In the busy world we live in, it’s easy for clutter to accumulate in our living spaces. From sentimental items to everyday essentials, our homes can quickly become overwhelmed with things, making it difficult to find what we need and enjoy our living environment. However, with a few simple strategies and a bit of dedication, you can transform your home into a clutter-free and harmonious sanctuary. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of how to declutter and free up space in your home.

Welcome to my Year Long Thorough Declutter Series. We declutter 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Each day we do a daily task based on the room we are working on. Today, our task is to start decluttering your clutter in your attic. If you prefer watching videos, check out my youtube channel here. Today, we’ll look at some tips to declutter dated, unused decor’ in your attic.

The best way to develop a new habit is by slowly and daily application. We will begin a new daily declutter habit starting with the 2nd bathroom. In the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series, we will declutter 30 minutes a day, five days a week on weekdays. Sign up to receive daily encouragement and motivation.

Plus, you’ll learn your specific daily task to work toward completing the goal of a Year Long Thorough Declutter where you will declutter every space and learn how to start to purge your house. Are you ready to finally get organized? If so, will you join us? Leave a comment below to subscribe.

If you are new to the blog, welcome! I blog about cleaning, decluttering, and organizing. You can find my free printables to help you get organized in the drop down menu under the Printables category.

Currently we are working on decluttering the Attic. The daily task for today, Aug. 25, 2023, is to begin to declutter any dated, unused decor’ in your attic. Remember, we are focusing on just the attic area, so don’t declutter your whole house. We will cover each room separately.

How to Declutter and Free Up Space in Your Home

1. Set Clear Goals: Before you embark on your decluttering journey, take some time to define your goals. Do you want to create a more organized living room? Clear out your garage? Having specific objectives will help you stay motivated and focused throughout the process.

2. Start Small: The thought of decluttering an entire home can be overwhelming. To avoid burnout, start with a small, manageable area like a closet or a single room. This will give you a sense of accomplishment as you free up space in your home and motivate you to tackle larger spaces.

3. Sort and Categorize: As you begin decluttering, sort your belongings into categories: keep, donate/sell, and discard. Be honest with yourself about the items you truly need and cherish. If you haven’t used or thought about an item in the past year, consider letting it go.

4. The KonMari Method: Made famous by Marie Kondo, the KonMari method emphasizes keeping only items that “spark joy.” Hold each item in your hands and ask yourself if it brings you happiness. If not, thank the item for its service and let it go. This is a great way to free up space in your home.

5. One-In, One-Out Rule: To maintain a clutter-free home in the long run, adopt the one-in, one-out rule. For every new item you bring into your home, commit to removing an old item. This helps prevent future clutter buildup.

6. Storage Solutions: Invest in practical storage solutions to keep your belongings organized. Use storage bins, baskets, shelves, and drawers to categorize and store items neatly. Consider utilizing vertical space to maximize storage in smaller rooms. Vertical storage will free up space in your home.

7. Digital Declutter: Decluttering isn’t limited to physical items. Clean up your digital space by organizing files, deleting unused apps, and unsubscribing from newsletters you no longer read. A clean digital environment can enhance your overall sense of organization.

8. Sentimental Items: Sentimental items can be challenging to declutter. Create a dedicated space for these items, such as a memory box. Limit the space you allocate for sentimental belongings, forcing you to make thoughtful choices about what to keep.

9. Regular Maintenance: Decluttering is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. Dedicate a few minutes each day to tidying up and putting things back in their designated places. This prevents clutter from accumulating again.

10. Donate and Recycle Responsibly: Items that no longer serve you might be valuable to others. Donate gently-used items to local charities or shelters. Recycle or dispose of items that can’t be donated in an environmentally responsible manner.

11. Seek Professional Help: If you find yourself struggling to declutter or if the task is too overwhelming, consider enlisting the help of a professional organizer. They can provide expert guidance and personalized strategies for your specific needs.

12. Embrace Minimalism: Minimalism is about owning fewer possessions and focusing on what truly matters. Embrace the philosophy of “less is more” by consciously bringing new items into your home and regularly reassessing your belongings.

Decluttering your home can be a transformative experience, leading to a more organized, serene, and functional living space. Remember that the process takes time, so be patient with yourself. By following these strategies and maintaining consistent efforts, you’ll be well on your way to creating a clutter-free haven as you free up space in your home that nurtures both your physical and mental well-being.

How do you free up counter space?

Clearing up counter space in your kitchen or other areas can make a significant difference in the overall organization and functionality of your home. Here are some effective ways to free up counter space:

1. Evaluate Necessities: Go through the items currently occupying your counter space and evaluate their necessity. Keep only the items you use on a daily basis or that serve a functional purpose in the immediate vicinity.

2. Store Small Appliances: Appliances like toasters, blenders, and coffee makers can take up a lot of space. If you don’t use them daily, consider storing them in a cabinet or pantry. Pull them out when needed and store them away afterward.

3. Use Wall-Mounted Storage: Install shelves or racks on your walls to store items like spices, utensils, or pots and pans. This not only frees up counter space but also adds a decorative touch to your kitchen.

4. Hang Utensils: Use hooks or magnetic strips to hang utensils, cutting boards, and other kitchen tools on the wall. This not only saves counter space but also keeps these items easily accessible.

5. Under-Cabinet Storage: Install hooks or racks underneath your cabinets to hang mugs, cups, or even small baskets for storing fruits, vegetables, or kitchen towels.

6. Invest in Drawer Organizers: Use drawer organizers to keep utensils, cutlery, and other small items neatly stored in drawers instead of cluttering the countertop.

7. Declutter and Organize: Clear away items that don’t belong in the kitchen or that you rarely use. Store them in their appropriate places or consider donating or discarding them.

8. Opt for Multi-Functional Items: Choose kitchen tools and gadgets that serve multiple purposes to minimize the number of items on your counter. For instance, a cutting board with a built-in colander can save space.

9. Use Rolling Carts: If you have limited cabinet space, a rolling cart can provide additional storage and counter space that you can move around as needed.

10. Create a “Drop Zone”: Designate a specific area for items like mail, keys, and chargers that tend to accumulate on the counter. Use baskets or trays to keep them organized.

11. Keep Surfaces Clean: A clutter-free counter is easier to maintain. Make it a habit to wipe down your counters and put away items after each use.

12. Maximize Cabinet Space: Make the most of your cabinet space by using stackable containers, adjustable shelves, and pull-out organizers.

13. Store Food Efficiently: Keep pantry items in clear containers to save space and keep ingredients visible. This can also prevent unnecessary duplicates.

14. Evaluate Decor: While decorative items can add personality to your space, too many can create clutter. Select a few meaningful pieces and arrange them thoughtfully.

15. Regular Maintenance: Make decluttering and tidying a regular habit. Set aside a few minutes each day to put things away and keep your counters clear.

Remember, the goal is to create an organized and functional space that suits your needs. Implementing a combination of these strategies will help you free up counter space and create a more efficient and enjoyable living environment.

I personally have a bad habit of placing items that need to be donated in the laundry room behind the door. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Wrong. Delaying decisions means we still need to declutter.

Maybe you have a habit of delaying decisions, too. Let’s decide today where your decluttered items need to go. Do they need to be donated? Disposed of? Don’t delay that decision any longer. If they need to be donated, sort and put them in your vehicle. Then, make a note in your calendar to drop them off at your favorite charity.

As you are decluttering your items, I want you to try not to just move them to another room. You may be tempted to do that. However, resist the urge to keep everything. Decluttering means we actually part with these items. Otherwise, assign those items a permanent home where you can best utilize them.

Steps for How to Free Up Space in Your Home

1.Only spend time on your specific daily task. 

2.Do not get side-tracked or distracted. 

3.Work within a time of day that you have the most energy and stamina. This is one of the most useful declutter motivation tips. Listen to your body and work at decluttering when you feel the most alert and energized.

4.Avoid thinking too long about whether to keep or discard an item. This is one specific way for How to Be Ruthless When Decluttering.

5.Avoid cleaning during your declutter. The goal is to purge the dead weight. Getting rid of the clutter is your priority. Cleaning can be accomplished later. Read on for more declutter motivation tips and my room specific deep clean checklist, though, as you will begin cleaning after your declutter.

High Impact Decluttering Tips for How to Free Up Space in Your Home

Supplies Needed:

1. boxes -preferably ones you can donate (Avoid plastic storage bins because you may be tempted to just store the items and not part with them.)

2. sturdy trash bags

3. marker/pen to label boxes

Decluttering Tip: Avoid using storage bins to declutter. Storage bins tend to tell your brain to “store” the items for later. That is just delaying decisions. If you aren’t getting rid of items when you declutter, you are not truly decluttering. This is why I recommend a trash bag, also. A trash bag tells your brain to “trash” the item.

Obviously, recycle if you have that option. The boxes you use should be ones you are willing to part with, so I recommend sturdy cardboard boxes. As to donations, there are many charities that will come pick up your items for you at your home.

I use one in particular where you can book an appointment for pick-up online. This is so convenient, as it saves you the hassle of hauling stuff away yourself. Scheduling that pick-up also motivates you to declutter by a certain date.

Steps & Expert Ways for How to Free Up Space in Your Home

1. Start by eliminating trash first- use a sturdy trash bag

2. Sort items by category if needed so you can see what you have

3.Get rid of items that don’t work or that work poorly, expired items, anything you don’t love, anything that you’ll never use again

4. Box up the donations and trash/recycle the rest

5.Select a charity to donate your items and schedule the pick-up if that is an option

How Do You Declutter Your Entire House (and get it deep clean?): Need to deep clean?

First, My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.

Second, My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.

Third, My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.

Fourth, My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.

Fifth, My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.

You can get your printable Daily Housekeeping Routine and Deep Cleaning Your House Schedule here. This 15 page printable kit is delivered digitally to your email for you to print and personalize. What Does a Deep Clean Include? It includes a daily schedule, calendar pages, and deep cleaning checklists for every room and area of your home. Check out the link above to see a sample page of what you’ll get in my printable set designed to help you create your personal Homemaking Checklist.

Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can find that here.

New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:

Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. If you don’t have a calendar, you can grab my free weekly printable calendar page here. It is in my shopify store, but it is totally free, so you won’t be prompted to put in any payment information. It is a free download and will be delivered straight to your email.

Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you often ask: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Or, if you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.

Step 3:   How do you remove clutter? How Do You Declutter Your Home?.…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.”Declutter Your Home” checklists are provided in each email.

Step 4: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer and use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered. 

Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.

Check out the most popular posts on deemiddleton.com: 

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How to Create a Daily Housekeeping Schedule

How to Clean House When You Are Completely Overwhelmed By Clutter

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