FROM CLUTTERED TO CALM: THE 5 Step GUIDE TO A PEACEFUL HOME
Happy New Year!
As we step into a fresh year, it's the perfect time to reflect on our habits, goals, and living spaces. Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by clutter, disorganization, and stress? Do you dream of having a peaceful, streamlined, and beautiful home that sparks joy and productivity?
Well, you're in luck! The start of a new year is the ideal time to kick-start your decluttering journey and create a space that truly reflects your aspirations and personality.
In this blog post, we'll walk you through the 5 simple yet powerful steps to decluttering, helping you to transform your space, reduce stress, and achieve your goals. Each of the 5 steps has smaller, actionable tasks to help you stay focused and MOTIVATED! Remember, decluttering is a process, and its okay to take it 1 step at a time. Do NOT feel overwhelmed by the number of tasks- simply focus on one thing at a time and don’t forget to celebrate along the way!!!!! Now…. let's get started!
The 5 steps to decluttering:
Prepare & Plan
Sort and Purge
Organize and Categorize
Improve and Simplify
Maintain and Enjoy
Did you know the average home contains over 300,000 items? It's time to take control and create a space that nourishes your mind, body, and soul!
Now that you know the STEPS, LET’s BREAK THEM DOWN:
Step 1: PREPARE & PLAN !
Before you start decluttering, it's essential to prepare and plan. Here are some tasks to complete during this step:
1. Set your goals: Decide why you want to declutter and what you want to achieve. Do you want to free up space, reduce stress, or improve your focus?
2. Schedule time: Allocate time for decluttering, and try to declutter in short sessions to maintain your energy and motivation. Start with 15 min sessions!
If you are planning on decluttering your entire home, I recommend grabbing a calendar and plotting out the areas of house over a 6-10 week time span (depending on how many rooms and how much decluttering you think is going to happen)
3. Gather supplies: Collect boxes, trash bags, labels, and markers to help you sort and categorize items. We’ll get into this deeper in step X
4. Involve family members: If you live with others, discuss your decluttering plans with them and encourage them to participate. If you have kids, make it fun! For every 10 items they let go of - take them out for there favorite treat. Rewards work wonders!!
STEP 2: SORT & PURGE
Now, it's time to dive into the most challenging yet liberating part of the process: DECLUTTERING! Let's face it, it's tough to let go of items you've held onto for years. But, remember, you've already committed to transforming your space and your life!
This step involves sorting items into categories and deciding what to keep, donate, sell, or discard. Here's a more detailed guide:
1. Start with a small area: Begin with a single room, shelf, or category of items to help you focus. Your sessions should not be any longer than 20- 30 mins in the beginning. This is going to take some time to be comfortable letting go! Do not try to entire room or house in a shorrt period of time. Trust us - It won’t go well!
2. Sort items into categories: Use boxes, bins, or piles to categorize items into groups (e.g., clothes, books, kitchen items).
3. Evaluate each item: Hold each item and ask yourself:
When was the last time I used this item?
Do I still need or love this item?
Can I replace this item if I need it again?
Would someone else benefit from having this item?
4. Make decisions: Based on your evaluation, decide what to:
Keep: items that are useful, bring joy, or serve a purpose.
Donate: items that are still in good condition but no longer needed.
Sell: items that have value but are no longer needed.
Discard: items that are broken, damaged, or no longer useful.
Fun Fact: Our top 10 things to declutter list is featured in the STROLL Alanton January 2025 issue!! If you receive that magazine, check out the article for more details.
things to declutter
Here is the TOP 10 EASIEST THINGS TO DECLUTTER!
This will help you get started on your journey to a more organized and peaceful living space:
1. Broken or non-functional items: Get rid of broken appliances, furniture, and décor that no longer serve a purpose.
2. Unused kitchen gadgets: Clear out your kitchen drawers and countertops by getting rid of unused gadgets and appliances.
3. Old books, newspapers and magazines: Recycle or digitize to free up physical space.
4. Expired or unused products: Clear out all your cabinets and get rid of expired or unused beauty products , health/medicine items and food. Trash anything expired!
5. Old receipts and paperwork: Digitize or shred old receipts and paperwork to reduce clutter and free up physical space.
6. Clothing/ Shoe: Get rid of items that no longer fit, are out of style, haven’t been worn in a year. “Did you know….. most people wear only 20% of their clothes 80% of the time! Thats a lot of unworn items!”
7. Old or broken electronics: Recycle or dispose of old or broken electronics, such as phones, computers, and televisions.
8. Cords and cables: Organize or get rid of cluttered cords and cables that are taking up space in your home.
9.Unwanted gifts: Let go of gifts that no longer bring you joy or serve a purpose. Either regift to someone who you know will love it or add to your donate pile.
10. Sentimental Items- This one can be MUCH harder for lots of people but a very important one - consider letting go of sentimental items that no longer serve a purpose. Take a picture of the items so you always have the reminder but not the physical item. These items take up a lot of emotional space and can be causing more harm than you realize.
By decluttering these items and adopting a mindful approach to consumption, you'll be able to create a more harmonious and energized space that supports your well-being.
Once the Decluttering HAPPENS, It’s time to move to:
STEP 3: Organize & Categorize
Once you've purged your unwanted items, it's time to organize and categorize what's left. Here's how:
1. Assign a home: Designate a specific place for each item, making sure it's easily accessible and makes sense for your lifestyle.
2. Use storage containers: Label and use containers, bins, or baskets to store items that you want to keep but don't need immediate access to.
3. Implement a maintenance routine: Set aside time each week to maintain your newly organized space and ensure clutter doesn't build up again.
4. Consider vertical storage: Make the most of your space by using wall-mounted shelves, hooks, or storage units.
Step 4: IMPROVE & SIMPLIFY
In this step, you'll focus on optimizing and streamlining your newly organized space:
1. Simplify your systems: Evaluate your daily routines and tasks, and simplify them by eliminating unnecessary steps or items.
2. Implement efficient habits: Develop habits that promote organization, such as putting things back in their assigned home, using a "one in, one out" policy, or setting reminders for maintenance tasks.
3. Invest in multi-functional items: Consider investing in items that serve multiple purposes, such as a storage ottoman or a desk with built-in storage.
4. Review and adjust: Regularly review your systems and habits, and make adjustments as needed to ensure they continue to work for you.
Step 5: Maintain & Enjoy
The final step is to maintain your newly organized space and enjoy the benefits of decluttering:
1. Schedule regular maintenance: Set aside time each week or month to maintain your space and ensure clutter doesn't build up again.
2. Be mindful of new purchases: Before buying something new, ask yourself if you really need it and if it will fit into your newly organized space.
3. Enjoy your space: Take time to appreciate and enjoy your newly organized space, and celebrate the sense of accomplishment and reduced stress that comes with it.
4. Share your success: Consider sharing your decluttering success with friends and family, and inspire others to start their own decluttering journey.
At CarMELLA Design Studio, we believe that transforming a space goes far beyond aesthetics. It’s about creating a home that reflects your lifestyle and enhances your everyday routines. Our role is to tailor a plan for your space that fits your unique needs and leaves you with a home that’s not only organized and beautiful but also effortlessly livable. Whether you’re looking for help decluttering and organizing your home, simple decor update or a full-home refresh, we’re here to make your vision come to life.
Contact us today to schedule an introductory call! Come back to read more blog posts that further break down the decluttering process!
