The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to reset your life. Everyone makes resolutions to better themselves, like working out more, eating better, or becoming more organized. While you’re thinking about how you’re going to make this year your best one yet, don’t forget about your home.

Whether you rent or own your own space, your home should be your sanctuary. However, it’s hard to find peace in a place that has too much stuff. Here are some tips for starting the year off strong by decluttering your home.

Why Should You Declutter Your Home?

Decluttering your home is essential if you want to live in a calm environment. Having too much stuff lying around can create a sense of chaos. It’s hard to bounce back from these overwhelming feelings if you let the mess get away from you, so decluttering can help you feel more in control.

It’s also helpful to go through your things at least once a year to free up room in your home. Any extra space you have is valuable, especially if you’re lacking in square footage. Don’t waste the space by keeping unnecessary items that don’t serve you. Decluttering your home will help you start the year off strong by giving you a clean slate.

Declutter Your Space Step-by-Step

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you start thinking about organizing your space. Most people don’t realize exactly how many things they own, and by the end of the year, you’ve probably collected a lot of useless stuff. Don’t get caught up in your anxious feelings. Follow these easy steps:

Step 1: Set Your Goals

The first thing you need to do is determine your decluttering goals. The most successful home organizers set a plan before starting any project, so make sure you have clear intentions before you begin. Having clear and achievable goals will help motivate you throughout the process and keep you from losing focus.

Start by determining which rooms need the most work. Then, set a timeline with completion dates to keep your decluttering on track. Finally, schedule time every day to knock out tasks. Are you decluttering to feel more at peace, or are you doing it to create more space? Keeping these questions in mind will help remind you why you are putting in the hard work in the first place.

Step 2: Pick a Decluttering Method

Organizing is truly an artform. There are so many different ways you could approach your decluttering project. Finding the method that works best for you is essential if you want to start the new year off fresh and tidy.

Four-Box Method

One decluttering method you could try is the “four-box method.” This technique involves getting four boxes and labeling them “trash, donate, keep, relocate.” Go room to room and fill each box with items you want to get rid of, hold onto, give away, or find a new place for. This method is easy to personalize to fit your specific needs.

One In, One Out Method

The “one in, one out” method involves replacing one item for another. For every new item you bring into the home, you need to get rid of something old. This is an effective way to get rid of a lot of stuff in a short amount of time, which is perfect if you’re looking to downsize.

Five-Item Method

The “five-item” method is perfect for people who are feeling a bit uneasy about letting go of their possessions. This strategy works by asking you to choose five things to discard from every room in your home. While it might not feel like you’ve discarded much, this is an excellent way to ease yourself into the process without getting overwhelmed.

KonMari Method

Of course, no home organizing article would be complete without mentioning the KonMari method. Coined by professional organizer Marie Kondo, this technique asks you to think about your possessions mindfully. What “sparks joy” when you touch it? Keep the things that make you feel good and ditch anything that doesn’t.

Step 3: Choose a Starting Point

The next step to declutter your home for the new year is finding a place to start. You need to determine precisely how you’re going to tackle this project. Will you be going room to room, or will you organize by category? Some people prefer starting with the messiest rooms, while others feel more accomplished by completing something small first.

Step 4: Don’t Forget About Small Things

It’s not enough to get rid of large items, like extra furniture, clothing, and pieces of décor. Junk is good at disguising itself as useful, so keep an eye out for trash items you no longer need. There are plenty of small things taking space in your home that no longer serve you, such as:

• Empty hygiene products
• Junk mail
• Expired pantry items

Step 5: Get Rid of Online Clutter

While you’re in a decluttering mindset, why not take the time to clean out your virtual space? Now that the internet has become ubiquitous in our daily lives, there is probably a lot of junk in your inboxes that you need to eliminate. Delete any unnecessary documents, files, and photos from your computer to give yourself more storage space for new memories.

Step 6: Deep Clean EVERYTHING

Now that you’ve tossed all of your excessive items, it’s time to clean! Scrub areas you usually can’t access and give them a new life. The best time to deep clean your home is when you don’t have stuff in your way, so take advantage of the extra space.

Step 7: Implement an Organization Method

You’ve done all of this work to freshen up your space and start new; don’t let it all go to waste! After you’ve decluttered and cleaned your home, establish an organizing routine to keep everything looking fresh. For example, you might implement a filing system or go through your wardrobe every few months to toss what you aren’t wearing. Make sure you are actively preventing messes so you can take care of them before they reappear.

Treat Yourself To Something New This Year

Decluttering your home doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to something new. You should reward yourself for all of your hard work by replacing your old mattress with a new, comfortable one. SuperNova Furniture is one of the best mattress stores in Houston, with a new storefront in Rosenberg, Texas! Swing by and let us assist you with your New Year’s resolutions.