How to Declutter Your Apartment This Summer
Looking to lighten up this summer? Decluttering is a fantastic way to make more room for the things you do love by removing the stuff you don’t. Here are some of my favorite tips and hacks to keep your space sparkling clean.
Make Room for What Matters
Looking to refresh and revitalize your living space this summer? Decluttering is the perfect way to create a more open and inviting environment by removing unnecessary items and making room for the things you truly cherish. In this guide, I’ll share some of my favorite decluttering tips and hacks to help you achieve a sparkling clean and organized apartment that exudes a sense of calm and tranquility.
Fill a Trash Bag: Quick and Effective Decluttering
If you need a crash-course way to get started decluttering, grab a kitchen trash bag and challenge yourself to fill it with stuff you don’t want. Anything counts, no rules apply, and you can stop when the bag is full!
If you’re ready to dive into decluttering headfirst, grab a sturdy kitchen trash bag and embark on a decluttering challenge. The goal is simple: fill the bag with items you no longer need or want. From unused gadgets to clothing that no longer serves you, anything goes.Try playing some music and dancing around your house, grabbing things you don’t need and tossing them in your bag. Kudos to you if you can find some high-volume items that take up a lot of room. Once its’ full, just drop the bag off at a donation store and pat yourself on the bag for having one bag’s worth of useless stuff out of your life.
Take the filled bag to a donation store, knowing that you’ve successfully bid farewell to a bag’s worth of unnecessary clutter, making space for the things that truly bring you joy.
The 12-12-12 System: A Fun and Goal-Oriented Approach
Looking for a structured yet playful method to jumpstart your decluttering journey? An alternate way to jumpstart your decluttering process is to follow the 12-12-12 rule, which challenges you to find 12 things to donate, 12 things to throw away, and 12 things to put back in their proper places.
Embrace the 12-12-12 rule. Challenge yourself to find 12 items to donate, 12 items to toss, and 12 items to return to their rightful places. This system allows you to declutter a total of 36 items in one go, injecting a sense of accomplishment into your cleaning routine.
Feel free to adjust the numbers to fit your preferences, but the key is to keep decluttering until you’ve met your chosen goal. This approach adds a touch of gamification to decluttering and can be incredibly motivating.
This is a great shortcut to get a whopping 36 things straightened out in your home, and the number component makes it a fun challenge. You can adjust 12 to whatever number suits your state of mind, but don’t stop until you’ve met your goal.
Create A”Maybe” Bin: A Thoughtful Approach to Decision-Making
If you’re on the fence about whether or not you want to declutter something, put it into a “maybe” bin in your closet. Give it a few months, and if you haven’t missed the object, you can donate it with confidence.
Sometimes, letting go of certain items can be emotionally challenging. For those items you’re on the fence about, create a designated “maybe” bin in your closet. Place items in the bin and give yourself a few months to assess whether you truly miss them. If an item goes untouched during this time, you can confidently donate it.
This approach offers a gentle transition to decluttering, as you have the option to retrieve items from the “maybe” bin if needed. However, you’ll likely find that many of these items are ready to find new homes, simplifying your space and your decision-making process.
If you end up needing the object, pull it back out with no harm done. I almost never take anything back out of the maybe bin, but it makes the process of decluttering a little less nerve-wracking.
Save Sentimental Items for Last: Marie Kondo’s Wisdom
This tip comes straight from Marie Kondo’s terrific book “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” She recommends saving keepsakes for the absolute last thing you declutter. Because they’re personal and irreplaceable, it can be hard to get rid of trinkets that have special meaning.
By addressing sentimental items last, you’ll have honed your decluttering skills and gained clarity on what truly matters to you. This empowered perspective will help you make more intentional decisions about the keepsakes you wish to retain.
I suggest doing them last, because your decluttering muscles will be stronger, and you’ll be better able to decide what you want to keep.
Don’t Overthink It: Trust Your Intuition
As you embark on your decluttering mission, you may encounter moments of hesitation and doubt. It’s natural for your mind to generate reasons to hold onto certain items “just in case.” However, the truth is that these scenarios rarely come to fruition.
Remember, the “just in case” mentality often leads to unnecessary clutter. Trust your intuition and let go of items that no longer serve you. If you find yourself truly needing something down the line, you can always acquire it again, this time appreciating its value even more.
A final word of warning before you start decluttering: the minute you decide to start decluttering, you’ll suddenly remember a million reasons why you really shouldn’t give that one thing away. Doesn’t matter if you haven’t ever turned that lava lamp on or if that paisley shirt doesn’t even fit you, a voice in your head will try and convince you to keep it just in case.
Pro-tip? “Just in case” never happens. If you donate something that you really end up needing, buy it again and appreciate it more the second time around!
Embrace a Clutter-Free Haven
Decluttering your apartment this summer is a transformative journey that goes beyond tidying up your physical space. By letting go of the unnecessary, you create room for inspiration, tranquility, and a renewed sense of well-being. Whether you’re dancing around with a trash bag, engaging in the 12-12-12 challenge, or carefully assessing sentimental items, each step brings you closer to a clutter-free haven that truly reflects your values and aspirations.
So, don’t delay – start your decluttering adventure today and revel in the beauty of a space that sparkles with cleanliness, intention, and the freedom to embrace what truly matters.