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Can I Organize without Decluttering?

Writer's picture: Dianne CollinsDianne Collins

Decluttering Defined

Before I answer that question, let's define the word "decluttering." It is NOT cleaning, tidying or organizing. It is NOT minimalism. It is NOT throwing everything away or calling in a junk truck to sweep through your home. Decluttering is simply the practice of removing items from your home which don't belong, don't serve you, crowd up your living space, suck up your energy, and generally make life difficult.


Organizing Defined

By contrast, the word "Organizing" means putting items in order so they are easy to find, access, and put away. So can you organize without decluttering? Well, you can try. But you will quickly find it impossible to get organized if you have too much stuff. You'll find it difficult to clean, too. And it will be impossible to do a quick tidy when you need to - unless you can shove all the clutter into a closet to hide it. And then what? Where is that one thing you can't find - the bottom of the pile, the middle, the back?


Decluttering is the #1 most important thing you can do to aid in organizing your home. Once you have let go of the items you no longer need, love or use, you are left with the items that matter most. And it will be much easier to bring order to them. You've probably been told that flossing is more important than even brushing your teeth. If you had to pick only one, the dentist would advise flossing. It's the same with decluttering and organizing. If you had to pick only one, it's decluttering all the way.


"Maybe the life you've always wanted to live is buried underneath everything you own."

-Joshua Becker


Decluttering is important in Small Living Spaces

Decluttering is not a sexy word, nor is it an enjoyable endeavor for many. But with practice you may just find it life-changing and even fun. When my family downsized back in 2021, we let go of many things that had filled up our larger home. But we have found freedom and relief in owning less in our smaller home - less to clean, less to keep track of, less to store (and we are very short on storage space!) But I still declutter - my small closet gets packed with clothing I've stopped wearing, the bathroom holds old cosmetics and toiletries no longer needed when my space starts to feel too crowded or weighed down. And, yes, I still buy kitchen gadgets that promise to do some nifty thing, but in the end take up valuable space. But decluttering is not just valuable for smaller living spaces...


Decluttering is important in Large Living Spaces

If you live in a larger home, you know how all those cabinets, closets, guest rooms, basements and attics can fill up with stuff that hasn't seen the light of day in years. So why declutter if you have room to store it? Do you want your home to be a storage unit? Do you want to deal with all of that when you move? Do you want to leave it for your children to deal with someday when you are unable to manage it? These questions are not meant to shame you, but to get you thinking about it.


I have worked in so many homes where the amount of space did not automatically make life easier for my clients. They were so overwhelmed by the amount of their possessions which had no logical homes. They wasted time looking for items, money re-purchasing them, and did not feel at peace in their homes, because the clutter constantly signaled them to "do something" with it. For many, decluttering became a way to bless others by sending gently used items to local charities.




A Client Example

This client felt like a tornado had blown through her room. She found it impossible to choose outfits and stressful to get ready for work every day, not to mention that she couldn't even walk to the back of the long narrow closet! We did not go from the "before" to the "after" by only using pretty bins and shifting things around. If we had just stuffed her closet with everything in the room, it would've been difficult to pull things out or put them away without creating a mess. And it would have made the "what to wear" decisions even more difficult. The organization which transformed her room began with decluttering. She bravely said goodbye to over half a dozen bags of clothing and miscellaneous items that she no longer wanted taking up space. Then, the magic of organization was made possible. We categorized clothing and contained them with labels so she could easily keep it that way.


Just Get Started - Don't Aim for Perfection

Decluttering to acheive calm and order in your home takes practice. You can start small - try your junk drawer or your car console first. Leave the large storage areas (like the basement) and the sentimental items for last after you've built up your decluttering muscles. Once you've chosen items that will leave your home, make sure you get them out before you change your mind. Put them in your car and plan to drive to a local charity to donate them. Our cast-offs can be someone else's treasures. If you get to the task of dealing with sentimental items, you can get more specific ideas by clicking on THIS blog post.


If you are feeling stuck with the process of deluttering, my team and I are here to help. Just email: contact@sortandsensibility.com, or call/txt 864-280-9454.


Learn more about how we help people simplify and find calm in their home by going to www.sortandsensibility.com.


Until next time,

Dianne




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​​Sort and Sensibility Home Organizing

Professionl Home Organization | Decluttering + Organizing Services

Unpacking Services | Space Planning Services

 

 

 

Dianne Collins | Owner | Professional Home Organizer

email: contact@sortandsensibility.com​

phone/text: 864-280-9454

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