Organizing or decluttering your space can be quite therapeutic.
To begin organizing or decluttering your home, walk through your home and evaluate which areas require the most attention. We understand that this can be a nightmare even for seasoned pros. But getting your hands on the right tips for organizing and decluttering your home is of the utmost importance! However, since most people confuse the terms’ declutter’ and ‘organize,’ let’s start by understanding each of them.
How to organize your home?
It can be annoying to search for something and not find it in the right place, which is where organizing comes in! And even the best of us who want to stay on top of the home organization game have been there at some point. However, a home organization simply means getting rid of unwanted items and organizing the most-needed items properly. Then, depending on what works best for you, you can sort them alphabetically, by color, by size, or by need.
So, with hundreds of items lying around that don’t really belong where they currently are, it’s time to get on the organizing bandwagon and begin with putting your home in order.
How to declutter your home?
48.5% of respondents agreed that having unwanted clutter in their homes made them feel stressed out, with 42.5% of respondents feeling embarrassed about the clutter.
The process of getting rid of items that are no longer useful or required is known as decluttering. So, before you begin organizing your home, you must first declutter it. However, if you skip decluttering, you may end up with too much stuff for the limited storage space you have. To begin with, choose only one room, area, or closet at a time. Next, get rid of anything broken, no longer used, outdated, or something that you haven’t used in the last 3 or 6 months, duplicate items, or items you simply don’t like anymore.
The difference between decluttering and organizing
The right way to organize your space is to declutter before you organize. However, one of the biggest mistakes people still make before organizing one’s space is failing to declutter it first. Clutter causes stress, whereas organizing saves time, money, and other resources. And organizing can help you arrange items into sections or compartments, making them easy to find.
But, when it comes to sustainability, the organizing approach falls short as you’re only sorting things out according to their need. But, clutter-free living? Never. Since fewer things = more sustainable choices doesn’t mean you dispose of everything into the trash. In simple words, you can organize, donate, reuse, or recycle while decluttering, but not while organizing. Though organizing and decluttering your house together contributes to clean and more aesthetically pleasing floors and surfaces.
How to begin home organization?
Home organization can be therapeutic. It’s like getting a second chance to redo your space, but there’s more stuff and less space this time. Though that doesn’t mean you can’t be a creative and well-organized cleaning pro. To declutter your home, focus on one area or space at a time — closet/ bedroom, cabinet/ bathroom, storage drawers/ playroom. Then, after you’ve gone through the place, make a list of what you want and what you do not. Read on to get started on your organizing and decluttering journey.
1. Always declutter first
It can be very tempting to jump right into the organizing stage. However, we humbly request that you refrain from it by choosing to declutter. First, understand the amount and nature of your clutter. So, begin by gathering everything you need (or don’t need) in one area – this is one of the best home organization steps. Start fresh by clearing out every space, nook, and corner of your room. Only the things that remain after decluttering should be items that you should continue to use and enjoy.
2. Now begin organizing your stuff
The secret to organizing well is having less to organize.
Organizing = making a simple system of storage containers for only the items you need, use, and love. Always plan and then purchase storage containers before beginning with your home organization. (You can always use the storage you already have.) It can include jars, storage boxes, closed containers, hangers, and drawer dividers. Once you’ve decided on an organizing strategy and, of course, the containers, don’t forget to label them. Always keep the items you regularly use the most easily accessible; then store the least frequently used items behind, lower, or in less convenient locations.
3. Make sure the storage containers are functional
We understand how aesthetically pleasing some storage boxes can be. But, make sure the containers you’re using or purchasing aren’t adding to a bigger mess. The storage containers you use should always serve the function that they’re bought for in your ‘declutter room.’ Because pretty will just get annoying if it doesn’t fit enough items or function as you needed when you got it on board.
However, clean your wardrobe/ drawer/ shelf/ closet once you’ve finished decluttering your home. Because cleaning before decluttering your house will double your work – the last thing you want on that ‘long productive day.’
The final word:
Hire a professional organizer if you’re having trouble deciding what to declutter and how to organize. If that isn’t in your budget, believe in yourself, put on some music, and get to it! We hope you understand the distinction between organizing and decluttering your home now. And also, know that they’re both essential and incomplete without one another. And once everything has been decluttered and organized, you must keep clutter from piling up in your home. A good rule of thumb is to get rid of something you no longer need for every new item you bring into your home.
We hope that this guide on the difference between the terms ‘declutter’ and ‘organize’ helps you to do your best when cleaning your house. Also, to take it a step further, here’s a quick guide to help you get started on your capsule wardrobe.
