The Benefits of Decluttering
Decluttering is the practice of removing objects from your home to create more room. In our society, we tend to accumulate lots of “stuff.” When this stuff begins preventing you from efficiently using your space, it becomes clutter.
There are two types of clutter:
- non-functional (i.e. decorative) items
- previously functional items that have become broken or lost their purpose
Unless the item can be easily repaired, it’s better to give it a new home (if decorative) or simply trash/recycle it (if broken).
Decluttering helps you see your home with fresh eyes. You may realize your space has unused potential. Could that shelf full of tchotchkes be replaced with a reading nook? Once your couch is free of throw pillows, do you realize you’d really love to repaint your walls a brighter color?
Especially if you’re considering a home remodel, it’s helpful to declutter so you can get some good ideas flowing. Your space becomes more of a blank canvas so you can start designing your dream home!
Here’s a quick decluttering checklist to follow during your spring cleaning. After that, we’ll explore some space-saving design techniques to help you make the most of your home.
Spring Decluttering Checklist
Toss Old Toys
Kids outgrow their toys; that’s just part of life. And as every parent knows, they grow up fast — and those unwanted toys create tons of clutter!
If you’d like to save some toys for younger siblings or sentimental value, pack them away into storage. Otherwise, donate them to kids who will love them like new. Many community organizations that help low-income families or abandoned children deeply appreciate toy donations. You can also reach out to local pediatric clinics and hospitals.
Cut Down on Decor
Assuming you’ve put away all your winter holiday decorations by now, it’s time to review the rest of your decor. Do you have small decorative objects that no longer “bring you joy,” as Marie Kondo would say? Here’s a common list of objects that can add clutter and collect dust:
- vases
- decorative bowls
- candles
- dried or faux flowers
- throw pillows
- figurines
- mass-produced art
Take a moment to look at each surface in your home. Is there an item that has no functional purpose? If you’ve forgotten it was even there, it’s time to retire it, if only temporarily.
Pack extra decorative items into storage or pass them on to a loved one. You can also donate them to thrift and vintage stores, or even a community theater who may appreciate them for props.
Clear Out the Closets
Get rid of any clothes you haven’t worn in the past two years. You can donate gently used clothing to local thrift stores and charity shops such as Goodwill. For luxury and vintage items, try a consignment shop, which takes the item off your hands and gives you a portion of the proceeds for selling it.
Do you have old T-shirts or socks that are seriously damaged or worn out? Turn them into rags for the rest of your spring cleaning. If you have a garden, you can even compost old linens and cotton garments. Otherwise, feel free to toss them with the rest of the trash.
Ditch Old Dishes
Do you need all those souvenir glasses? Or that serving set you never use? We often hear from our clients that their kitchens are too small and cramped. While we’re more than happy to do a kitchen remodel, you can start the process by decluttering your kitchen:
- chipped plates, mugs, and bowls
- unmatched, stained, or cracked food storage containers
- unused food appliances (juicers, air fryers, mixers, blenders, toasters, etc.)
- unused specialty utensils (egg slicers, apple corers, avocado cutters, potato mashers, etc.)
- dishware, drinkware, cutlery, and kitchen linens you no longer use or love
The last items are good candidates for donation, assuming the items are in good shape.
Decluttering Tips
Decluttering can be a daunting process. At Straight Line Construction, we believe in making things as easy as possible so you can focus on creating your ideal home. Here’s how you can do your spring decluttering like a pro.
Start with your main living areas
If you start with the attic or garage, you’ll lose steam quickly. And those areas don’t impact as much of your daily life. Unless you’re preparing for a garage renovation or attic remodel, begin decluttering in your living room, kitchen, and bedrooms.
Create a system before you start
Set up three boxes:
- Keep
- Toss/Recycle
- Donate
As you go through each object in the room, place it in one of these boxes. You can always put the “keep” items back into place — or even move them to a better spot.
Know where things will go
Donating is a great way to give back to your community while decluttering! Charitable groups, healthcare facilities, and low-income families all appreciate gently used secondhand items. Also, the decor you no longer love might be just the thing someone else wants to brighten up their space. There’s a reason thrifting is so popular!
Make a list of where you can donate your items:
- Local pediatrician offices and children’s hospitals: Gently used toys and stuffed animals
- Charity shops (e.g. Goodwill, Salvation Army): Gently used household items (dishes and cutlery, small appliances, bedding), clothes and shoes, and baby items
- Children’s advocacy and relief organizations: Gently used kids’ clothing and shoes, toys, art supplies, sports equipment
- Domestic violence shelters and support groups: Gently used clothes and shoes, toiletries, bedding
- Animal shelters: Old towels, blankets, and stuffed animals
Note that each organization has its own policy for accepting baby items. Check before you load up your items to donate.
If you have old electronics, broken appliances, and so on, you may be able to recycle them. These items aren’t always accepted with curbside pickup, but you can try Best Buy which will accept old TVs, computers, and other “electronic waste.”
Items that can’t be donated or recycled include:
- Gas-powered tools
- Mattresses, futons, air mattresses, bed pillows, etc.
- Beanbag chairs
- Medications (including over-the-counter meds)
- Paints and varnishes
- Cleaning products
- Plastic shower curtains
- Exercise equipment
Items that can be recycled but not donated include:
- Non-flatscreen TVs or monitors (i.e. CRT or cathode-ray tube “box” screens)
- Fluorescent lightbulbs, including compact ones (CFLs)
Typically, any chemical or electronic waste is considered “Hazardous Household Waste.” Your community may have a HHW recycling center to accept these items.
Here’s a list of curbside pickup and recycling guidelines for nearby counties and municipalities:
- Curbside Pickup | Alachua County
- Hazardous Waste | Alachua County
- Electronics Recycling | City of Gainesville
- Bulk Item Collection | City of Gainesville
- Recycle Collection | City of Gainesville
- Garbage Collection | City of Gainesville
- Materials accepted at recycling centers | Marion County, FL
- What to Recycle | City of Ocala
Space-Saving Design
Now that you’ve decluttered, you likely have much more space in your home. Take a moment to enjoy that extra breathing room!
Then, have a look around. Do you have new open space you’d like to use? How can you make the most of small rooms, especially if you have limited storage?
Let’s dive into the world of efficient interior design and how to optimize small living spaces.
Principle 1: Go Vertical
Even in large homes, clutter tends to spread. Just look at how your bathroom vanity can quickly collect toothbrushes, lotions, towels, eyeglasses, and more. One of the easiest ways to optimize your space and tidy the room is to store upward. Take advantage of vertical space to help keep countertops and floors clear. Here are some of our favorite ways to do this:
Photo by Douglas Sheppard on Unsplash
Wall storage (shelves and hooks)
Built-in shelving used to be all the rage, but then they started building homes with blank walls and minimal storage. Rest assured, there’s a way to make built-in shelves look sleek and elegant. This gives you lots of extra storage space — no need to keep buying chests of drawers!
Shower alcoves
We love creating zero-entry showers and other luxurious bathroom features. But there’s nothing like bathroom caddies and showerhead racks to disrupt this seamless look. That’s why we often incorporate gorgeous shower alcoves to subtly store your toiletries.
Built-in shelving
Walls aren’t just for cabinets! We love building shelves directly into walls, or even specialty storage solutions. For example, here’s how we used vertical space for a client’s wine collection. Rather than taking up counter space for the wine rack, we built it into the cabinet. The glasses can hang directly below it.
Don’t forget hooks too, especially in the kitchen. Try hanging your pots and pans on the wall. Cup hooks let you show off your favorite mugs.
Pulldown spaces
We couldn’t help but laugh at the “Murphy tub” in this GEICO commercial. While we wouldn’t advise that, we love Murphy-style worktops. For example, a fold-down desk or vanity space is a great option for small living rooms or bathrooms. Once you’re done, simply fold it back into the wall!
Principle 2: Repurpose Dead Space
Many traditional home designs have tons of “dead space.” These are the areas where nothing is typically built, but there isn’t room to actually move around or do activities. (Your cat may disagree.) Common dead spaces are under the stairs, around the kitchen bar top, between the vanity and the toilet, etc.
Here are some ideas for adding storage to these dead spaces with custom cabinetry.
Under-stairs storage
If your home has stairs, you might be passing up on some great storage space. Build shelves, cubbies, or even pullout drawers into the staircase and easily store seasonal items, linens, books, toys, etc.
Pullout pantry
No room for a traditional pantry? A pullout pantry is a sort of sideways drawer with shelves for canned goods, sauces, etc. It slides out of your kitchen cabinets for easy access but takes much less space than a typical closet-style pantry.
Principle 3: Pair Open and Structured Space
One problem with traditional cabinets and drawers is that they have a rigid shape. This can make it hard to fit certain objects. So what usually happens is that those objects end up on the countertop!
If you have drawers or cupboards, make sure you have open shelving nearby. You’ll gain some flexibility in your storage options. For example, you can use a basket within the cubby or store unusually shaped items. The combination of constrained and flexible space helps you keep everything close at hand without creating clutter — or losing things deep in the drawers!
Photo by Taylor Beach on Unsplash
Transform Your Living Space with Straight Line
Whether you want to make the most of a small room or discover some creative storage options, Straight Line Construction can help! We specialize in custom cabinetry, shower rooms, kitchen remodels, and home bar storage.
Or perhaps you’ve finished decluttering and the fresh slate makes you want new paint colors or flooring. We can upgrade your home for a contemporary look that suits your lifestyle. Call or text us at (352) 453-9609 for a free consultation, or contact us online.