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As a recent empty nester or retiree, you might be thinking about simplifying your life and downsizing to a smaller abode. Perhaps you no longer want to maintain a large property, or you just want to start afresh with a relaxed lifestyle in a low-maintenance pad. Or maybe you plan to stay where you are, but want to clear out the clutter to create a more serene space.
Whatever your situation, often the prospect of sorting through a lifetime of possessions can be very overwhelming and put you off the idea of de-cluttering or downsizing altogether.
However, the process doesn’t have to be a stressful one. All it takes is a helpful friend, some bin bags and the desire to create a simpler life.
Step 1: Create a plan
Armed with a clipboard, go through each room in your home and make a note of the items that you absolutely must have with you when you move.
Choose only those items that you love and that bring you joy, or that you use on a regular basis. A golden rule of organising is that we only use 20% of our belongings 80% of the time. This means that most of the stuff in your home isn’t being used and is only cluttering your space. It can be hard letting go of a lifetime of possessions, but it’s important to separate trash from treasure so that you can simplify your life and create more serene surroundings.
If you have troubles working out if something is valuable or not, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I love it? Does it bring me joy and make me feel happy when I use or look at it?
- Have I used it in the past 6-12 months?
- Does it fit properly or am I hoping I’ll fit into it ‘one day’? Does it work properly?
- Is this the only item like this that I own? If you have seven identical black dresses, you probably have six too many!
If you answer ‘no’ to any of these questions, throw the item out! Your home should only contain items which you love or which are functional and make things easier to do.
In each room, look firstly at the big pieces of furniture and weigh up whether it still suits your home or, if you are downsizing, it will fit the dimensions of your new home. It’s a good idea to have the dimensions of your new pad on hand so that you can quickly assess if an item will fit.
Also consider whether the furniture is tattered or needs repair (or is beyond repair!) De-cluttering and downsizing is a great opportunity to start afresh and create an environment that you really love. So only keep pieces that are comfortable and are an appealing feature in the room.
Step 2: DIY de-cluttering
Once you’ve assessed the larger items in the room, start sorting through the smaller stuff. The easiest way to sort through your possessions is to grab five big bags and label them according to:
- Toss
- Keep
- Donate
- Pass
- Unsure
Go through the room and place each item into one of the five bags. Place items that you don’t need or want into the Toss bag. Items to keep in the space or, if you are downsizing, items you want to take with you to your new home, go into the Keep bag. The Donate bag is for items which are in good condition and can be taken to your local charity store. The Pass bag is a very important one – it’s for all the items you want to pass along to family and friends. This includes the kids’ stuff that is mysteriously still crowding your space! Bag up their belongings and ask them to take them to take if off your hands. Lastly, the Unsure bag is for items you are undecided about. Take some time to think about what you want to do with these items, but don’t procrastinate for too long!
If you come across items which are too large to place in bags but still need to leave the space, a nifty idea is to use coloured dots representing each of the 5 categories. Place the relevant coloured dot on the item, so that it’s easy to see where it needs to go.
As you de-clutter each room, you will probably come across some special treasures with a high sentimental value. You might decide you no longer want the trinkets in your space, but couldn’t bear to throw them away. Why not invite your loved ones around to pick out items they will look after and cherish. You could take a photo of the treasure before you part with it, as a nice keepsake.
Depending on the size of your home, and how many helpers you have, it might take anywhere from one day to two weeks to de-clutter and simplify the space. Make sure you take plenty of breaks and move slowly through the process so you don’t get burnt out. Keep focused on your goal – to create a more serene and simplified space – and work towards achieving it. The results will be worth it! Of course, if you’d rather skip the DIY and have an expert do the work for you, hire a professional organiser. Head to www.aapo.org.au to find one in your area or visit www.katandkaboodle.com.au
By Kat Tate – professional organiser | www.katandkaboodle.com.au
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