6 Ways to Declutter and Rework a Room for Good

Apartment living space is often limited, so for comfort and visual appeal, it is important to keep clutter to a minimum. By learning how to declutter, not only will your apartment look better, but also it will open up the space and make it feel larger. Decluttering is not as overwhelming a task as you might think. Read our tips to learn how to tidy up your apartment.

1. Set a time limit

Decluttering can be a time consuming process no matter how messy your apartment is; it’s important to start slow and make progress on your own terms. Don’t take on an entire cluttered room or a whole apartment all at once. Start with one room and work methodically from the entrance. Set a timer for the length of time you can devote to the project during each session and stick to it. If you have an hour to spare, work for that length of time and then move on to your next duty. Setting time limits will reduce frustration. Remember, this is a process, not an instant fix!

2. Start with the basics

The first thing you need to do is to get rid of the obvious clutter. Gather the trash and remove it from the apartment. Look around; get rid of old magazines, newspapers and stray “stuff” that has no use and toss it out. Certainly, if it is something that would be useful to someone else, put it in a box and donate it.

3. Think it through

Don’t make irrational decisions that you will later regret, but also try to be as decisive as possible. Flip flopping can be very frustrating, so try to think clearly and rationally about all major choices. You don’t want to get caught up in the moment and discard everything in your path.

4. Organize, organize, organize

When decluttering a room, make three piles: one for items to discard, one for donations and give-aways and one for articles that need to be put in storage. A great rule of thumb is that if you have not used an item for 6 months, then you probably don’t need it.

The same rule applies when emptying drawers. Declutter one drawer at a time using the same overall process: make a discard, donate and storage pile. Remember drawers are convenient hiding places for junk. Once you get your drawers cleaned out, don’t get caught in the trap again!

5. Make the re-move

Removing unnecessary furniture can clear up lots of space in your apartment. If you have more furniture than you need or have room for, selling it or giving it away can really open up your apartment and make it feel more accessible and uncluttered.

Another useful tip if you are in the furniture purchasing stage is buying multi-purpose pieces like futons, sofa-beds or coffee tables with storage capabilities. Furniture items that double in uses or also serve as storage units help save space while also providing a more clean and sleek feel.

6. Sit back and enjoy

Now that the clutter is gone, sit down, put your feet up and enjoy your space. Take pride in the effort you expended to make your home feel more comfortable. To maintain your clutter-free environment, spend 15 minutes each day getting rid of the unnecessary “stuff” that lands on the coffee table or in the corners. While dinner is cooking or during commercial breaks, walk around and identify junk mail, old receipts, empty food containers and displaced packaging; gather it up and get it out of there!