A Guide to Decluttering
By Emma Peugh
The definition of “decluttering” reads “to remove things you do not need from a place, in order to make it more pleasant and more useful.” -Cambridge Dictionary And, boy, do I feel this in my bones. I’m always looking around my home thinking, “do I need that?” or “does this bring value to my life/space?” or “does this spark joy?” Sometimes the answer is yes, but if it’s not a HELL YES, it’s a no. In which case, I will sell, donate or give away the item to another home. If this isn’t an easy practice for you, you’re not alone, which is why I put together this guide to simplify the process! Below are some tips to get going, some questions to ask yourself, and what to do with all that stuff you realize you don’t truly need.
TIP NO. 1: PURGE AND ANALYZE
Let’s begin with the basics — purging. I suggest starting with one room at a time, so as to not overwhelm yourself. This may seem obvious, but thoughtfully go through all the drawers, cabinets, closets, and secret hiding spots in the entire room. Take everything out, feel it, touch it. Ask yourself:
When was the last time I used this? Or wore this?
Did I even remember that I owned this item?
Would I miss it if it were gone?
Will I miss this physical item or will I miss the memories associated with it?
Be honest with yourself! People attach a lot of sentimental value to physical items.
If your answer to, “Will I miss the memories associated with this item?” is yes, I suggest taking a photo of the item, and creating a “memories” album on your phone or on your computer. This way, you can keep those wonderful memories forever, while releasing the object from your physical space.
You absolutely do not need to do this with everything you own! There are some items in life you truly want to keep forever. Pieces you’ve inherited from generations past in your family. Or pieces you want to pass down to your own children, if you have them. Truly valuable items, keep those!
MY LIVING AND DINING SPACE
My 9-month-old loves to test the limits with how many toys he can play with at once, and sometimes, I’m truly impressed. I keep this area of the home tidy by:
Enclosing kid toys in the media console when they’re not in use
Keeping the table clear of mail, packages, food/drinks, etc
Letting corners and walls enjoy their “white space”
TIP NO. 2: ONE CATEGORY AT A TIME
Marie Kondo suggests purging one whole category at a time. This could look like decluttering all the clothes you own first. Grab all the coats in the coat closet, shoes in the entryway, pajamas in the dresser, and every other article of clothing you’re storing anywhere in the house. Gather all the clothing into one space, and begin analyzing with the same questions above. “Did I even remember that I had this item in my closet?”
Clothes can come with not only sentimental value, but also emotional value. Some clothing may not fit well anymore, creating unwanted negative emotions. If the clothing item doesn’t make you feel your absolute best, I suggest releasing it from your life.
Another example of an entire category to declutter at once is paper goods. Whether it’s mail, old documents, taxes, warranty booklets, etc, gather it all into one large pile. Start sorting, piece by piece, determining if it’s something you need to keep. I suggest snagging a simple filing cabinet or paper organizer, labeling the tabbed sections, and keeping all paper goods in this one spot. This will not only make your life easier when searching for that specific paper item you may need, but will also keep the paper clutter out of unwanted areas of your home!
MY KITCHEN
My floating open shelves collect items my husband and I love and use everyday (and yes, a lot of SISTAIN items). We keep this area clutter-free by:
Only displaying items that truly serve beauty *and* functionality
Utilizing aesthetically pleasing baskets to store and hide things in plain sight
Making sure typical kitchen items are put away when not in use
TIP NO. 3: SELL, DONATE, RECYCLE OR TRASH
Once you’ve sorted and decluttered all your rooms or categories, depending on your method to the madness, it’s time to physically release the unwanted items from your space. There are many options here, which may feel overwhelming! But here is a broken down list of how to discard of what items:
Sell:
Anything you feel has strong monetary value
Furniture, clothes, accessories in good condition
Anything you feel is worth the time and effort to receive money for
Donate:
Anything you feel simply deserves a new home, for no monetary exchange
Furniture, clothes, accessories in sub-par condition
Recycle (this is a tricky one):
Martha Stewart has a state-by-state guide on what to recycle and where! Check that out here. We’ve also created a Recycling Do’s and Don’t Guide! Read that one here.
Paper, cardboard and plastic accepted by your city’s recycling program
Trash:
Anything in bad, unsalvageable condition
Furniture, clothes, accessories with holes or areas too bad to repair
Things that clearly won’t be used again (old food wrappers, empty products that are non-recyclable, etc)
MY BEDROOM
Minimal, bright, warm, inviting — keywords I kept in mind as I designed this space for my husband and I (and our son who’s room is attached to ours!) We keep this space clean by:
Putting all clothes, clean or dirty, in the closet, dresser or hamper as soon as they’re not in use
Keeping our son’s changing table items tidy inside the dresser drawers (his changing station is on top of the dresser)
Putting away odds and ends (books, essential oils for the Vitruvi on the dresser, remotes, etc) in the side table next to the bed as soon as we wake up in the morning
TIP NO. 4: DECLUTTER AS YOU GO
Decluttering isn’t a one-time quick-fix process. It’s a practice that, over time, will get easier and more natural. You can simply grab items you no longer need as you’re living your day to day life, put them in a pile and discard them properly. This lowers the feeling of overwhelm you may get when trying to declutter an entire house at once. Whichever method you choose, a little progress makes a huge difference in your physical space.
THE BATHROOM
A buttoned up bathroom display featuring our Vitruvi Organic Tea Tree Oil and reusable facial rounds. One of the many perks of a decluttered room includes space to showcase your beautifully curated items.
Reach out with any specific questions or tips you may have! We’re always looking to expand our knowledge in the topic of making the home a more relaxing, enjoyable, stress-free space to live.
