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Decluttering your home often seems like an insurmountable task. When you start to think of how many hours it might take, or how you might have to choose which items to keep or get rid of, it turns into a classic case of “paralysis by analysis.” Our first piece of advice is simple: commit to a certain amount of time each week rather than looking at the project as one giant all-or-nothing proposition that you have to accomplish in a weekend.
Maybe try breaking up your reorganization by tackling it room by room. This strategy makes these projects more manageable, giving you small milestones along the way so you feel like you’re making true progress. During social distancing time is one thing we all might have more of. So if you’re ready to reorganize and declutter, we’ve highlighted five spaces to get you on your way!
1. Your Bedroom
Once you start, you’ll find countertops are your own worst enemy. They collect items—chargers, unread books, and more—so the first order of business is taking a hard look at your nightstand, dresser, or vanity. Keep in mind shoving items into drawers isn’t solving the problem, so decide what needs to be recycled, donated, or thrown away. The items you’re keeping? Put them in their proper place. Oh, and don’t forget to make your bed!
2. Your Closet
Okay, so technically the closet isn’t a room. This said, we all know it’s a bear to reorganize, so it’s important to give your closet the attention it needs since it quickly accumulates items. The biggest tip for reorganizing your closet is to group like items together—this way decisions about what to keep and what to donate should be easier. For example, if you have two similar shirts, it might be time to get rid of the older one. The same goes for jeans, pants and shoes.
3. Your Bathroom
Decluttering your bathroom has an easy starting point: say good bye to outdated medications, makeup, or any other products you’re no longer using. The same goes for your shower/tub: do you have multiple bottles of shampoo and conditioner crowding your corners, leave the bottles you use most and store the other ones for later use.
4. Your Kitchen
Approach your kitchen the same way you did your closet: group similar items together.
Maybe you realize you don’t need two cutting boards that are the same size; maybe you now have an orphaned wine glass that doesn’t fit your current collection. Ultimately, your goal should be to clear off as much counter space as possible for cooking. So empty every space—every cabinet and drawer—and then reorganize based on which pots, pans, and utensils you use most, and then store them in the easiest-to-reach spaces.
5. Your Living Room
This high-traffic room is a tough one, especially for those with children, which means you’ll be decluttering this room on a regular basis. However, having a smart game plan means you should have to clean it up less and less. First, create specific bins or spaces for remote controls, books, and toys (this also makes them easier to find). Take a hard look at your electronics, too; often items like cords and devices remain that are no longer in use. If they’re no longer connected, you probably don’t need them.
In closing, we’ll note another benefit of decluttering your home: sometimes you discover that you legitimately don’t have enough space. If you’ve tidied up but still feel cramped, it might be time to consider moving to a new home, one with more spacious rooms, walk-in closets, and a larger kitchen. If you fall in that camp, then we invite you take a look around our site to see our available floorplans, homes, and communities in the Charlotte area. Whether you move or stay put, decluttering your home is a rewarding exercise once you’ve committed to it.
Earth Day began in 1970, when millions of Americans took to the streets, their college campuses and public spaces in an effort to raise environmental awareness and start a movement. This April 22nd, we celebrate the 50th Earth Day. Although we aren’t able to take this year’s festivities out to public spaces, we’ve put together a list of ways you can celebrate this important holiday right from the comfort of your own home.
Look for energy-efficient opportunities in your home
Right now is an ideal time to walk around your home and look for ways you can make your home more energy friendly. Switch to LED lighting and energy-efficient appliances; turn down the heat and keep the blinds closed to help keep temperature stable inside; opt for layering up instead of turning up the heat or open a window and let some cool air in instead of turning the AC on. Encourage everyone in your household to turn off lights, appliances and game consoles when they’re not using them. Check your fridge and freezer temperatures and make sure they aren’t lower than they need to be. There are many simple changes we can make in our homes that will result in energy savings. The best part is the Earth will thank you and so will your wallet!
Start a garden
With many of us spending more time indoors, it’s a great time to get outside, enjoy the sun and either start or freshen up your garden. If you don’t have the green thumb for gardening, no worries. Embrace nature in a more literal sense and bring it indoors. From centerpieces for your dinner table to just adding them to rooms like the bathroom or home office, flowers and plants are a great way to freshen up a space, plus they may help improve air quality. If you’re in need of a project, consider building a terrarium and adding it to a space in your home that could use a touch of green. Check out an easy 6-step guide here.
Movies, documentaries & virtual tours
Chances are you’re already spending a lot of time on streaming services. So, for Earth Day, take a break from your reality shows, gather the family and watch some documentaries or a series about nature. With birds, sharks, our planet and National Geographic titles, there’s something for everyone and it’s a great learning tool during these times. Another way you can embrace nature is virtually! Several national parks such as Kanai Fjords National Park in Alaska and Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah offer virtual tours for free, so you can get outdoors without leaving your couch.
Build birdhouse
Earth is home to many creatures, so why not extend yours to your friendly neighborhood birds? Creating a birdhouse is a great project and even kid-friendly, so it’s something you can do over the weekend with the family and keep everyone active and busy. Check out a simple, 7-step guide here.
Get out and appreciate nature
Life can sometimes move fast, which means we don’t always appreciate or see all the beauty this planet brings us. But with life slowing down and more times on our hands, it’s given everyone a new perspective. Use Earth Day as an opportunity to simply get out and appreciate your surroundings. Take a walk through the neighborhood with your dog or go jogging – you might be surprised at all the things you’ve been missing out on every day!
