How to declutter your apartment
The holidays aren’t the only thing sparking nostalgia this time of year. All of the memorabilia you’ve saved up from significant moments in your life is taking you on a trip down memory lane.
However, mementos hidden in drawers and closets or stowed away in boxes may be more of a stressor than a treasure. It’s a phenomenon called “squirreling away.”
The more we collect, the more difficult it is to find a home for everything, especially for apartment dwellers. While it may seem a bit overwhelming, sometimes we just need to do a bit of decluttering to reclaim some space.
Chances are, you have collected a few more items in the past two years as the pandemic turned corners of your apartment into an office or a classroom for your kids.
Although decluttering may seem like a daunting job, it can alleviate stress in the long run. It can even give you an early jump on your New Year’s resolutions.
It’s important to take everything one step at a time in order to avoid getting overwhelmed. Focus on one drawer, area or room at a time.
Start by separating your items by the ones you’re willing to part with and the ones you want to keep. Once you have all the items that you are keeping set aside, find them a home in your apartment.
Be strategic about storing these items. For the items you would like to see every day, think about installing floating shelves that will allow you to neatly show off your collections. For items that you may not need every day, stable storage bins are the more practical option.
However, bins and boxes can be bulky. To ensure extra space, be smart about the type and construction of the storage.
When your floor space is limited, it is important to store upward. For example, invest in a narrow, vertical cabinet tower that fits in slim openings throughout your apartment. Securely stackable storage is also a great choice.
Maximize cabinet space as well by investing in drawer organization units. You can store and separate more items with the addition of a drawer divider.
After you finish decluttering your apartment, it’s important that you stay on top of everything to prevent future untidiness. If you start to notice a drawer filling up or a pile of papers accumulating on your counter, go through them and decide what to keep and what to toss out.
It’s always easier to clean up small clutter in the moment rather than attempt to tackle an overwhelming mess gathered over time later on down the road.
The best gift you can give yourself this holiday season is organization. It’s time to tidy up so you can wind down.
Courtney Gilstrap Levinus is president and CEO of the Arizona Multihousing Association.