A 3 week declutter approach for everyone

The space of your home requires a sense of order at all times. You need this to know where things are when you need them. Making sure there’s minimal clutter helps establish that order. Taking the time to organize isn’t always easy. Taking it week-by-week makes it more manageable.

An apartment, or the home you own, is where you spend a great deal of your time. The order established in your home can determine your peace, and your rest.

Clutter, or the simple lack of organization and order, can be a distraction in your environment.

You can carve a path to ensuring your environment, says my place, my rest and my domain. It’s going to take some effort, some sweat and some time.

Here are three, week-long steps to establish a living space that makes the time you spend there, one of tranquility, peace and relaxation.

Step 1 (Week 1): Go through all your clothes closets, empty them out and straighten up to your liking.

This seems like an obvious step in the direction of uncluttering your life, but it’s not always one which is happening, even during the year.

There are clothes you may not need any longer; and, the organizing of the presentation of your clothes for your use, might be made better.

Note: Take it room-by-room, and take your time . . . you have all week. Clothes closets in all the bedrooms . . . coat closets at the entrance of your home, and anywhere else a closet exists is what you want to address.

Tip A: Use the correct hanger for each piece of clothing. Use the correct clothes hangers for the specific clothing for proper organizing.

Tip B: Align your clothes one after another to your liking, and immediacy of use.

*Determine how to best insert clothes fresh out of the cleaners, too.

Tip C: Those shoes. Make sure you have a system for order in your shoe collection. Not everyone has a custom-built closet. Dress shoes, sneakers, seasonal footwear…put it in order according to what makes sense for you.

Work with what you have…you can do it, and, make it look grand!

Step 2 (Week 2): Go through all cabinets, drawers and storage areas in your house, keep that which you want; discard that which isn’t needed any longer.

This is a big one, but a necessary one. What you’re doing is getting rid of anything you don’t need, and organizing what you do need in a neat, efficient way.

Note: This includes ALL . . .

> Kitchen cabinets and drawers

> Linen closets

> Dresser drawers

> Desk drawers

> Basement storage cabinets, drawers and closets

> Garage storage cabinets, drawers and closets

> And, wherever else there exists a drawer, closet or storage area in your living spaces and home. For example, boxes, plastic storage bins, deck storage containers.

Step 3 (Week 3): Label everything that can be labeled

Now that you’ve decluttered, and organized, it’s time to make sure you keep track of everything you need by LABELING.

I know this sounds time-consuming but we lose track of where things are and where we put them. Labeling is a great step to solidifying that final step in the hard work and effort you put forth in Steps 1 and 2.

This can be handwritten with marker, pen or even a heavy pencil on respective storage containers you determine can be labeled. It’s what works for you. If you feel compelled to use a label maker . . . go for it . . . it’s your preference.

An organized home is a peaceful environment to enter and exit from each day.

Put the time and work in now . . . you’ll be glad you did!

A sense of order in your home is achievable. Whether you’re renting or own your home, it’s necessary to strike that balance between spending too much time on organizing, and doing what’s necessary to achieve an uncluttered space.

Here are three, week-long approaches to doing it right.