Four steps to declutter your home for the empty nester
Build your confidence
Choose a room
Now that you've conquered the small areas in your home it's time to move on to a room. Pick one room in your home that isn't working for your newly empty nest. Could it be the living room, dining room or a bedroom? Now that you've picked a room think about the furniture in that space. Is it too big, is there too much, what do I want this room to be? After you establish these things, you will need to make a plan for completion.
Set a goal and stick to it
Ok, great you figured out which room to tackle! Now what? You are going to need a plan and you have to stick to it, no matter how long it takes. I started over a year ago with our spare bedroom which was a total disaster. We used this space as a storage room. You can see the before and after here. After I completed the guest bedroom I moved into our living room.
So how do you set a goal and stick with it?
Take a break
If you plan on staying in your home and are not selling it, take a break! Downsizing can be exhausting and overwhelming. There is no rush in getting rid of all your stuff at once, especially if you plan on staying in your home for another few years. Take your time and enjoy the process. I'm still working on mine one room at a time. If you have any tips that you would like to share on how you declutter your home let me know in the comments!
So how do you set a goal and stick with it?
- Pick a day of the week that you can set aside to work in one room and be consistent.
- Think about how you want that space to look and feel.
- Access what furniture is staying and what goes. If your furniture is in good condition and you love it keep it! You can always decorate it with new throw pillows and accessories. Or if you're not loving it anymore you can sell it or donate it. I feel it's easy to let go of something when I'm giving it to someone who needs it more than I do.
- Sell, donate, and get creative. Use websites like Craigslist or Facebook to sell your items, and donate to local thrift stores and charity organizations. Or have a yard sale and put the money you make toward your new furniture.
Take a break
If you plan on staying in your home and are not selling it, take a break! Downsizing can be exhausting and overwhelming. There is no rush in getting rid of all your stuff at once, especially if you plan on staying in your home for another few years. Take your time and enjoy the process. I'm still working on mine one room at a time. If you have any tips that you would like to share on how you declutter your home let me know in the comments!
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