Creating a decluttering checklist is an excellent way to begin organizing your home and simplifying your life. Along with helping you take stock of your belongings, lists can help you stay on track and prioritize the areas that need attention. However, following your checklist can be difficult with so many distractions in everyday life. Luckily, we can help.
Whether you live in a Wilmington, NC, apartment or a Brentwood, CA, home, read on for Redfin’s ultimate decluttering checklist, plus expert-backed tips to help you clear the clutter once and for all.
Decluttering checklist basics
1. Keep your expectations in check
Your first step is not getting ahead of yourself and having appropriate expectations of your space. “If your home is 1,500 square feet, don’t expect it to hold the stuff of a 12,000 square foot home,” advises Ryan Eiesland, owner of Home Sort. “Not all items you purchase are meant to last more than 20 years, so it’s ok to use an item for a season and then let it go.”
2. Establish a decluttering checklist
A decluttering checklist is a valuable tool for organizing and tidying your space. “By noting the time required for each task, you can manage your schedule effectively and increase efficiency,” says Jamie Steele, owner of Tidy Your Time. “As you gain experience, your ability to estimate task durations will improve, allowing you to create a practical plan for a clutter-free environment.”
3. Set an intention before starting your organization project
Without a solid plan for getting started, organizing projects can create more chaos instead of helping. To help, Star Hansen, a Certified Professional Organizer, suggests setting a clear intention by asking yourself three simple questions:
- What do you want to do in this space?
- How do you want this space to feel?
- How do you want this space to look?
“Once you answer these questions, you have the necessary clarity to help you with every hard decision,” she says.