I always feel the urge to purge in January. Once the holiday decorations come down, I crave organization, de-cluttering, and taking a look at my home decor. I haven’t always been this way, though. When I became a SAHM, and subsequently lost my paycheck, I became obsessed with holding onto everything. I wanted to stretch the almighty dollar, so as I acquired, I held ON to it.
Over the years, and as my business has grown, I’ve learned that my holding onto things was because I was fearful I may never be able to afford it again. Once I came to that realization and adopted an abundance mindset, I was able to free myself of clutter and belongings.
If you’re also in that process, here are some effective tips for decluttering and purging your home decor to create a more organized and harmonious space:
Start Small
Pick One Area at a Time: Begin with a single room, shelf, closet or drawer to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Set a Timer: Dedicate 15-30 minutes to focus on decluttering one space. This one’s essential for me because I tend to want to keep going, and I end up getting overwhelmed. Tackle one area a day or one area a week – whatever fits your schedule, but make sure to finish it all in one setting and don’t leave piles around. That’s why it helps to start small, like with your junk drawer.
Evaluate Each Item
Ask Yourself:
- Do I love this item?
- Does it serve a purpose?
- Does it fit my current style or vision for the space?
Be Honest: Let go of items that no longer resonate with your style or that you haven’t used in over a year. This can be hard if you tend to collect items for “projects’ or to ‘use someday.” What has helped me is to repeat my mantra “if I want it again, I can buy it again in the future.”
I can’t stress that enough. Realizing that most of these items have no sentimental value and can easily be found again freed me. If I want it again, I’ll just buy it again.
Use the Three-Pile Method
Keep: Items that you truly love or use.
Donate/Sell: Items in good condition that no longer serve you.
Discard: Broken or damaged items that can’t be repaired or repurposed.
Get three boxes or bags ready before you dive in. If you have a box to fill, you’ll be more inclined to fill it.
Follow the “One In, One Out” Rule
For every new decor item you bring into your home, remove one you no longer need to maintain balance.
I like to do this with home decor, and you really have to if you don’t want to create a cluttered space.
Consider Seasonal Rotations
Store Seasonal Items: Pack away decor that’s only relevant for certain times of the year (e.g., Christmas decorations).
Declutter Before Storing: Before boxing up seasonal items, purge what you didn’t use this year.
My tip for seasonal decor – Use fresh whenever possible. For Spring, this might mean decorating with tulips, hyacinths, or daffodils. For fall, it’s fresh pumpkins, corn, and gourds. For Christmas, it’s fresh garland and wreaths, flower arrangements, and fruit.
Digitize Sentimental Decor
Take Photos: If you’re holding onto items purely for sentimental reasons, consider taking photos to preserve the memory without keeping the physical item. I like this tip for kids art. An artist I follow on TikTok, Evelyn Hanson, said her grandmother took photos of all of her art as a child and turned it into things, like notecards, place cards for tables capes. Such a cute idea to “remember” the art in a useful way.
Embrace Minimalism
Focus on Quality Over Quantity: A few well-chosen pieces often create more impact than cluttered surfaces.
Leave Negative Space: Empty spaces allow your favorite decor to stand out and make the room feel more open.
Declutter Decor With a Friend
Get a Second Opinion: A fresh perspective can help you decide what to keep and what to let go.
Trade Items: If you and your friend have similar styles, consider trading decor pieces instead of buying new ones. Facebook groups can be great for this. Join a buy nothing group on Facebook for your area.
Sell or Repurpose Items
Sell Online: Use platforms like Facebook Marketplace or local consignment stores to sell decor you no longer need.
Repurpose Creatively: For example, turn an old vase into a planter or use a fabric pillowcase to make a tote bag. I love those videos of people getting tablecloths or blankets at thrift stores and turning them into beautiful patterned dresses. That can be far out of reach for most, so think repurpose before you donate, since a lot of that is shipped overseas or dumped.
Commit to Maintenance
Set Decluttering Days: Regularly review your decor every few months to prevent clutter from building up. I like to do this in January when I’m in the purging spirit, but it’s probably good to do after every season’s end. Did you use it, is it still in good enough shape to keep, did it go with my decor this year? If not, get rid of it.
Mindful Shopping: Avoid impulse purchases and only buy decor that truly aligns with your style and space. For me, this means shopping online. I find it easier to add something to my cart and wait and see if I still really want it. In stores, they have it laid out to encourage impulsive purchases, like the checkout lanes lined with product. For others, online shopping may be more of an issue. Find out what your trigger is.
Here are some of my favorite storage tools and decluttering books.
