Have you ever felt like the 'things' in your life are taking over? Maybe it's time to re-evaluate what you need, what you want, and what you can finally say goodbye to. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
Whenever I meet with a client thinking about selling their home, one of the first things we do is walk through the house and discuss decluttering as much as possible. I know many of us have recently watched the Netflix show, Marie Kondo, and have had a few good chuckles about it, so don’t yell at me when I say there is definitely something to be said for decluttering not only our homes, but our lives.
Most of us hold on to things because we're afraid. “What if I need it?” Or we are afraid something horrible will happen if we get rid of it, like our homes will collapse or something. I’m pretty sure we will all survive if we look around our own space and realize there are soooooo many things we won’t even realize are gone, once we actually cut the chord and get rid of the clutter invading our lives!
I read a ton about minimalism lately, and I swear if you read the list below, you can painlessly remove some items from your home and your life. Donate some, toss some and think about the old rule if you haven’t used it or touched it within the last 6 months to a year - then maybe it really is time to get rid of it. Ok-who’s with me?
- Any furniture that doesn’t bring you joy, sorry couldn’t help myself!
- The small shampoo bottles you know you take home from hotels and never actually use
- Mismatched socks
- Clothes that no longer fit (I keep my smaller sizes in hopes that I’ll one day wear them again - maybe I need to start following my own advice)
- Pajamas you no longer wear
- Old bras and undies (please don’t donate)
- Old shoes
- Mismatched jewelry
- Jewelry you never wear, broken necklaces
- Extra hand lotions
- Old makeup brushes
- Expired cosmetics
- Old or expired beauty products, face washes, moisturizers, etc.
- Hair tie elastics with no stretch left
- Old combs or brushes
- Old wallets
- Broken hair clips
- Old, expired or dried up nail polish
- Dull nail files
- Blankets or throws you don’t use
- Old, torn and discolored towels
- Facecloths you never use
- Expired pills or medications
- Paper files you no longer need and those expired receipts from all that shopping:)
- Donate canned food you don’t use
- Expired condiments
- Extra salt and pepper shakers
- Snacks you don’t like or eat that have been sitting in your snack cabinet
- Promotional T-Shirts, cupholders, and other items you know you will never actually use
- Appliances that you never use, like the old toaster in your garage from your very first home
- Extra dishes that you don’t need or use
- Chipped mugs or dishes
- Old magazines you’ve already read
- Unsharp and dull knives
- Cookware you don’t need or have multiple of
- Tupperware without lids - where do all the lids go? Are they with my mismatched socks somewhere laughing at me?
- Dried flowers
- Junk mail and old catalogs
- The corks from your wine bottles you’ve been saving to make a craft project you and I both know you’ll never do (Maybe I’m pontificating here)
- DVD's you no longer watch
- Extra electrical cords, and all those chargers that you have no idea what to match with
- Old or broken cordless phones, cell phones
- Cookbooks you do not use (LMAO- I’m happy to share any of mine since I am embarrassed to admit I never use them but keep buying them with good intentions)
- Coffee or teas you don’t drink now and probably never will
- Dead batteries
- Broken electronics
- Bags and pocketbooks you no longer use, unless they are classics - always save the classics!
- Spices you never use, I have 3 bottle of cilantro and never use any!
- Old pillows - you know when it’s time! Or the pillows you used to decorate your first home that are still sitting in a box from your move
- Broken kitchen utensils
- Unused craft supplies
- Old HS and college textbooks
- Broken holiday decorations
- Expired coupons
- Old invitations
- Used puzzles, pass em’ on
- Cd’s you don’t listen to, and have already downloaded onto your smart phone and computer
- Games you and your family no longer play or have outgrown
- Duplicate take out menus- or get rid of them all together since you can look them up online
- Stained T-Shirts- yes I know we all have our favorites, but maybe it’s time to pick a new fav
- Old calendars or planners - guilty!
- Ticket or concert stubs, some I still think I need as memorabilia, but others can def go (Like the 10 Bon Jovi stubs)
- Unused office supplies
- Old party favors from your child’s 1st birthday, now that he’s 15, it might be time
- Chotchkies that have zero meaning
- Credit cards to stores you hardly ever go to
- Old paid bills-and definitely if its more than 7 years old, they have got to go!
- Paper manuals that you can easily find online
- Gifts you don’t like, don’t use and never will - just don’t re-gift- donate it!
- Random jars or containers
- Condiment packets, duck sauce, ketchup - you know who you are!
- Rubber bands balls – how many rubber bands do you actually ever use?
- Extra buttons
- Rusty tools
- Boxes, useless empty boxes and baskets
- Travel brochures for places you've already visited
- Old Computer programs or games, floppy discs anyone?
- Extra tables, chairs or lamps that are not needed/used
- Extra comforter sets from your first house 10 years ago? Bye!
- Free weights collecting dust on your bedroom floor, you know who you are?
- Old exercise equipment or sporting goods that no one has touched in 5 years
- Old perfume or cologne bottles
- Toys your kids haven’t touched in the last 6 months
- Old picture frames that no longer match your décor
- Old paint cans and dried brittle paint brushes
- Donate books you’ve already read to your local library
- Wine or booze you don’t drink
- Old winter coats, snowsuits, hats, gloves, etc. that no longer fit anyone in your home
- Candles with no wicks left-duh!
- Belts that are outdated or don’t fit
- Outdated suits and ties
- Baseball hats you never wear
- Pens, markers, crayons that are dried up or never used-time to let them go
- All the shopping bags taking up space in your closet that you don’t use or need
- Donate old evening gowns and dresses you will probably never wear again
- Baby clothes you’ve been holding onto, but know you are not having any more kiddos (this is a tough one, def save your favorites)
- Old formula, baby food, diapers, breast pumps, etc.
- Broken or old computers and keyboards
- Broken or rusted outdoor furniture or moldy, discolored cushions
- Anything and everything that you never use, probably will never use again, don’t need, don’t want and doesn’t make you smile anymore!
If you're thinking about selling your home and need help with decluttering ideas, reach out anytime to [email protected].