Downsizing

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make when attempting to declutter their home is procrastination. What sounds like a great idea at the moment can quickly become an “I’ll do it tomorrow” problem. This is especially stressful during a time when you must vacate your home for a move in a timely manner.

Rather than putting off your downsizing attempts for another day, start as early as you can to provide yourself with enough time for a break. You’ll quickly realize you don’t feel as rushed to get things done, and you can comb through each item with care—feeling confident you made the right decision during the estate sale process.

Tackling a complete home decluttering project can seem like an impossible task, but there is a way to make it feel less overwhelming. First and foremost, focus on one room at a time. Trying to tackle multiple rooms at once can quickly become exhausting and confusing, but when you focus on a single room, you’re able to manage the process more effectively.

Additionally, create small tasks in each room. Perhaps you start with the closet and make your way to the dressers and nightstands, or focus on the clothes first and then trinkets and books. Deciding on items to donate or sell from a section of the room will make the entire downsizing process go much more smoothly. 

Here comes the most difficult part of the downsizing process: determining what will stay and what will go. Sort your belongings into three categories: keep, trash, and donate/sell. Take careful consideration of each item before deciding which pile it belongs in. Clothing, for example, has a general rule of thumb—if you haven’t worn it in the last six months, chances are you won’t wear it in the next six months. Follow this rule for the remaining items in your home in terms of use and wear, and eliminate items that are no longer of value to you.

Have you ever wondered why you have 8 bottle openers lying around in your kitchen? Don’t worry, we wonder the same thing in our own homes. Duplicate items are easily acquired but are rarely discarded. Downsizing is the perfect opportunity to get rid of these duplicates and free up space for more useful items.