Be kind to yourself – particularly when decluttering sentimental items Not only is this more secure, but it rids you of pesky papers to transport – and will also save you a lot of admin in the future, too. There will be some things you’ll want to keep hard copies of – birth certificates and driving licenses – but others you can keep as a digital copy. Paper clutter can really build up over the years, so it’s important to go through old bills, receipts and other paperwork and shred anything you no longer need. ‘’Maybe you won’t have a yard in your new home so you can eliminate all outdoor tools, for example, or perhaps you’re moving to a different climate so your heavy clothing and snow blower can go too’, say Brigid Steiner & Elizabeth Kruefer of luxury lifestyle concierge, The Life with Be. Thinking about this in advance can help speed up the decision-making process on items, even whole categories in some cases. Consider your new lifestyle and declutter accordinglyįor many, downsizing will result in a completely new lifestyle, one that may or may not require items that you currently own. If you can’t get hold of these, or you haven’t decided on a new place yet, think about what furniture items you can definitely live without, so that when you do get hold of specifics, you’ll know quickly what you’re happy to discard. Ideally, you’d want room dimensions, as well as a comprehensive floor plan, so you can work out exactly what you have space for. Measure out your new homeĭecluttering larger items is best done beforehand when downsizing – there’s no point lugging heavy furniture over to your new home, only to find it doesn’t fit. When was the last time you used it? How much does it cost to replace it? Do you see yourself using it in the future? You may think one or two ‘maybes’ won’t be a problem, but the cost of moving items quickly adds up, so you need to make sure they’re worth it’, says professional organizer Mary Jo Contello of Organized by MJ. ‘I ask my clients questions to help them make a firm decision. Whether you’re decluttering a closet or decluttering toys, one of the biggest decluttering mistakes to avoid is a ‘maybe’ pile, particularly when decluttering to downsize as you simply don’t have the luxury of excess storage space. Once you’ve determined items that you no longer need, remove them and place them into donation, recycle or rubbish piles. For example, when organizing clothes, don’t keep any you haven’t worn in the last year rid yourself of expired or duplicate bath products, cleaning solutions and cosmetics when organizing under a bathroom sink, and so on. These can change depending on what area of the home you’re tackling. Setting clear boundaries ahead of decluttering can make the decision-making process a lot quicker and easier – as long as you stick to them. Organizing a kitchen is typically a clutter hotspot for duplicate items, so take extra care when decluttering this room. discusses the importance of minimizing duplicates: ‘Limiting yourself to just one of each item can be hard, but as I tell my clients all the time, the hard work you’re putting in today is a gift to yourself – and to your children! Try to keep in mind that neither you or they will need or want four full sets of entertaining dishes at any point! Take only the most important things with you’, she says. Professional organizer Julie Onstot of SortWell Organizing Co. Grouping items means you can clearly see how much of everything you have and enables you to make rational decisions about what to take with you. Grouping like-with-like is a general decluttering technique advocated by any professional, but it’s particularly useful when it comes to downsizing.
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