Decluttering can feel like it requires a mountain of motivation.
Where do you even start?
Why Declutter Your Home?
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You may wonder why you should even declutter your home.
You may think something like I have collected all this wonderful stuff.
Why would I want to get rid of it?
We all have a little bit of that dragons desire to keep a mound of gold.
The problem pops up if you are collecting too many things.
It is certainly possible to have too much of something good (even water).
Various psychological studieshave shown that untidy environments that feel cluttered increase stress.
In fact, decluttering can improve your focus, self-esteem, relationships and well-being.
Ask some questions for each item outlined below.
The last question is probably the most important.
The truth is that most items we have we can simply buy again later if we need them.
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Whats usually in there?
A couch, a television, some lamps, a coffee table and maybe some tray tables.
But if youve got other stuff thats not usually there, then lets consider what can be taken out.
Perhaps you have a second couch, and you never used it.
Or you only use it once a year or every few years.
That couch will probably be a good sale, too.
Maybe you have a ton of video games or movies laying around.
Maybe you have a desk in there.
Declutter Your Bedroom
Your bedroom may be the hardest room in your house to declutter.
Its personal and its likely the place you keep the most important items in your house.
So, whats normally in a bedroom?
Your rooms desk may be its own dragon to slay, so you could wait to declutter that.
Or maybe its the easiest spot for you because theres not a lot on it.
Just find the easiest, lowest-friction area in your room (or any room) to begin decluttering.
Those went immediately into a donation bag.
So thats why its good to start with clothes you forgot about and havent worn in years.
As far as trinkets and all the little personal things, only declutter what feels right.
Most objects we collect arent really used per se.
Does it really feel like you are using a poster or painting if its hung up on the wall?
You may also be keeping many important documents in your bedroom.
But lets go through these real quick.
Old receiptsare completely up to you to keep or get rid of.
It is going to be dependent on your case.
Declutter Your Kitchen
Your kitchen may be surprisingly easy to declutter.
It does depend on who you are, however.
I am not a gourmet chef, nor do I know anyone who is.
And the next time you do, it ends up being expired for a year or two.
(Which makes it easy to declutter!)
The next step is to continue making sure your food stores are good.
Check your pantry and cabinets for any other expired items you simply forgot about.
It happens to all of us.
Items like appliances, dishes, bags and possibly cleaning supplies.
If you found something you could use and need, awesome!
Now you dont have to go buy it.
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Luckily, its also probably the most profitable besides your closet.
After all, its probably the reason the phrase garage sale exists at all.
The only exception to this can be sentimental items that you want to restore or keep.
Decluttering your garage also provides an insane amount of bonuses.
Its either completely empty or chock full of valuable items (sometimes waiting to be sold).
But for others, the attic and basement could fulfill multiple other roles.
Consider your ambitions for your house and rooms when you are decluttering them.
Any one of these three rooms could be turned into a room to rent out.
Another could be turned into a gym or office.
And you might still keep the last as a storage space.
Plan out some ways to use the space you have more efficiently to help yourself better.
But you shouldnt be if you like to use some of your bathroom cabinets as storage space.
Oftentimes, it holds essential cleaning and hygiene products.
Sometimes, it holds all that, but some of them are expired.
Take this as an opportunity to check things such as hydrogen peroxide.
If its a few years too old, its probably a good idea to simply throw it out.
Declutter Your Laundry Room
Some of our laundry rooms are basically closets with laundry machines.
For others, they are in a separate part of their apartment complex or other living situation.
And for others still, they could simply be placed next to the plumbing in the bathroom.
Some laundry rooms are that entire rooms.
You might go in there and tumble under a leaning tower of towels.
So Youve DeclutteredNow What?
By this point, you should have successfully started decluttering areas of interest in your house.
It may take a while to fully declutter to the point youre comfortable or feel done.
Instead, a more sustainable approach is to build momentum.
Start with the easiest room in your house and the easiest items to declutter.
Then move on from there.
It could take days of concerted effort.
Sometimes weeks, or even months.
So this probably wont happen overnight, and dont beat yourself up trying to do so.
Think about something like an antique lamp.
You will have to figure out how to ship and pack different items, however.
So selling that six-foot tall antique lamp online might not be the best option.
And then you might have to do it for every single item.
Now, this might be the most profitable way of decluttering, but it could be the most strenuous.
Clothes are probably going to be the best item to sell online out of most items you declutter.
Clothes can be packaged easier, will likely sell faster, and can go for decent prices.
Its also often super-quick, with no questions asked, and no haggling.
You might even be able to make a taxable deduction from donating.
Now, go forth and declutter your home.
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Dennis Lynch is a civil engineer turned freelance writer with a passion for personal finance.
it’s possible for you to find Dennis over at colossicus.com between his freelance ventures.
