The Detoxed Habitat

Clutter isn’t a part of interior design so don’t think that it’s okay to leave the mess around. Whether the untidiness is due to poor habits or being a pack rat, the burden brought about by unclean surroundings could be staggering so it’s time to clean up.

Clutter clogs the smooth systems in your home. Because of this, you can be certain that costs will pile up pretty soon. Just imagine the amount of time lost in finding missing keys, receipts or cell phones and you would know how much – in dollar value – you lose.

The perfect time to declutter is – now – even when you can even peer through the piles of stuff anymore.

Look Downwards

Now let’s get started. From the beginning, look downward. Instead of trying to realize how large the mound of clutter is, try to look at the big picture then zero in on the more solvable areas. Begin with the kitchen counter, declutter the fridge, then the shelves, then find some drawers where you are going to store items that still have use within the next few days or weeks. Choose an item that you think would be a daily eye sore.

It pays to be happy about your small successes in cleaning. Do not expect to finish the project in just a day.

Slowly But Surely

Clutter can become intolerable over the weeks or months that it is left alone.  Don’t let this dampen your cleanup efforts. Know that, slowly, you will eventually pile all boxes, box all small stuff, and put away those items that are used seasonally. Curing clutter takes time so don’t expect that there are shortcuts.

Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? Just do this project steadily and you should be able to see the fruits of your labor soon.

Divide Decluttering Into Sessions

Attacking clutter means you have to use up energy, time and motivation.

Use a schedule. Working for just 2-4 hours daily, thrice each week is better than working for six straight hours on a single day. This is the most efficient time that you could schedule for your cleanup.

Change Your Lifestyle

Clutter accumulates due to a lot of reasons. Whatever your reasons were, it’s time to change and take on new routines. Poor housekeeping routines simply have to go. Sit down with your whole family then, together, create rules that will be strictly followed henceforth. Choose the one that’s most realistic for everyone.

Box and Banish Method  

This is a method of decluttering wherein you clean up, not bit by bit but in a more drastic manner. To do this strategy, just gather all the clutter from chairs, drawers, tables, counters, ovens, the floor, even in bathtubs. Place these inside boxes or trash bags and have them stacked outside of your home. Work till the surfaces are clutter free.

Next, open every box one day at a time. Consider the items that were included in there. Decide, once and for all, if you will throw or keep the items that you see there as you check them, one by one, each day. All the items that remain inside the box after you carefully examined each need to go – no exception.

Imagine or Role Play

You can also use your imagination to declutter objects. Once you see an item that you’re having a hard time letting go, try asking yourself this question – If I’m buying this right now, how much am I willing to shell out?

This is a creative, psychological technique that you could use to remove unnecessary items from your home.

Tags: decluttering, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 3rd, 2016 at 10:40 am and is filed under Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.