If your house is always a mess, fear not. Professional organizers say anybody can organize their living space with just four simple steps. It’s called the “Declutter Core Method” and it can be applied to any space. Whether you’re organizing a small linen closet or an entire kitchen, organization can be broken down into four simple, manageable steps.
Step 1: “Collect” — Basically, gather all trash or anything that doesn’t belong in that specific space. Using a trash bag and a collection box, you can clear away visual clutter and create room to work. Anything that belongs elsewhere can be set aside to be re-homed once you’ve finished working in the space.
Step 2: “Categorize” — Group like items together to get a clear picture of what you own and the quantities.
Step 3: “Cut Out” — This is the true decluttering moment when you go through each item individually and try to make a decision about what to keep and what to let go. If you’re unsure about an item, you don’t have to force yourself to let it go. You can keep it for now and revisit it another time. This takes the pressure out of decluttering and makes the experience more positive. You’ll build confidence in your decision-making over time.
Step 4: “Contain” — Once you’ve decluttered the categories in your space, it’s time to create your organizational system. Assign each category a designated home, and determine which items need to be contained. This is where you make the most of your existing storage, furniture, bins and baskets to create a system that’s functional, practical, and easy to maintain.
Decluttering is all about figuring out what makes sense for your life, space, and day-to-day routine to keep your home organized.
