For many, the start of the year is a wonderful opportunity to refresh their living spaces. Aside from cleaning your home, tidying and decluttering might also be at the top of your list.
If you feel like decluttering is such a chore, it might be because you haven't found a method that works well for you. Understand that there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” decluttering solution. Tidying up your space will always depend on your time, energy, or interest, so you don’t have to follow only one rule. Here we’ve rounded up five of the most popular and expert decluttering approaches to owning less, hopefully to make the task a little easier for you. Whether you want to experiment with these methods to see what works best for you, or you already have a favorite approach but want to try a new one, the results will remain the same: your remaining items will have more meaning and you’ll also have the chance to help others when you donate the ones you no longer need.
What is the KonMari Method™?
Who is it for?
Any drawbacks?
What is the one-in, one-out technique?
Who is it for?
-
Perfect for impulsive buyers, especially those who always love to shop for clothes and other personal items. Keeping this in mind can help you avoid unnecessary purchases and teach you how to be less materialistic. Before buying an item, it will make you stop and think first: “Do I really need this item?” “Do I have a similar item that serves the same purpose?” “Is there something I am willing to let go of in return?”
-
Homeowners who want to try a strict approach this year can follow this one, especially if you’ve just finished decluttering or are in the process of it.
Any drawbacks?
What is the 20/20 rule?
Who is it for?
-
For those who need a low-commitment push to get started on their decluttering journey, especially if they have a nice pile of things that haven't been used for months or years.
-
Perfect for those “I-could-use-it-one-day” or “just in case” items, such as when purging your kitchen or junk drawers.
Any drawbacks?
You may not be able to apply this tactic to a lot of sentimental items, since if they are really sentimental, then they can’t be replaced for less than $20 in 20 minutes.
What is the Swedish Death Cleaning method?
This method of decluttering is designed for those later in life and involves removing all non-essential items to ease the process for your loved ones once you've passed on. It’s a wide-scale method to declutter your home, with suggestions that include dealing with larger items then moving down to smaller items (junk drawer, wardrobe), and then saving sentimental things for last. It allows you to keep the more precious items since you might decide to give them away to the special people in your life. Fans of this method see it as a gift to your loved ones, especially if you don’t want to end up leaving your mess for them to deal with for months or even years.
Who is it for?
- While the original intention is for the elderly or those who are in their later years of life, Magnusson points out that people of any age can use Swedish Death Cleaning to help them declutter and organize. This is especially true when you realize that you can hardly close your drawers or cabinets.
Any drawbacks?
It’s worth noting that the Swedish Death Cleaning is designed to be slow, so expect that it can be a long and thorough process.
What is the four-box method?
This is quite an easy, straightforward, and flexible way to deal with your clutter as you can do it for however long and whatever frequency you prefer. You can also use the ‘Undecided’ box if you are still unsure about any particular item. If you have several family members, they can have their boxes and even have them customized to the categories they need.
Who is it for?
-
Highly recommended for those who are just starting their decluttering journey because of its simplicity and effectiveness.
-
Those who are decluttering small, dedicated spaces can also benefit from this method.
-
Go for this if you like putting things in fixed categories.
