2020: it’s the year to downsize your belongings, finally. Whether you’ve decided to move to a smaller home, or you want to declutter your existing home, getting rid of some unnecessary items is a great way to make your home a more comfortable place.
After all, the average American household has approximately a whopping 300,000 items in it, and getting rid of even a fraction of that can make a big difference.
Here’s our simple guide to practical, fast decluttering for 2020 and beyond.
First Things First: Start Small, but Get Started
There’s one foundational truth about decluttering: it won’t magically become easier to get rid of items tomorrow than it is today. With this in mind, dive right in. Decluttering can feel overwhelming when you think about the entire process. Luckily, it’s usually easier if you break it up into smaller chunks. Start with the manageable segments of your home, like the following:
-
Clothing. Get rid of anything that doesn’t fit. You’ll also want to donate anything that is stained or torn or which you haven’t worn in a year.
-
Paper clutter. Digitize what you can, file what you can’t, shred the rest.
-
Duplicate items. How many black jogger pants do you need? Keep your favorite pair and donate the others.
-
Books. Books can be an excellent addition to a home, but too many of them become clutter like anything else. Donate books you won’t read again, and get a library card to avoid accumulating more of them in the future.
Evaluate Emotional Items
Some of the clutter in our homes is stuff we’re keeping just because it has some sentimental value. This is understandable, but it’s essential to have some boundaries. Here are a few tips for going through those sentimental items when you downsize:
-
Find ways to display items. Instead of keeping your grandmother’s china collection, even though you know you’ll never use it, keep a few beloved cups and plates, and display them on a bookshelf in your home. This combats clutter and keeps the essential items in the rotation of your daily life.
-
Organize sentimental items. Instead of keeping boxes of photos, letters, and notes, organize them into a scrapbook or album, which you can take off the shelf and look through when you’re feeling sentimental. Similarly, consider digitizing children’s artwork.
-
Store everything else. If there are items you absolutely can’t bear to get rid of but don’t use daily, get yourself some safe, third-party storage and keep them there.
Call in the Professionals
If you’re moving into a smaller home, hire a team to help you. Our team handles local and long-distance moves in Portland, Oregon, and the surrounding areas. We’ll help you downsize, declutter, and move your life to a more comfortable space. If you need it, we also offer careful packing services for your irreplaceable items and storage service for everything else!
Ready to learn more? Contact us to get a quote today.