2020 has been an interesting year for us all. We’ve collectively found unique ways to entertain ourselves while being stuck at home. We’ve seen all sorts of trends rise and fall: Baking sourdough bread, choreographed family dances, renovating bathrooms with basically zero DIY skills, hobbies started and stopped and started again. But another trend is on the rise as a result of us spending time at home: We’re investing in our living spaces a lot more.
As you consider how to improve your interior, consider how a simple reorganization might transform your living spaces ahead of 2021. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Take Down Your Holiday Decorations
Sorry, but it had to happen eventually. Even though your holiday decorations might have been bringing you joy since the day after Halloween, it’s time to say goodbye. Pack away all your seasonal items and store them until next year. This will ensure you start the new year without the clutter these decorations bring. Then, vacuum up the dried-out pine needles you kicked under the rug a week ago.
- Rearrange Your Communal Living Spaces
You’ve likely been staring at the same living room, family room, or den for months now. Enough is enough. It’s time to switch things up! Move furniture, swap rugs in different rooms, and consider a new layout entirely for the new year.
- Decorative Containers and Bins Are Your Friends!
A surefire way to beat clutter is to organize miscellaneous items in decorative containers that bring a splash of color or pattern to the room. You can find hundreds of styles online or at retail stores, so you’re sure to find something that fits your room. WARNING: Don’t buy any storage containers until after you’ve purged belongings, or you’ll just fill them with clutter.
- Clear Your Closets
You likely have a few sweaters and shirts lurking in the back of your closet that haven’t seen the light of day in months (or years). Stop wasting space by keeping them around. Take stock of the clothes you wore the most over the last year (keeping in mind you won’t be wearing loungewear forever!) and donate or toss any clothes you haven’t worn in a while.
- Give Every Drawer a Job
We’re all guilty of having a junk drawer. Some of us have one for every room. But make 2020 the last year your drawers don’t serve a purpose. Every drawer should be designated for something specific and should – whenever possible – have an organizer in it to keep things separate: Clothes, toiletries, kitchen utensils, etc.
- Organize by Zones
Don’t try to tackle the entire house in one shot, or you’ll end up frustrated with a house worse than it was before. Instead, start with one area at a time. Move everything from that area into a staging area and sort it out – keep, discard, donate. Then begin putting saved items back in their designated spot.
- Make Quick Decisions
Organizing your home is quite a task to tackle. Don’t slow your progress or get stuck by agonizing over decisions. Force yourself to decide whether you want to keep something by asking quickly:
- Have I used this in the last year?
- Do I need or love it?
- Does it fit into my life?
If the answer is no – ditch it. You don’t need that clutter in your life.
Start the new year with a decluttered home that feels fresh and new with these simple tips.
