spend a few days during the holidays doing a deeper decluttering session, tackling spots I avoid the rest of the year.
If it seems like I’m constantly decluttering, it’s because I kind of am! Breaking it up this way makes that end-of-year declutter session so much easier—you’re really only tackling just a few zones, instead of your entire home. Plus, because I’m so used to decluttering often, my brain is now trained to want to get rid of clutter almost immediately, so I actually want to stick to my decluttering schedule.
Set Up a Concealed Donation Bin or Area
This is probably the best way to keep your home looking tidy…even if it really isn’t. As you declutter, tuck items away into a designated donation bin, basket, or closet. I have an area near my dining table that’s a bit hidden, and this is where I store anything before it goes down to our storage unit in the basement. Truthfully, this is the easiest way to tackle clutter right away if you’re busy—it’s simple to just toss things into a bin and deal with it later. Just make sure you actually do the latter and ensure those things leave the premises!
Maintain the “Nooks and Crannies”
I mentioned this earlier, but when the mood strikes, I like to declutter the small pockets of my home where clutter can accumulate. Think: the medicine cabinet, nightstand, junk drawer, etc. I call this the “nooks and crannies” approach because they’re the little nooks and crannies of your home, and I feel so accomplished after I sort through these areas because they don’t take long at all (at most, 15 minutes!).
And because I don’t usually store anything super important in these areas, it doesn’t take much brainpower for me to decide what to keep or toss. There’s no rhyme or reason to what I tackle and when I do it, and I like the flexibility this mindset allows me. It makes it easier to keep up! As long as I’m doing something, even if it’s small, I’m content.
Keep Surfaces (Mostly) Clear
My countertops, coffee table, kitchen island, console, etc., are not usually cluttered up, and this is probably why people think my home is pretty neat. I keep only the things I use daily on my kitchen countertops. A dish rack, coffee machine, smart home device, and cooking utensils are pretty much the only things on display. (I have a Kitchenaid mixer I don’t use regularly but keep out because it’s too heavy for me to move.) I do not keep food items or condiments out, which thanks to packaging, can make your kitchen look busy.
I also keep decorative objects to a minimum. I have a simple centerpiece on my dining table and a little tray of knick-knacks neatly displayed on my coffee table. My entertainment console surface is also quite sparse. I do have decorative accents on it, but I keep them in groups of two or three. I never cluster more items than that together. And even my sofa is pretty bare, with just two throw pillows. I have a few nice-quality baskets that I stash bulky things into, like throw blankets, extra pillows, hand vacuums, etc.
Pare Down…Then Pare Down More
Coco Chanel famously said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” This is something I subscribe to as I’m decluttering. When I think I’ve finished sorting through a space, deep down I know there’s a thing or two lingering that I could do without. We all have a tendency to hold onto more than we need. So I’ll do another quick edit and try to get rid of at least one extra item—sometimes this means being a little ruthless but there are very few times I’ve truly regretted getting rid of something.
Pick Furniture With Exposed Legs
This isn’t exactly a decluttering strategy, but I truly believe this is another reason people think my home is super neat and clutter-free. Choosing furniture with exposed legs can really make a room look so airy and light—it tricks the eye into thinking your home is way bigger and emptier than it actually is. Bulky furniture on the other hand just looks heavy and takes up a lot more visual space. Generally, the more floor you can see, the less cluttered your space will look.
Take the “One In, One Out” Approach
This is a method I’m pretty diligent about lately—whenever I bring anything into my home, I try to get rid of a similar item. I do this especially with makeup and clothes, which are easy categories for me to over-consume.
For example, if I buy a new blush, I get rid of an old one. If I buy a new sweater, I donate one I no longer wear. It forces me to really be intentional with what I buy and helps me evaluate what I already own—do I really want to part with one of my many beloved dresses to make room for a new one?
Only things I genuinely love deserve a spot in my home. It’s a habit I’ve gotten into as of late, and it’s helped tremendously with keeping my apartment from exploding with things.
Eliminate Emotional Attachments to Things
Whenever I’m struggling to get rid of stuff, I shut off the emotional part of my brain during the decision process. I remind myself that most of the things in my home are not essential to my survival. Sure, I keep enough stuff—and the right stuff—in my home to ensure that I’m emotionally satisfied, but for the most part, I really don’t have an attachment to things.
If everything I owned went away in an emergency (God forbid), I’d probably be OK! There are very few things I really have trouble decluttering. If something was incredibly expensive or there’s some serious sentimental value, then that’s different. But for the most part, if you truly regret tossing something, there’s a good chance you can easily replace it.
It’s not an attitude I encourage because the goal is to acquire fewer things, but it’s something I remind myself of. Do I really want to donate all the party games my husband and I have somehow acquired even though we don’t have big gatherings? What if I decide I want to start throwing parties?! What if a gaggle of my friends stops by uninvited and want to have a good time?!
But then I tell myself that that’s all very unlikely to happen because I won’t suddenly become a new, hyper-social person, and games are the type of thing I can easily repurchase. Once you disconnect yourself from stuff, it’s so easy to let things go—and it gets easier to bring fewer things into your home.
READ MORE:
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