Have you been holding off on decluttering your home? Did you start at some point and never finish? Is there one closet or drawer you've yet to tackle? Here are 5 reasons to get on the ball:
1. Mental Clarity: The relief that's found after realizing you don't actually need things you've been holding on to is hard to describe to those who have yet to experience it. It's freeing, it's amazing, you physically feel lighter, your home feels fresher, lighter, brighter... it's worth the experience. In a world where we surround ourselves with things society tells us we need, realizing you can live with less, or without, is calming to your home and to your soul.
2. Efficiency To Be Found: Even apartments and homes with awkward or bizarre layouts can be amazingly efficient, but paring down your furnishings is often essential to seeing its full potential. Live with what you love, but don't feel the need to fill the fill empty space until you know how it can be used best for your own needs.
3. A Chance To Reinvent Yourself You might roll your eyes at small craft projects or makeovers (they do happen frequently on the internet), but you might discover you can reinvent yourself or your decor with very little work. Without buying more, it can allow you the security of money in the back for emergencies or larger items down the road.
4. Finding Undiscovered Space: Once you toss, donate or trash the things you don't need, you might find use for a space you didn't realize you had. Although it's easier to visualize some spaces for artwork and furniture, the actual purpose for a space might change with a little less in it. An empty corner might be a library, a hallway might be a station for a family computer.
5. Tax Deductions: Donating goods and saving your receipts can come back in full to you at tax time. Not only are you doing good, but you're also getting a little back which encourages you to give a little more next time.
Related: How To Green Clean, Declutter & Refresh Your Entire Home
(Image: Liz Vidyarthi for Nick and Rachel's Creative Warehouse Loft)
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I so need to do this this weekend! Decluttering always helps.
When spring rolled in, I found myself in purging/cleaning/organizing mode. I'm still working on doing this. Right now is the purging: shredding many old bills, receipts & stubs that I've held onto for as far as 13 years, yow. It's a great feeling of liberation.
There is something soothing about looking at clear horizontal spaces. I read somewhere (Maxwell perhaps) that they give the brain a resting spot instead of the chaos of clutter.
I'm in Virginia Beach and will be stuck indoors with no power for a while due to the hurricane. This should keep me busy. :)
I have been on a "let's simplify our lives" kick since we moved 13 months ago. It's our first time living in a loft, and we opted for the largest available at the time. When everything you own is in plain view, you quickly get the itch to downsize and declutter.
Three weeks ago, we moved into a smaller loft, and are continuing to purge, purge, purge. We've probably cut our belongings in half since July 2010 when we moved into the building.
I cannot tell you how good it feels not only to donate to those in need, but to strip down to just what you love and/or need on a daily basis. The more we part with, the more stuff I realize we really can do without. And, as a military wife, it's going to make our moving so often much easier on me.
I encourage EVERYONE to try donating 10 items each week, and see how quickly it snowballs!