In a world inundated with possessions and distractions, the concept of decluttering has become more than just a trend—it’s a necessity. Many of us embark on the journey of tidying up our living spaces, only to find that certain items seem to resist categorization. These are the items that belong elsewhere, yet have somehow found a temporary home in the midst of our living spaces. In this blog post, we’ll explore the art of decluttering items that belong elsewhere, focusing on the importance of finding a dedicated space for every item.

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 entryway. If you prefer watching videos, check out my youtube channel here. Today, we’ll look at some tips for decluttering items that belong elsewhere in your entryway.

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 how to unclutter the Entryway, Foyer, & Mudroom. The daily task for today, Nov. 24, 2023, is to begin to declutter items that belong elsewhere in your entryway. Remember, we are focusing on just the entryway area, so don’t declutter your whole house. We will cover each room separately.

Decluttering Items that Belong Elsewhere: 7 Tips for Finding a Home for Everything

1. Understanding the Psychology of Clutter:

Before diving into the decluttering process, it’s crucial to understand the psychological impact of a cluttered environment. Clutter can lead to increased stress, decreased productivity, and a sense of being overwhelmed. Recognizing that certain items don’t belong in their current location is the first step toward a more organized and serene living space. You can read more on the Psychology of Clutter here.

2. Assessing Your Belongings:

Take stock of your possessions and categorize them based on their function and usage. Identify items that don’t naturally fit into any specific category or that seem out of place. This could include misplaced tools in the kitchen, clothes in the living room, or paperwork in the bedroom.

3. Designate Spaces for Common Misfits:

Create designated areas for items that often end up in the wrong place. For instance, establish a “designated drop zone” near the entrance for keys, mail, and other small items that tend to get misplaced. By assigning specific spaces for these items, you’ll reduce the likelihood of clutter accumulating in the wrong areas. You’ll also be less likely to lose things.

4. Invest in Storage Solutions:

Storage solutions are a declutterer’s best friend. Invest in furniture with built-in storage, such as ottomans with hidden compartments or coffee tables with drawers. Additionally, consider using storage bins, baskets, and shelving units to keep items organized and easily accessible.

5. Embrace the KonMari Method:

Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method emphasizes keeping only those items that “spark joy.” Apply this principle to the items that seem out of place—do they bring joy in their current location, or would they be better suited elsewhere? If an item doesn’t belong, it might be time to find a new home for it.

6. Regular Maintenance is Key:

Decluttering isn’t a one-time task; it’s an ongoing process. Set aside time regularly to reassess your living space and make adjustments as needed. By consistently maintaining an organized environment, you’ll prevent the accumulation of misplaced items.

7. Get Creative with Repurposing:

Sometimes, the key to finding a home for misplaced items is to get creative with repurposing existing spaces. Consider turning an unused corner into a makeshift office or transforming a spare closet into a storage nook. Thinking outside the box can lead to innovative solutions.

In the quest for a clutter-free and harmonious living space, the importance of finding a home for everything cannot be overstated. By understanding the psychology of clutter, assessing your belongings, and implementing practical solutions, you can create a home where each item has its rightful place. Embrace the process of decluttering as a transformative journey toward a more organized, serene, and joyful living environment.

Steps to Take for Decluttering Items that Belong Elsewhere

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.

Tips for Letting Go & Decluttering Items that Belong Elsewhere

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.)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 for Decluttering Items that Belong Elsewhere

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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