Hey there! When we moved into our own place, I envisioned a balanced home full of simplicity and intentional design. However, what I imagined and what actually happened were two very different things. Our home didn’t look like the picture-perfect spaces I had seen on Instagram or Pinterest, which had inspired my mood boards. Living in a smaller apartment, stuff just seemed to accumulate everywhere. Every time we made an “I need this” purchase—which, in reality, we probably didn’t need—the items would pile up in corners and fill the space with clutter. I don’t need our home to look picture-perfect, but it’s definitely nicer to come home to a well-balanced and tidy space.
We found ourselves wanting a simpler, more intentional way of living for our peace of mind. That’s when we decided to declutter and let go of some of the unnecessary things. Here are the simple and straightforward steps we took and how we shifted our mindset. Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Start with a Vision
First, we created a clear vision of what we wanted our home to look and feel like. We gathered inspiration from various sources, determined to get it right the first time and avoid wanting to change things up again in a year. While we like to make seasonal decorating changes, we aimed for the larger aspects to stay consistent for the long term. I made mood boards and focused on the overall feel we wanted for our home. Having this vision helped us stay focused on our goals.
Tips we found helpful:
- Use Pinterest or Instagram to create mood boards that capture the aesthetic and vibe you want.
- Write down keywords that describe your ideal home environment (e.g., peaceful, spacious, cozy).
- Set specific goals for each room, such as creating a calm bedroom or a functional kitchen.
Step 2: Declutter One Room at a Time
We tackled our home one room at a time. even though our apartment is not very large, this approach felt manageable and less overwhelming than trying to declutter everything at once. Starting with the easiest room, which in this case was the bedroom, we sorted items into three traditional categories: keep, donate/sell, and discard. This made the cleanup process straightforward, as we simply addressed each pile according to its purpose. There’s a reason why this method is popular!
Tips we found helpful:
- Begin with a small, manageable space like a bathroom or a closet to build momentum.
- Set a timer for 15-30 minutes to work in short, focused bursts.
- For sentimental items, consider setting them aside and revisiting them later once you’ve built up your decluttering muscle.
Step 3: Organize What We Kept
After decluttering, we organized the items we decided to keep. We don’t have much storage space to begin with, so we focused on finding solutions that were both cozy and functional. Honestly, I feel like you can never have enough baskets! We made some easy changes, like moving items into easily reachable boxes that fit with our interior decor—such as charging cords and everyday IT accessories. This way, they’re out of sight but still easily accessible. Having a dedicated place for everything made our home feel much more organized!
Tips we found helpful:
- Find your preferred method and tools for organizing—whether it’s using clear bins, baskets, or labels to keep items organized and easy to find. It needs to fit your lifestyle and purpose.
- In our limited space, we also opted for multi-purpose furniture, like ottomans with storage and beds with drawers underneath.
- Store items you use frequently in easily accessible places, and keep seasonal or rarely used items in higher or lower spots.
Step 4: Limit Future Purchases
We implemented a rule to think twice before making new purchases, especially large items. We found that while we couldn’t always avoid buying new things, asking ourselves if the item was truly necessary and if it could fit in our apartment helped minimize impulse buying.
Here are some tips we found helpful:
- Create a 30-day list: If you want to buy something, write it down and revisit the idea in 30 days to see if you still need or want it.
- Follow the “one in, one out” rule: For every new item you bring in, let go of an existing one. I did this especially with clothes and realized it’s okay to let go of old tank tops I’ve had since high school—they served their purpose long enough!
- Focus on quality over quantity: Invest in durable, versatile pieces that you truly love.
Step 5: Create a Routine for maintaining your space
Once we were happy with how everything turned out, we established regular routines to maintain our space. This includes our usual weekly cleaning routines, but the real game changer was spending 10 minutes at the end of each night tidying up, putting everything back in place, and cleaning the kitchen counters. Now, this might not happen every night as life still gets in the way, of course, but we try to stay consistent because waking up to a clean space is such a mood booster! We’ve noticed that these small habits make a big difference in keeping our home organized and stress-free. Plus, it sets a positive tone for the rest of the day.
Tips we found helpful:
- Spend 10-15 minutes each day tidying up to keep clutter away
- Schedule regular organizing sessions to address any areas that need attention.
- Managing all weekly chores during the week. Of course, this routine needs to be adapted to your work schedule. But, since both of us have regular Monday-to-Friday jobs, we prefer to manage all our weekly chores during the week after work. This way, we don’t have to think about chores on the weekend and can enjoy our time in other ways
Wrapping It All Up
Decluttering was a much-needed decision when we realized we weren’t happy with how our space made us feel. Now, it feels like everything has a place, and we are truly happy to be home, whether coming home or waking up in our space. These five steps may not be new, and you’ve probably read about them before, but I hope they inspire you to make a change if your space needs a refresh.
What we learned most is that decluttering isn’t about letting go of all enjoyment or stopping yourself from buying new things or following trends. It’s about making space for the things that truly matter to you! You don’t need to live a minimalist lifestyle if maximalism is what you enjoy. The important thing is to love the things you have around you and make your space feel the way you want it to. For us, that feeling was cozy, harmonious, and balanced.
Thanks for reading! Leave a comment if you have any other steps or tips you like to take for decluttering and keeping your space balanced!
– Ida
