Declutter Tips, for when you're moving
- Kendall
- Apr 11
- 4 min read
declutter /dee kluh ter/ verb. remove unnecessary
items from (an untidy or overcrowded place)
Hi, I'm Kendall, an Eco-friendly Home Organizer who has packed up and moved more than 20 times in my life. And I've helped many home organizing clients sort through their belongings, make tough choices and successfully downsize as they prepare to move. I understand organizing, decluttering and what a big production moving can be! So, I'm sharing with you my personal secret to make it all a little easier-- get rid of the clutter that's been living for free off your hospitality!
Moving is a great time to declutter. You're packing up all your belongings anyway, so take the time to decide what you really want in your new home and what you can kick to the curb. Getting rid of unnecessary items first can save you time, and money on packing supplies. In addition, it can lighten your load emotionally, by taking away stress, anxiety and feelings of overwhelm caused by too much stuff.
Get a fresh, new, CLUTTER-FREE start in your next home!
Decluttering isn't easy. I'm not going to lie to you. It's work. It takes time. But there are ways to make a big job easier and more manageable. Let's break it down. Here are some strategies I have developed over the years working with home organizing clients and helping friends and family.
Start early
Give yourself plenty of time to get the job done. Start decluttering asap. The more time you have, the less stressful the process is and the more likely you are to make thoughtful decisions about what items spark joy and what items you no longer need, want or use.
Start easy
Never start a declutter project with sentimental items like family heirlooms or anything that you have a strong emotional attachment to. The more emotions are involved, the tougher it is to make objective decisions about whether or not to keep an item. Next thing you know, analysis paralysis sets in. Instead, start with easy stuff like perhaps a junk drawer or bathroom cabinets.
Start small
Decluttering your whole home is overwhelming. Break the job down into smaller projects. Focus on one room at a time. In that room, focus on one space at a time. For example, start in your bedroom with just one night stand. When you're satisfied with that space, move on to the next.
Simplicity boils down to two things: identify the essential,
and eliminate the rest. - Leo Babauta
Wondering how a Home Organizer can help you? Read answers to the most frequently asked questions I receive from prospective clients.
Schedule time
Schedule time to declutter. Put it on your calendar and set an alarm. Treat declutter time like you would an important work meeting or job interview. Do whatever it takes to make decluttering a priority in your life right now.
Set goals
For each hour or day or weekend you plan to declutter, set goals that are ambitious but also realistic. Decluttering your entire garage in one day might not be possible, but decluttering your camping gear in a day might be. Success builds confidence. Set yourself up for success.
Steal my secrets
I learned a few things working with home organizing clients. So don't try to reinvent the wheel. Steal my secrets! Consider decluttering anything:
If you haven't worn it, used it, powered it up in months or longer
If it's broken, torn, stained, missing pieces and you haven't fixed it in months or longer
If you forgot you even had it
If you have duplicates or triplicates
If you received it as a gift but don't like it, need it or use it
Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be
useful, or believe to be beautiful. - William Morris
Curious how home organizing sessions have helped others? Hear from my clients about their experience.
Sustainability is key
No one wants their belongings to end up in the trash. Finding sustainable solutions to decluttering helps make the process less stressful. Donating to a cause that's meaningful to you is great motivation to let go of unneeded belongings-- knowing that someone else will benefit from your generosity. You can recycle unwanted papers, cardboard, glass and even some plastics. Compost any food waste-- if you're in Los Angeles, take advantage of the green bin. For a list of eco-friendly donation and recycling resources, check out my Blog Post: Keep your Decluttered Items From Ending Up in a Landfill.
Space is a factor
If you're moving to a smaller home, you need to downsize your belongings. But even if you have an equal amount of storage space in your new home, be sure you have a place for everything you pack. A pile of odds and ends on the dining room table in your current home can easily become a pile of odds and ends on the dining room table in your new home. Break the clutter cycle! Get rid of what you don't need, want, or use.
Make your dreams come true!
Keep your mind focused on your neat and tidy new home, organized and clutter-free like in your dreams. You get to choose how you live. You can choose clutter-free over chaos. You can choose peace over disorder. You can choose organized over messy. You are leaving your old home behind, this is your opportunity to start fresh, and create the dream home you've always wanted.
Clutter is not just the stuff on the floor-- it's anything that stands
between you and the life you want to be living. - Peter Walsh
Thinking about hiring a home organizer before or after your move? Reach out today for a free, no-obligation phone consultation.
About Kendall: My mission as a home organizer is to help families and communities take SMALL STEPS to organize and declutter at home in an eco-friendly way that starts to build BIG CHANGE in the world. Consider becoming an Official Declutter Buddy by joining my Email List. Fill out the Subscribe form below.
Comments