Organizing Your Home: What to Get Rid Of, What to Keep, and Where to Start

Article Written By: Heidi DeCoux

Are there things that you want to get rid of that are cluttering up your home, but you are afraid you might, at some point, need them in the future?

The most common two questions I get as a professional organizer are:

"How do I figure out what items to get rid of?"

"How will I know for sure I won't need that item again?"

In this article I am going to reveal a secret: knowing what to get rid of, what to keep, and where to get started.

What to Get Rid Of: If it's not meaningful or useful, get rid of it. How will you know you won't need it in the future? You don't! You only know that you don't need it right now. Here is what you must believe: you will be able to get that item again just as you were able to get it in the first place. You have to trust the market place. It is as ready as you are to swap things. If you find that you do need it in the future, you will be able to simply find a substitute on Craigslist, eBay, or another of the online free markets in the US.

Let's say you have an unused bookcase that you decide to sell on Craigslist for $40 and that a year later you find that you really need a bookcase. You should be able to find one within a week or so. In most cases, you will find one that meets your needs better than the previous one. Also, you've had the bonus of having $40 in your pocket over the past year.

What to Keep: Keep items that are either useful or meaningful. If you tend to love memorabilia, but cannot let go of it, try this simple three-step process.

1. Prioritize the items you value and keep the top 10 things that mean the most to you.

2. Display your items to honor your memories. Frame a special t-shirt, hang unique items on the wall, or create a shadow box of meaningful jewelry, news clippings, etc.

3. Find a single, large bin or box (less than 15 gallon) for each family member. Pull out favorites and fill the bins. Bless another person by donating or selling the remaining items.

Where to Get Started: Prioritize all the areas you want organized and make a list. Begin with the area you use most often. In one area:

Start by removing stuff that is definitely recycling or garbage. You will, most likely, get distracted but only focus on garbage; don't touch anything else. Here is a tip for focusing: play your favorite song and have all garbage removed by the time the song ends.

Next, set out three large bins. Set out one bin for items to be donated, one for items to be sold, and one for items that belong in a different area. Get more bins if necessary. After sorting, move the bins out of the area.

Start organizing only after all items have been sorted. Just organize the items that are staying. Reassess the area. What purpose do you want it to serve? How you can maximize the space? How you could use walls to maximize space for displaying items by keeping them off the floor? Answer these questions and let the answers guide the organizational process.

If you want help maximizing your space, or if you get stopped on one of the steps for any reason, consider hiring a professional organizer. To find a qualified organizer in your area, check with the National Association of Professional Organizers.

About the Author

Heidi DeCoux is publisher of Life Made Simple e-Magazine, a professional organizer and creator of the Fast-Filing Method home office filing system. Heidi energizes her readers' by simplifying their homes schedules.

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This Article Has Been Published on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 and Read 160 Times

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