As the New Year dawns, it’s the perfect time to channel your inner professional organiser and commit to the concept of “out with the old, in with the new.” This sentiment is more than just an idiom, especially when it comes to decluttering and organising our personal spaces.
If you’ve got the end of year ughs and want to make a change at home in 2024, it can help to look at some practical considerations through the lens of a professional organiser to transform your living space, make it more organised, and perhaps most importantly, serene. These 5 new year’s home organising resolutions are a solid starting point for decluttering and making some changes in your space.
Decluttering: The First Step to an Organised Home
The journey to an organised home begins with decluttering. Start by surveying your living space. What’s in your way, what’s bugging you?
Identify items that no longer serve a purpose or spark joy. This is the first step a professional organiser would point out to declutter, and it’s a good north star to have as one of your home organising resolutions.
The key to get organised is to be mindful and decisive. Tackling one room at a time makes the decluttering process less daunting, and if even that seems a bit overwhelming, I like to focus on one corner or set my sights on clearing out one shelf or one junk drawer before I tackle the next.
Remember, decluttering is not always about discarding things; it’s more about making room for what truly matters to you, a truth professional organisers believe in. And it often involves emotional decisions. It’s crucial, as a part of your home organising journey, to recognise that it’s okay to let go of things you no longer need or like.
Whether it’s clothes that no longer fit, items that don’t suit your home decor, or old tech gadgets collecting dust, letting go of these items while decluttering can be liberating.
You might find it helpful to think of decluttering as making room in your tidy space for new experiences and memories!
Once you’ve decluttered, it’s time to organise what remains. This is where organisational tools come into play. Use drawer organisers, closet systems, and storage boxes to keep your belongings in order. Remember that you might not need to buy any new organising bins for this step. Oftentimes a lot of what you already have around the house can be repurposed.
Labeling your storage solutions can further streamline your space, especially if it’s tiny. It just makes it easier to find what you need, when you need it, and maintain order.
Embracing Minimalism to Simplify Your Space
Minimalism in all of its nuances might have been a hot trend these past few years, but I like to think of it as more than just a design aesthetic; it’s a way of life. By adopting a minimalist approach, you can significantly reduce clutter and enhance your home’s functionality.
In essence, minimalism is about prioritising quality over quantity. Avoiding impulse buying and unnecessary items. It’s choosing to keep only what you need and what adds value to your life. This philosophy can be applied to pretty much every aspect of your home, from the kitchen and wardrobe, to your home office.
Practising minimalism is actually pretty easy. Next time you’re cleaning or tidying, start by evaluating each item you handle. Does it serve a functional purpose? Does it contribute to your well-being, i.e. do you love it, does it make you feel good? If the answer is no, it might be time to part ways. Minimalism isn’t about deprivation; it’s about making conscious choices that ultimately enhance your living area by freeing up space.
Smart Storage Solutions Help Maximise Space Sustainably
Effective storage is another key to maintaining an organised home. But organising more than just finding a place for everything; you want to be storing things in a manner that’s sustainable and efficient in your everyday life.
If you have to go digging through bins and boxes to find what you need every time you need it, you’ll be less inclined to keep things neat.
So think creatively when it comes to storage. Consider what you use on a regular basis, and what things you only reach for sporadically. If you only go skiing once a year, for example, you probably don’t need to have your ski gear front and centre in the closet.
Make use of vertical space with shelves, hang items on the back of doors, or consider furniture with built-in storage. Remember, the goal is to keep items easy to reach but out of sight, maintaining a clean and organised appearance.
I like to look for sustainable materials when I do need to purchase new storage solutions, so I try to opt for environmentally friendly materials and always check first to see if I already have something I could put to a new use. Sustainability in home organisation is not only better for the planet, but can also add a unique and personal touch to your space.
Technology to the Rescue: Organising in the Digital Age
Technology can also be a powerful ally in staying organised. From smartphone apps to smart home devices, tech can streamline your organisational efforts. Why not make reviewing your personal “tech stack” one of your home organising resolutions this year?
There are numerous apps designed to help you stay organised. From book-cataloguing software to list-making, note-taking and reminder apps, these tools are often overlooked, yet they make it easier to stay on top of tasks like weekly cleaning sessions, and manage your time more effectively.
Smart home devices can also play a role in home organisation. Voice-activated assistants like Siri and Alexa can help you maintain shopping and to-do lists, while smart lighting can create the perfect ambiance for cleaning and organising sessions, and even help reduce your electric bill.
The Psychology of Organisation: Mindful Living
Organising your place is not just about physical space; it’s also about creating a peaceful and stress-free environment. Understanding the psychological benefits of an organised home can be a powerful motivator.
A clutter-free space can lead to a clutter-free mind, and the act of organising your stuff itself is a natural mood booster. Studies have shown that organised spaces can reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being. So by organising your home, you’re also taking care of your mental health. Win-win!
Developing a regular cleaning and organising routine is another good new year’s resolution to make. Dedicating a specific day for certain cleanup tasks has been helpful in my own single household. You can set aside time for decluttering and cleaning where you focus on specific tasks, or you might prefer to have a set day where you tackle the whole house in one sweep.
Whatever kind of routine you prefer, consistency not only helps in maintaining an organised home but also turns it into an ongoing, manageable process.
Make Home Organising Resolutions That Work for You
Embarking on a journey to an organised home is a new years resolution worth making and keeping, but you have to do what feels right for you and your space.
By proceeding bit-by-bit with decluttering, getting more comfortable with minimalism, making organising a habit and maybe even leveraging smart technology, you can start transforming your living space into a place of greater calm and order.
Like with any new habit you set out to build though, organising your home isn’t a one-time event; it’s an ongoing process that requires a bit of dedication and mindfulness. I think it’s totally worth it!
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