What You Should Never Do When You're Decluttering Your Space

Decluttering a space can require quite a bit of work. First, you'll need to remove everything from the area. Then, you'll want to sort your items into piles: most people separate into piles for keeping, giving, or throwing away, but you can add a maybe box if you're indecisive. Once you've gathered all the items you'll be keeping, you need to sort them into categories and determine how to organize them, then purchase the ideal bins and containers to hold all your stuff. Finally, to finish the project, organize your things inside the bins and place them back in your space. You may also want to label each container, making your organizational system extra useful. 

While this decluttering method tends to work wonders, some people may skip or rearrange some steps for simplicity or convenience. However, doing this can make your task much more challenging, so you'll want to think carefully before attempting your own method. In fact, many people attempt to complete a particular step before the rest, which usually results in wasted time or money.

When decluttering, some try to start by purchasing bins, which results in skipping the steps of removing the items, separating them into piles, and categorizing them. Perhaps they do this because they think it will motivate them to do the job, or maybe they're most excited about purchasing the aesthetically pleasing containers. However, this is a huge mistake, as buying before you declutter will most likely create one of two problems: you'll either overestimate or underestimate the number of containers you need. Both of these mistakes require an extra trip to the store to return the baskets you didn't use, or to buy more. 

Additionally, if you purchase the bins hoping to organize one day, you may never get around to it. In this case, you've wasted money on baskets that aren't getting used, and you aren't any closer to having an orderly space. Further, these containers are not cheap: When But First, Coffee talked to a professional organizer about the best way to organize their kitchen, the professional suggested that they spend almost $900 on containers. However, if you hold off on purchasing bins, you may find storage options you could use around your home, saving you money. 

When going out to purchase containers, focus on function over aesthetics. While you may want to create a space that wows, your efforts will be in vain if you don't utilize certain bins because they aren't convenient. The kind of basket you choose is also worth considering; make sure you choose a suitable material for what will be stored inside. For instance, while The Container Store's wire baskets may work for something like towels, small items could fall through the holes. Or, if you're storing something that could spill, like toiletries, bins that can easily be cleaned, such as The Container Store's plastic bins, would be best. Choosing ones with handles will make them easy to transport, while those with lids are best for stacking. 

Finally, make sure you measure your space to determine the exact size bins you need, and bring a tape measure to the store or have the measurements on hand when shopping online. Keep in mind, one measurement some homeowners forget to consider is the depth of a shelf. So ensure that you record your storage space's height, width, and depth for the best results.