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Have you ever heard of spring cleaning? Well, you see, I do spring, summer, fall, and winter cleaning. I live in a small two-bedroom apartment. Things tend to pile up quickly. There is only so much room, and furniture like couches, bed frames, kitchen tables can take up a lot of space. So looking for more ways to organize and arrange my belongings is a constant cycle. De-cluttering is a part of that cycle. I guess I would be considered a minimalist based on functionality with probably a little OCD.
Don’t mistake my usage of the word cleaning. I do a deep clean once a year that includes treating my hardwood floors or carpets/rugs, washing the walls, and other extensive projects. However, some things are constantly coming into the house or rotating out. Christmas, birthday and seasonal buying are the time that stuff is usually coming into the house. The places in my house that constantly need de-cluttered are the closets and my kitchen.
The seasonal times are to de-clutter. When my space is cluttered, my mind is too. When this happens, I pick a day and a room to do. Please be prepared. You will end up with a bigger mess to start with than you had before. For me making messes is part of the process. My daughter and I always laugh and joke, “Well, we know we are making a process.” We will have piles of stuff strung everywhere.
Depending on the room, I ask myself a series of questions. For example, if I am cleaning my closet, I ask myself, have I worn this in the past six months. That question can apply just to about anything. Just change the verb. I usually end up with three piles for my belongings. The three piles are the ones I want to keep, the maybe pile, and the donate/trash/repurpose pile.
Now, it is time to reorganize and insert your imagination. Using your imagination is key here. People organize their spaces differently because of need and preference. I have to utilize my spaces with easy access to the things I need most often. Every room has its own set of questions and space to organize. You will need to utilize that space because every house is different.
One of the keys to success in this process is to organize. I find that bookcases are great not only for books but also with knickknacks or toys. Bins and baskets help in just about any room, and I buy them at the store where everything is a dollar. Although I buy glass jars for canning and pantry use, they are excellent for storage. I also store my seasonal clothes in suitcases that are not in use.
So grab some comfy clothes, good music, and hopefully a buddy. I welcome comments and ideas. Share with your friends and family.