Are you looking for a way to update your home that doesn’t require painting, decorating, or moving furniture? You’re in luck. That’s because the simplest way to refresh a home is by decluttering. And there’s no better time to declutter than the new year. After all, the new year signals a fresh start—a clean, blank slate.
Most households have common spaces that become messy and disorganized no matter how hard you try to keep them looking pristine. Schedule a few hours over a weekend, and you’ll be able to declutter these five places in your home, making it feel fresh and new.
1. Medicine Cabinet
Your medicine cabinet has probably become an easy stowaway to house all the clutter you do not want on your bathroom countertop. The trouble is, when something is out of sight, it really is out of mind. As a result, your cabinet is probably full of unused and unnecessary things. To help eliminate (or at least limit) this, check the expiration dates on your medicine, solutions, creams, and even makeup. Then, you can get rid of anything that’s past its discard date. Only keep your day-to-day essentials that need to be readily available and easily accessed in the medicine cabinet. Anything else can be organized under the sink or in a linen closet.
2. Under the Sink
When storing under any sink, use bins or caddies. Not only will this allow you to sort, categorize, and label items, but it will also limit the amount that is there. If it does not fit in a bin, it does not go in! You might also consider using cabinet storage racks or over the door organizers that hang within the cabinet itself to really maximize the space you have.
3. Linen Closet
When decluttering your linen closet, you must first get into a purging mindset. That means finally saying goodbye to all of your old rags, towels, and bedsheets. One guilt-free way of doing this is by making a generous donation to a local animal hospital as they always need extra washcloths, towels, and bedding. Then, whatever you decide to keep should be strategically organized by use, size, and color. Bins are also helpful in the linen closet. Use some containers for your extra toiletries, while others can be assigned to other items you don’t need every day, like extra blankets and sheets for guests.
4. Bedroom Closet
Continue showing generosity by donating some of your unworn clothes to a local shelter or thrift store. If something does not capture your personality, generate joy, or even make its way out of your closet, it should not be kept or worn. One easy way to distinguish which items are meant to be a part of your wardrobe and which are not is by doing a hanger trial. This experiment prompts you to take all hanging garments and face them backward, so the open end of the hanger faces out towards you. Then, if and when an article of clothing is worn, turn the hanger, so it faces inward. Whatever is still backward-facing after a set period (often six months) should be donated. Consider investing in a new closet storage solution after you’ve determined what you’re keeping. Ensure there are enough racks, poles, and drawers in your closet that can thoughtfully house your clothes. For example, you may want to place your jeans and sweaters on stackable shelves while incorporating poles at different heights for dresses and blouses.
5. That One Kitchen Drawer
Last but most certainly not least, it is time to face those dreaded kitchen drawers filled with disorganized kitchen utensils and tools. Use a bamboo cutlery divider in the drawer containing your silverware. Make sure you measure the drawer size before purchasing because you’ll want the organizer to comfortably fit inside and leave room for any tools that may not fit into a particular slot. For Tupperware, pots, and pans, consider getting the stand-up racks where each lid and item will have its own space. No more rummaging through that cabinet! And if you have a junk drawer in your kitchen full of take-out menus, office supplies, and other knickknacks, consider getting small tray containers and folders so you can sort everything and give them all a designated space inside the drawer.
You don’t have to renovate your home to refresh it. A simple decluttering can make the place feel brand new! It’s not just your closets, sinks, cabinets, and drawers that can use decluttering, but anywhere your everyday items seem to pile up like the table in your entryway or your child’s playroom. Taking inventory of the items in these spaces and getting rid of what’s no longer used is the first place to start. Then, it’s all about finding the right bins and containers to display what’s left.
If you’re still unsure how to navigate through all the clutter, contact The Clark Design Team today at (317)-660-6421 for the help you need!
