We all deal with it at some point in our lives. Endless clutter can feel overwhelming, especially in small apartments. Instead of envying your clutter-free friends who seem to have it mastered, use these tips to whip your apartment into shape.
The Benefits of Decluttering
Decluttering may feel like a chore reminiscent of our childhood. However, it comes with its benefits.
Not only is it easier to clean your apartment when you’re clutter-free, but you’re also less stressed. Suddenly, you can find everything you need and your place feels amazing. Read on for our best tips to get you started!
Declutter in Set Periods of Time
Tackling your entire apartment in one day can feel overwhelming. Instead, declutter in set periods. Set yourself a timer and work on one area for 10 or 15 minutes and take a break or call it quits until tomorrow.
Regularly Donate Items
Donating items is a great way to pass on things to those in need. Designate each week with a donation theme, from furniture to bedroom or kitchen. Drop items off or arrange a pickup from Goodwill or your favorite charity.
Set Goals for Yourself
Goal-setting can help you to tackle big decluttering projects and feel accomplished at the same time. Set goals based on volume. For example, tell yourself, "Today, I'll fill an entire trash bag of things to donate."
Manage Your Paperwork
Paperwork escalates clutter and keeps piling up. Designate a day of the week for shredding and sorting mail and other items. Tackling paperwork is also a good time to unsubscribe from catalogs, mailing lists, and switch to paperless billing.
Utilize the "4 Box Method"
The four-box method can help narrow down your clutter and create a system for what to do next. Grab four boxes and label them accordingly:
Trash
Give away
Keep
Relocate
But remember to follow a simple rule of thumb: If you haven't used it in a year, donate it or get rid of it!
View Your Home as a Visitor
View your home with fresh eyes and think about what a visitor would see first. Go through each room and make a list of what clutter is standing out and how you can resolve it.
Rely on Technology
There are plenty of ways technology helps reduce your clutter and maximizes your apartment space. Scan old photos and give away or toss photo albums.
Sell off your DVD or CD collection and rely on digital solutions instead. The more you can store on your devices and in the cloud, the less cluttered your physical space will be.
Use Your Wall Space
Vertical space is essential to make the most out of any organizational system. Make the most of your vertical space by focusing on removing items from surfaces and floors. For example, use a pot rack in the kitchen to store pots and pans. Mount photos on the wall rather than setting them on tabletops. Hang up attractive serving bowls or antique measuring cups in a display so they serve as art pieces in between uses.
Rent Your Stuff
Why buy fancy clothes, shoes, and accessories that you'll only wear once or twice a year? Rent them instead. That’ll reduce the items taking up valuable space in your closet.
You can also take the same approach with kitchen gadgets, photography equipment, and children's toys.
Hang it Up
There's a play to hang nearly everything in your apartment. Shoe organizers can declutter bathroom bottles, hairdryers, and curling irons. You can clip boots onto pant hangers in your closet.
Fruit baskets can store food in your kitchen, mail in your hallway, or hand towels in your bathroom.
Final Thoughts
Decluttering is more than just getting rid of stuff and staying organized. It's an incredible feeling to have more control over your apartment and feel more at home in your space.
We all deal with it at some point in our lives. Endless clutter can feel overwhelming, especially in apartments. Use these tips to whip your apartment into shape.