Getting Rid of Clutter

By Val Sharp

In my job as a redesigner I have witnessed first hand the power of decluttering someone’s home. People have told me that they were ashamed to invite people over and now they can’t wait to start socializing; I had one woman tell me that she cares what she wears now; and another woman insists that it was the redesign and decluttering of her home that led her to get out of a bad relationship and open space for her new husband. So I know that de-cluttering can truly change your life. But where to start?

Start with your new, redesigned place in mind

This will help you organize items into your three useful categories: keep, sell/donate, and throw away.

As you handle each item in your home, from old clothing to tabletop collections, ask yourself if you can picture that item in your ‘new’ home. Is there a place for it? Isn't this a perfect excuse to get rid of Aunt Hilda’s cross-stitch sampler?

Start with your least favorite or messiest room. Make a list that you can go through systematically, with categories such as tabletops, closets, and under the bed. That way each one can be checked off with a satisfying flourish as you make progress.

Clear all tabletops first, using your keep, sell/donate, or throw-away rule. Next, clean out the closets, and so on. Throw away as you go along by actually taking bags of trash to the dumpster. That way you won't be tempted to keep things that should be ditched.

I know, I know, those crystal decanters your great aunt left you are very expensive. But if you don’t love them, they’ll only make you feel bad every time you look at them. Why keep something in your home that doesn’t give you joy? Much better to let someone else love them. You can buy something you’ll love instead.

Follow the one-year rule

It's hard to predict what you are going to need, but it's very safe to assume that if you haven't worn an article of clothing, or read that paperback in a year, that it’s pretty safe to sell it, give it away, or throw it out.

You don’t need to display everything you own all at once

Sometimes even after you get rid of all the clutter, you just have too many possessions. The home will look cluttered if you use them all. In that case, you need to make some decisions about what is used in the redesign and what is ‘left over.’ Many of the items that you don’t use can be saved and swapped with something at a later date. Perhaps you use a number of collections or items during the summer and then swap them for other items or collections in the winter months. Or perhaps you just wait till you get tired of seeing certain things. At that time you can give yourself a fresh new look with the items you stored away. You can do the same thing with your art if you have too much art to display all at once.

Now clear the space

This step is imperative before moving on with your life. I know it seems like a lot of work, but take heart. It can be done. And it goes faster than you would think. Trust me, it will change your life.

Val Sharp is the founder and past president of the Canadian Re-designers Association and the author of “The Art of Redesign – 5 Simple Steps to No-Cost Redecorating”. She instructs people in starting their own interior redesign and home staging business. If you want to become a redesigner or home stager, or you want more information about Val and her book, stop by www.sharpredesigns.com