Why Declutter?
Living in a small space can feel chaotic and overwhelming if there is clutter everywhere. Decluttering has many benefits that can make small spaces feel bigger, calmer, and more functional. Here are some of the main reasons to declutter:
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Creates a sense of calm and control. When everything has its place, your environment will feel less chaotic. Decluttering helps create a peaceful sanctuary in your home.
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Makes cleaning easier. With less stuff and clutter around, cleaning becomes quicker and simpler. Decluttering reduces stress by making chores more manageable.
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Saves money. Getting rid of unused items clears up space for what you actually need and use. Decluttering also avoids buying duplicate items.
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Increases productivity. An organized environment helps you find items faster and focus better. Decluttering your workspace boosts concentration and efficiency.
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Improves your mood. Clutter can create feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. Decluttering can lift your mood and provide a mental reset.
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Allows for decorating. With surfaces and floors cleared, you can style your space and make it feel cohesive. Decluttering creates a blank canvas for decorating.
Decluttering Strategies
Decluttering a small home requires strategic planning and organizing. Here are some useful strategies to make decluttering manageable and effective:
Sort through categories
Go through your home category by category. For example, start with the bedroom, then move to the bathroom, kitchen, living room etc. This prevents feeling overwhelmed. Within each room, further divide into subcategories like surfaces, closets, drawers etc.
Use the “one in, one out” rule
When bringing new items home, get in the habit of donating or throwing out something for each new product. This maintains the clutter-free status quo.
Store items close to where they are used
In a small home, storage should be right where you need it. For example, keep kitchen utensils in a drawer near the stove. Store toys in the living room.
Use vertical space
Install shelves, racks, over-the-door organizers and wall storage. These minimize floor clutter in a small home. Floating shelves and wall mounted TVs also keep floors clear.
Avoid multipurpose furniture
Furniture like futons and coffee tables with storage sound great in small spaces. However, they often end up becoming disorganized catch-alls for clutter. Stick to furniture that has one specific function.
Edit frequently used items
If you use something daily, keep only the exact items you need regularly. Kitchen gadgets and utensils are a good example. Store the rest elsewhere.
Purge thoroughly
When decluttering, be ruthless. If it’s broken, outdated, unneeded or unused – let it go. You don’t have space for items with no purpose. Donate, sell or recycle them.
Decluttering By Room
Each room in a small home presents unique decluttering challenges. Here are some tips for the main areas:
Kitchen
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Keep only essential kitchen tools within reach. Store specialty appliances in cabinets.
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Declutter pantry items. Toss expired food and consolidate duplicates. Use organizer bins to neatly corral what remains.
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Ensure dishes and utensils take up just one drawer or cabinet. Get rid of extras you don’t utilize.
Living Room
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Declutter media storage like DVDs, games and books. Keep only current favorites you actually revisit.
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Edit sentimental items. Keep a few meaningful mementos displayed, and store the rest.
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Reduce furniture to only essential, multipurpose pieces. Make sure pathways stay clear.
Bedroom
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Make the closet only contain clothes you wear currently. Donate other sizes, seasons and styles.
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Declutter bedside tables to just a lamp and a couple books/items you use daily.
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Only keep needed furniture like the bed, a nightstand, and a dresser. Add a mirror to make the room feel bigger.
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Store extra linens and blankets under the bed in storage bins.
Bathroom
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Keep just one or two go-to beauty products in the shower. Store the rest under the sink in organizers.
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Only store daily use towels and cleaning supplies in the linen cupboard. Put extras in another closet.
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Purge old medicines and toiletries. Baskets or over the door racks add extra storage.
Maintenance
The key to staying decluttered in a small home is developing daily habits:
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Never bring anything new in before getting rid of something old.
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Put everything back in its designated spot after using it.
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Do a quick 10 minute tidy before bed to reset surfaces.
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Review your home monthly and continue purging unused items.
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Designate a donation area to easily process things to discard year-round.
With some diligence and the right strategies, you can enjoy the calm and comfort of a decluttered small space. Just focus on keeping only the items that actually add value and function to your lifestyle.
