Apartment living is notorious for being tight on space. And even if you’re lucky enough to find a spacious layout with ample closets, added (deep) storage is still a pretty rare commodity. If you’re squeezing into a rental with not an inch to spare, it may be time to cut the clutter. Follow these 5 effective steps to get rid of the excess in order to make room for the stuff you love!
Step 1:
Decide Where to Start
How significant your decluttering session will be largely depends on how much stuff you have and how much doesn’t fit in your rental. You may have a single spot or a few isolated areas that are particularly out-of-control; or you may be bursting at the seems in every direction. Either way, look around your rental and determine which area(s) are the most in need of attention and/or significantly affect your day-to-day life (e.g., closet, office, kitchen). These high-use areas are usually the best places to start.
As motivated as you may be, resist the urge to work on your entire rental at once. The mess and chaos can easily overwhelm you, and it can be difficult to make and see progress. Instead, focus on one area at a time. As you declutter and reap the benefits of less stuff and more order, you’ll be motivated to take on other spots in a similar fashion!
Step 2:
Take Stock of Everything You Have
Once you’ve decided where to start, pull out every single item in that area. Only by seeing and touching everything you have, can you make a significant dent in what ultimately stays. As you empty the area, sort items into logical piles based on characteristics, function, use, or size. Toss items that are obvious trash, but try not to get bogged down in making decisions on each item just yet. Focus primarily on emptying and sorting.
Step 3:
Get Rid of the Easy Stuff
With everything pulled out and sorted, it’s time to start purging. However, the soul-searching and heart-crushing decisions don’t have to start just yet. Instead, focus on getting rid of the easy stuff first!
Clutter is often the forgotten, broken, unused items of daily life. To make the biggest dent in your stuff quickly, focus on these innocuous items first.
Look through your piles and immediately, without over-analysis, toss the following:
Trash – receipts, wrappers, mail, empty bags and boxes, etc.
Duplicates – unless it’s something you use up frequently or regularly (e.g., printer ink, cotton balls, etc).
Broken items – anything with broken or missing pieces.
Things that don’t fit – this can include clothing and shoes, as well as furniture, rugs or home items that are simply too big for your space.
Expired items – this applies to food, medicines, and other hygiene products.
Do you have too many clothes? Here is a fun way to get rid of them!
Step 4:
Get Real
Oftentimes, getting rid of the “easy” stuff is enough to make a significant dent in the amount of items you are trying to squeeze into a certain spot. However, if you still have a bigger pile than you can accommodate, it’s time to finally get real. You need to examine each and every item that remains and determine if you really want and/or need to keep it.
To do so, ask yourself these questions:
Do you love it?
Do you use it?
Do you happily display it in your home?
Is it a precious family item, antique or heirloom?
Is it in good condition?
Do you have space for it?
Do you have good reason to store it for future use?
There are no right and wrong answers to these questions. Ideally, however, as you reflect on these answers, you will be able to ultimately decide what stays and what goes.
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Step 5:
Get Rid of the Excess
Now that you’ve worked through all the items in your target area, get rid of the discarded items immediately. You may have some items worth listing and selling online. Otherwise, put items in the trash and/or take to the donation center right away so you can’t second guess or lament any of your decisions.
Need more decluttering tips? Learn some handy tips for controlling your clutter!
Once you complete these four steps, you should be able to put back the remaining items into your target area in a way that is orderly and clutter free. If not, you may need to repeat steps 2 and 3 until everything fits comfortably. And when it does, move on to the next area in your rental that needs a bit less stuff and a bit more order!
