As a very hard year comes to an end, a fresh start is MUCH needed! While a minimal and clean home isn’t everything, we do believe that a tidy + clutter-free space could be the fresh start that we all need!  Below, we put together some tips on how to declutter your home and organize it for the new year!

PART I – DECLUTTER

First thing’s first, it’s time to declutter! As Marie Kondo would say, only keep things that spark JOY!  I know, I know – It sounds cliché. But you will feel a weight lifted off your shoulders when you get rid of things that are no longer serving a purpose in your life.  Trust me when I say, decluttering just got a whole lot simpler with this basket hack!

Grab 4 baskets! Anything will do, really. These 4 baskets will be labeled: 

1. Put Away – Anything that isn’t in its place
2. Recycle/Trash – Anything that is not repairable or waste
3. Donate – Anything that you aren’t attached to anymore
4. Needs Fixing – Anything that is lying around your home and needs to be fixed, but you haven’t had the chance to take care of it!

Next, go through each room in your house and bring the baskets with you! Clear out each and every drawer, closet, and console. This will likely take you a few days, but I promise it’s worth it. Message us on Instagram @therender.co and let us know if you’ve decluttered!  Once you’re finished, you can head to the next step below.

PART II – ORGANIZE

You did it! You’ve completed the hardest part which is decluttering. Now, we get to put everything where it belongs.  I’m definitely not a professional organizer, so I had to do some research and found a lot of great info on Woman’s Day. Below are some tips from them to best organize your space.

• Tip #1: After you’ve kept only the bare minimum (because remember, we are only keeping things we LOVE), we need to group things together based on use or occasion and store them in open containers.

• Tip #2: Don’t treat your drawers like catchalls. I’m the queen of a good junk drawer… but it’s important that every drawer in your space serves a purpose! (& hopefully, after Part 1 we don’t have to worry about junk drawers)

• Tip #3: Store a discard bag in the closet. Anyone else’s mind blown?! So simple! Why have I never thought of this before? Keep a bag in the coat closet for clothes that don’t fit, have stains, or that you want to get rid of.  When the bag is full, donate!
• Tip #4: Arrange items according to how frequently you use them! Keep items you use every day in plain sight or at eye level.
• Tip #5: Set limits for everything! Assign things like memorabilia and craft supplies to a single shelf or bin, then let the designated area’s size dictate how much you keep.

And that’s all! Once you’ve decluttered and organized, you’ll be on the track to a minimalist life. If you liked this segment, make sure to give us a follow on Instagram & Pinterest! We share tons of interior design inspiration there. See you there! 

Joyfully,

Brooke Hicks | Render Co.