It’s not uncommon to build emotional attachments towards your stuff, but it can become a hindrance when you’re trying to declutter your space.
“Purging can be both nerve-wracking and therapeutic at the same time, but it’s all about practicality,” Duque shared. “If you’re trying to decide on if you should keep or get rid of an item, there are some questions to ask yourself such as:
We’re not going to ask you if it sparks joy, but it’s definitely worth asking yourself if it serves any purpose in your current environment. Sometimes an item that worked well in your old apartment might not have a home for the new house you just bought. Again, think about practicality.
Just like buying a home or a car, there aren’t any one-size-fits all solutions to keeping your home organized. According to Overdue Solutions, it’s all about customizing your solutions to your lifestyle and what makes the most sense for your space. That being said, there are a few key strategies you can consider.
“We often recommend the items you use the most be the easiest to access, and the rest should go into proper storage areas,” Tan-Ortiz explained. Otherwise, here are some other tips to help you out:
When you take a look at your home and assess what needs the most attention, odds are you’re focusing on the areas you can see. Bookshelves, coffee tables, the living room, and other highly visible areas are often the first places we start when trying to get organized, but there are a few areas we tend to forget.
“Kitchen cabinet drawers, shoe racks/cabinets, and bathroom cabinetry (especially under the sink) often get neglected even though they’re wildly overused,” Duque shared. “These storage spots are in high-traffic areas and usually get overly stocked up with various items. We highly recommend purging those areas every season to make sure the stuff that’s not really needed is taken out.”
Armed with the knowledge of where to start and what to ask yourself, it’s time to begin organizing and decluttering! Nina and Hil shared their tips on organizing four main areas of your home.
Bedrooms
“Tackle the closet first!” Duque explained. “A big part of the average person’s bedroom is actually their closet space and/or storage for clothing. Clothing needs to be arranged so the most used outfits (and undergarments) get placed in an easy access area. Seasonal arrangement also helps so you’re not constantly grabbing the wrong things—no one likes reaching over a winter coat when trying to grab a fall sweater.”
Kitchens
“Clear the counter space!” Tan-Ortiz stressed. “It helps immensely when you’re actually trying to use the kitchen to…cook (gasp). And when organizing your pantry, do it by product similarity and what you use most. For example, if you’re a coffee/tea person, that’s definitely the first thing you’ll want to grab rather than some canned goods.”
Playrooms and basements
“Bins, bins, bins,” Duque shared. “Basements are sometimes the go-to extra storage space in households and are often forgotten about. Dust tends to collect faster in basements so bins are your best bet at maintaining storage. Clear bins go a long way in helping you identify things easily.”
Linen closets
“It all depends on your personal preference but we recommend organizing linen closets by colour so it’s easier to identify what matches,” Tan-Ortiz explained. “Plus, it’s always good to know if you’re running out of white towels and will need to do a load of whites, for example.”In the end, home organization comes down to what works best for you. While there are concepts and tricks to getting started, your home should be set up to best suit your lifestyle and routine—whatever that may be!