26 May 1, 2015 Spring Home Improvement LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com
When decluttering, individuals need to
consider whether an item is something they
really want to keep. On items like clothing,
a good rule of thumb is to get rid of items
that have not been worn in at least a year.
For items one decides to keep Maria
Kondo, author of the bestselling book The
Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up,”
declares that people should designate a
spot for every item they own. As Kondo
notes, “The reason every item must have a
designated place is because the existence
of an item without a home multiplies
the chances that your space will become
cluttered again.” Just relocating items
does not solve the problem. Once a system
is in place, it is important to continue
keeping out the clutter or it will just take
over again
After deciding where to put everything,
it is important to take inventory of the
items, which should keep individuals from
buying more items they do not need.
Less clutter can also mean less stress. As
Joshua Becker affirms, “The less clutter,
the less visual stress we experience. A
minimalist home has a calming feel.”
For those getting ready to sell a house,
decluttering is even more important. From
the article “How to Declutter Before an
Open House” comes advice that “When
it’s time to sell your home, editing your
decor will help make the sale. Buyers
need to picture themselves living in your
home, and they can’t do that if your stuff
is crammed into every corner. Even if your
house is dust-free and your fixtures are
sparkling, your personal clutter can be a
potential turnoff to buyers.”
Michael Simonson of ME Realty advises
sellers to eliminate half their belongings
as “clutter can cost a sale.” He also
recommends renting a storage unit or
portable pod for extraneous pieces of
furniture or knickknacks and “organize all
closets and drawers.” He says people need
to emotionally let go of a home.
Though the work can be time consuming
and sometimes overwhelming, the
satisfaction of living with less clutter can
bring a sense of freedom and help people
move from chaos to order.
Story by Angela Reiners
