Decluttering: The Cheapest Way to Redecorate

by Marily | More from this Blogger

19 Dec 2006 10:26 PM

Is your house in a decorating slump? Do you really want to redecorate but you just don't think you have the money to do it? This is the same way that I have felt in my home! Then I learned to make do with what I have. And I learned that controlling clutter is the best way to make any space look better--and it's free!

Many of us have so much clutter that it is hard to know where to start. Here are two helpful tips for scaling down and reclaiming some of the sanity and space in your home:

* Start with one small area at a time.

When I say start small, I mean REALLY small. Instead of aiming to clear out an entire bookcase at once, start with one shelf, or even a portion of one shelf. Clear the items off and get rid of, throw away, or relocate everything that doesn't belong there. If you try to tackle too much at once, then you might run out of time or energy by the time you get to putting things away. A that point you are left with a bigger mess than you started with. Don't feel like you need to do everything at once. Making a little progress here and there will eventually amount to big changes.

* Be liberal in what you get rid of

When deciding whether or not to keep something, ask yourself a number of questions: Have I used this recently? Does the item have a lot of sentimental value? Does it cause me anxiety to look at it? Be liberal and get rid of anything you really don't think that you will need. If you haven't used it in a year, if it has been waiting to be replaced for who knows how long, or if it is a duplicate of something you already have, get rid of it. I must admit, sometimes it has been difficult to get rid of some of the things I have. Looking back, I can hardly think of a thing at all that I wish I wouldn't have tossed. One other thought--if the item is fairly inexpensive you can always buy a new one should the day come when you actually might use it. Don't keep it around "just in case." Your sanity and peace is not worth the five dollars you might save should you end up replacing it.

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Dawn (74) 12 Jan 2007 08:30 PM

I have to agree with the idea of letting things go. It isn't that easy though so when I am trying to decide what to declutter I often drag my husband in to help me. He seems to get less attached to things than I do so I try to trust his judgement on whether items should be kept around or gotten rid of. It is a necessary thing to do once in a while and will surely help you keep your sanity. You have to be willing to go through and get rid of anything... even beloved baby toys, baby clothes, books, CD's, etc. Sometimes it is hard to let go of such sentimental items or things you feel that you've spent good money on so you shouldn't let it go but everything should be on the table because things get old, go out of style, are no longer your taste, etc. I really need to declutter my home soon. The more things I have around the less I am likely to keep it clean since it becomes overwhelming to me and when I try to clean I can't find spaces to put everything and that is the worst! When you can't clean or put away since you don't have room for all the great junk!