Comedian George Carlin once said that "your house is just a big pile of stuff with a cover on it." Though you probably like to think of your apartment and living space in nicer terms, that's exactly what it feels like when you've just got too much stuff. If you're currently living in cramped conditions, it might be time to take a look at the 3 R's of Decluttering: Reduce, Repurpose and Redistribute.
Reduce
You'll need to start by doing a thorough walkthrough of your apartment and make a list of what can go. Be honest with yourself about what you actually want to keep and be sure you can give a good reason if it's staying. For example, you may want to keep your yearbooks, but you'll probably not really have much future use for that high school marching band outfit. Some of the ways you can get rid of your "reduce" pile are:
- Selling the item. Is your junk item treasure to someone else? You might be surprised. Try listing your item with an online auction site such as eBay, or see if your neighborhood has social or notification boards both online and in the office.
- Donating to charity. Local and national charities are always in need of good quality items to stock their resale stores or help individuals in need. For example, your local homeless shelter might be in need of warm winter coats, hats or mittens; whereas Goodwill regularly accepts household goods.
- Trash it. Face it, there are just some things that probably are better off in the garbage can. Be careful to separate out any materials that might be information sensitive (such as bank or credit card statements) for shredding or secure disposal. Additionally, you can recycle some of your trash depending on how your community handles that.
Repurpose
Have you ever taken one thing and used it for something else? For example, turning that funky bowl collecting dust into a window herb garden, or framing and hanging those cherished saved articles and clippings into your very own art collage. This also goes for clothes, which can easily be sewn into stylish cushions, throws or used for cleaning scraps. The more you think outside the box, the more you can ensure everything in your apartment has a reason and a place.
Redistribute
Once you've gotten rid of the wave of clutter, there will still be things you need to put away. Storing everything you want to keep in an apartment can be tough even if you're a minimalist. Check out clever storage hacks that can make even the smallest apartment feel bigger, such as under-the-bed drawers, stackable shelves for more room and closet organizers that save you space. Watch this video for just a few ideas on the things you can do:
If you've got more stuff than you can store, it may be time to look at an outside storage solution. Take a look at self-storage units in your area, and make a note of any specials they may be running. You can often get great deals on the web. Additionally, your apartment community may also offer additional storage for an extra charge.
Have you ever had to go through a total declutter of your apartment? What's the most you ever got rid of? Share your favorite decluttering hacks with us on our social feeds!
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