How to Cut the Clutter to Enjoy your Space

By Laura Bickle | 2 minute read

Why is having a thoughtful approach to tidying and organization important?

It makes you aware of everything you have and ensures you actually use and enjoy the stuff you choose to keep in your home. Finding items more easily and returning things back [where they belong] saves time. Removing the clutter also improves your mental health and well-being so that you can feel less stress and anxiety, and feel peaceful at home.

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Organizing can be overwhelming. Where do you suggest people start?

The only way to organize is to have less, so you must declutter. I follow the KonMari Method created by Japanese tidy guru Marie Kondo. Her method teaches you to declutter and organize by categories in order. Start with the first category — clothing, which is the easiest and helps you learn to make decisions about what to keep and what to let go of. Put all your clothing in a pile and go through each item one by one. Ask yourself if the item “sparks joy” to [help you] decide what to keep. If doing this with all of your clothing is overwhelming, start with one drawer in your dresser to test it out. 

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What advice do you have for new homeowners to get started on the right foot?

I recommend you use the KonMari Method before packing to only move what truly sparks joy. You will end up packing less and you’ll get a fresh start by only unpacking the items that mean the most to you. Not all items spark joy — like the items we need, such as batteries or lightbulbs — but making sure you let go of expired and broken items will help clear out what you don’t need to bring on your move. Moving is overwhelming; it’s important to only pack and unpack what you want for the life you have today.

What tricks do you have for maintaining organization once you have achieved it?

Make an effort to return items to their homes. Tidying becomes much easier when you can place items back where they belong. The other trick is to become a mindful shopper — to think of what you have and control the amount of stuff you bring into the home. Sometimes people accumulate more because they are not aware of what they already own and are not using what they have. Learning to have gratitude also helps you purchase less, because you are thankful for what you have and search for happiness outside of material things.