5 tips on how to declutter your home for the new year

It's important to have a strategy before you begin decluttering. Photos: Canva

Time flies when you’re having fun! In the blink of an eye, the year 2023 is coming to an end. At the end of a busy year, it’s always great to reflect on how we spent our time at home and at work.

It's always great to be grateful for the abundance but purge all the negative thinking and disappointments. Year-end is the best time to clear your home, clear your mind and eliminate all emotions that are not useful to you. What better way to start the new year, with a clear mind and a decluttered home? Allow me to share some tips for you to kickstart this journey.

Start with the right approach

You need to have a strategy before you begin decluttering. In 2014, Marie Kondo became a global name when her book The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art Of Decluttering And Organizing, was translated into English and published in the United States.

Kondo developed the unique KonMari method of selection process where you keep only items that spark joy when you hold them in your hands. There are also other popular approaches worth considering, such as the "Five Second Rule” that says you should discard items that you can’t recall using the last time within five seconds.The '6 months rule' states that anything you haven't used in the past six months can be deemed irrelevant and sent to the recycling centre.

The "80/20” rule suggests that we only use 20% of our belongings for 80% of the time. So, find that 80% of unused items to give away. The last rule to consider is the "6 months rule” which declares that anything you haven't used in the past six months can be deemed irrelevant and sent to the recycling centre. Which approach works for you? Try and see. Only you can tell.

Compartmentalised schedule

Decluttering can be extremely overwhelming. At times, you don’t even know where to begin! Experts always recommend building a timeline to manage your emotional distress. Keep your schedule at a realistic pace and set to compartmentalise your decluttering space.

Instead of being overly ambitious, schedule to declutter one room at a time, over a weekend or a week. The secret is to always start with the easiest. Pick a space with the least clutter. This way, you can finish it quickly and you’ll feel awesome about making good progress. That’s how you build the momentum! Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint!Spaces below staircases are also opportunities for shelving and storage areas.

Furniture with storage

Invest in furniture items that allow additional storage abilities. Think of shelves that double as a bench or bedframe that come with drawers to store bedlinens. My favourite is an ottoman or footstool that allows you to store books or toys in the living room. Furniture with storage is a good item to have in every home. It's highly practical and discreetly stores your knick-knacks and other daily items.

Go vertical with shelves

Shelves are a great way to organise your sculpture collections, books, shoes, board games and travel memorabilia. Stack them up instead of allowing them to consume table space. Go vertical and use wall space by investing in storage shelves. Bookshelves can be open (without doors) to find something easily but items like shoes are best stored away with enclosed shoe cabinets. Spaces below staircases are also opportunities for shelving and storage areas.Open-shelved bookcases make it easier to find what you need.

Back of door

Using the back of a door for storage purposes is a tip I learnt from my late father-in-law. He loves hunting for ready-to-use hook hanger sets that enable you to hang jackets, caps and shirts behind the door. These days, online shopping platforms offer an array of over-the-door hook organisers with multiple shelves. Small bedrooms or bathrooms benefit greatly when the door brings another storage opportunity.Furniture with storage is a good item to have in every home.

Decluttering and organising the house is an art, not a chore. Like any other arts, we may not get it right the first time, but with constant practice and consistency, you become better and more efficient. Research has shown that clutter may lead to decreased focus, tension, and feelings of fatigue and anxiety. You see, the brain deciphers clutter as unfinished business, and this lack of completeness can be a hidden stress for many.

By cleaning, organising and decluttering your home, you feel empowered that you can take control of your home environment. With a tidy space, your mind feels fresh, relaxed and at ease. So, go ahead, declutter, and start afresh in the New Year of 2024!

Tan Bee Eu is a professional architect registered with Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia. She teaches at Universiti Sains Malaysia and has two decades of working experience involving diverse local and international projects in architecture and design. She can be reached at www.betadesignz.com/contact.