My home is my sanctuary — or, at least, it is when it’s neat and organized. When it’s not, it makes working, relaxing, cooking, socializing, and sleeping (all things I prefer to do from home) infinitely more challenging. That’s why I’m always looking for decluttering tips that actually work and don’t require a ton of effort, and for this article, I decided to go straight to the experts: people who organize homes for a living.
In order to get a well-rounded perspective on decluttered homes, I reached out to three different sources: Amy Tokos, president-elect of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) and owner of Freshly Organized, Marissa Hagmeyer and Ashley Murphy, co-founders of NEAT Method, and Patricia Cassano, founder and primary consultant at 3-Tier Organization Long Island. (That last source also happens to be my mom, and we can all thank her for the fact that when my house is unruly, I have trouble sleeping at night.) I also pooled advice from some of the world’s most popular organizers, like Marie Kondo and The Home Edit, too, so these tips cover a lot of ground.
Everyone I interviewed agreed that the right tools are paramount (a great-fitting bin, box, insert, or organizer makes all the difference in the world), but the prep is also important. According to these sources, before you start, you’ll need three things: motivation, a vision, and a blank canvas. “Oftentimes, people begin an organizing project because they think they ‘should,’ but don’t have a clear understanding of ‘why,'” Hagmeyer wrote to Bustle. Murphy then continued, “Do you want to create a more consistent exercise routine? Does getting dressed in the morning need to be easier? Are you finding too many expired foods in your cabinets? By having a purpose for your project, your organizing will be focused, and you won’t get lost in the weeds.”
Next, establish a vision for your space, whether that’s a sketch, a written paragraph, or some inspirational photos. “Write it down so you can revisit if needed for direction or motivation,” Tokos said. “Start small – one area, room, or section of a room to make it manageable.”
Last but not least, create a blank canvas for yourself: “Get in the right frame of mind and start by taking everything out of whatever you’re organizing (whether that’s a closet, pantry, shed, or cabinet). That way, you can see it all at once and be deliberate about the things you choose to put back,” Cassano wrote. Once those three boxes are checked, you’re ready to dive in. Scroll on for tricks, tips, and tools professional organizers use to declutter a home.
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