Decluttering 101: Making Your Home a Stress-free Zone

We're all spending a lot more time at home. For many people, that might mean adapting a space to work remotely or simply having more time on their hands to accomplish tasks on their to-do lists.

Either way, you're probably noticing a lot about your home you maybe never saw before, like how crammed your hallway closet is, or how many toys your toddler has in your living room. Decluttering is a cathartic experience, and organizing your home can even help reduce your stress levels and limit distractions to promote productivity, the Mayo Clinic reported.

Whether you're trying to create a home office to improve your productivity or simply want to keep your home a stress-free zone, here are some things to keep in mind when you begin to declutter:

Make a list

While you may feel inspired to tackle a certain space in your home right away, it's best to make a plan about how you will declutter the spaces you're hoping to transform. By deciding which rooms need attention the most - including any pesky closets, toy chests or junk drawers - you can focus your efforts on manageable tasks without burning out. Additionally, listing everything you need to organize ensures you're not just moving clutter around different areas of your home, but rather finding a purposeful use for it (or donating it).

Get creative with storage spaces

While bins and boxes are useful for organizing, it's also important to keep objects you use daily or simply love to look at on display. For instance, if your kitchen cabinets can barely close because of all the pots and pans you have, Good Housekeeping recommended using empty wall space to hang your cookware. Decluttering isn't about hiding your possessions, but rather organizing them in a way that is practical for their use and aesthetically pleasing.

Cabinets too full? Display your dishes on shelves.

Don't forget to clean out other nooks and crannies

Everyone has those few places in their home where junk and random objects seem to pile up. While those locations are an ideal starting point for your decluttering journey, don't overlook other areas in your home in need of some TLC. This can include purging your fridge and pantry of expired or unwanted food (and donating nonperishables to your local food bank) and cleaning under your bed and organizing your nightstand drawer.

Follow the 12-12-12 rule

If you simply don't know where to start decluttering, Becoming Minimalist highlighted a handy 12-12-12 rule. The idea is to find 12 items around your home to throw away, 12 to donate and 12 to find a proper place for. This will help you thin out your belongings and organize your home.

As your declutter, don't forget to do some general cleaning along the way. A good dusting and scrub down of surfaces will leave your home looking refreshed. After your decluttering mission is over, try to devote a few minutes each day to return everything to their correct place to maintain your organized and cozy household!

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