How to De-Clutter the Right Way

Ok, fam. We need to get really honest: Moving sucks. We know this from (very recent) personal experience.

The result of moving is super great, of course. But if we could just snap our fingers and have the whole process over and done with, we absolutely would.

One of the worst parts of moving? Confronting all your stuff.

You have to decide what to keep, sell, or donate. Which, TBH, is a project in itself.

Then, for all the stuff you keep, you have to visualize it in a totally new place. You have to get creative and use your probably-already-overwhelmed imagination. (Spoiler alert: We have a freebie at the end of this post to help with some of that!)

The process of discerning, purging, packing, and moving is a real… ummm… character builder. That’s why we curated this list—to help you start the de-stuffing process with a plan that works!

11 Tips to Declutter Your Space

#1 Give yourself time!

Calling all procrastinators! (Guilty.) Don’t wait until the day before the movers arrive to start the decluttering process. You’ll be tempted to keep or throw away too much because you’re in a rush. Instead, plan at least two weeks to go through your belongings, and longer if you think you’ll want to sell some things. Mark out a few hours each day to purge, and it’ll be over before you know it!

#2 Use the extras.

Time for a home clean out! This is particularly true for your pantry and medicine cabinet. Before you go out and buy more stuff (that you’ll inevitably have to move later), use up what you have! Get creative with your pantry leftovers. Use every last sheet of toilet paper. Your future self with thank you!

#3 Start a necessities box.

As you’re packing, start a box with moving necessities—toilet paper, box cutters, hammer and nails, toolbox, and so on. Mark it and keep it with you during the big move so you don’t have to dig through everything to find the essentials. 

While you’re at it, pack a first night bag. That way you’ll have clean clothes, toiletries, and anything else you need at hand so you don’t have to immediately begin the unpacking phase after a long day of moving.

#4 Inventory your belongings.

This is where things get a little tedious, but it’s worth it. Put together a running inventory so you know what you owan… so you can decide what you can part with. This list offers a leg-up on your moving quote, too.  

Walk through each room and write down everything—what condition it’s in, how large it is, how often you use it, and if you really need it.

#5 Leave the mementos for last.

Going through your stuff can be unexpectedly emotional, particularly when you get to the heirlooms and personal keepsakes. It’s hard to think about purging your prized possessions! 

So leave the hardest decisions for last. This will prevent you from getting frustrated (read: wanting to scream into a pillow and totally give up) at the beginning of the process.

#6 Use the three-box method.

As you’re purging, use the three-box method to keep yourself organized. In every room, have boxes marked keep, donate, and trash. This will make sure everything goes to the right place! And bonus for the keep box—you’ve already started packing! It’s a two-birds-with-one-stone sitch.

#7 Use the timeline test.

You can go all Marie Kondo and only keep things that spark joy. And while we’re not opposed to this method, there’s another more tried-and-true method for the average joe: the timeline test. 

For each item, ask yourself, “Have I used this in the last year? The last six months?” This will give you a good idea on if you should keep it or pitch it. If you can’t even remember the last time you used it, it’s time for it to go. 

If you’re really in a pinch (like on a cross-country move), use a three-month guideline.

#8 Visualize your stuff in a new space.

Chances are your new place will be wildly different from your previous digs. And, sometimes, that changes what you should pack and what you should get rid of! Think items like:

• HVAC filters

• Curtains

• DIY décor items

 If you can’t see it in your new home, don’t bring it with you. 

And by the way: Try not to let your current belongings completely dictate the size—or budget—of your new place. For example, if you loooooooove your couch, but it won’t fit in the living room of that amazing home you just walked through, buy a new freaking couch instead of trying to find an entirely different home to accommodate it.

#9 Get some dough!

For your gently used or more expensive items, consider selling them. There are tons of online retailers that can help you make the most out of your decluttering:

• Facebook Marketplace

• eBay

• Craigslist             

• ThredUP

• Poshmark

 Just make sure to give yourself some extra prep time if you’re looking to sell, since finding the right buyer will take more time than trashing or donating your items.

#10 Donate what you can.

Giving back is a great way to help your community and get rid of your gently used items. It’s a win-win!

We personally recommend Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver for your furniture and the Salvation Army for everything else. You can also look into donating to domestic violence shelters, crisis nurseries, and other charitable organizations near you.

These places won’t take just any old thing, so make sure you read their donation guidelines thoroughly. Or give them a call! They’d love to help.

#11 Trash or recycle the rest.

If you wouldn’t purchase a thrifted item, chances are other people wouldn’t either. Say it with us: Goodwill is not your garbage can! Broken furniture, moth-eaten clothes, and hazardous old appliances are best given to the trash. 

If you’ve got a lot of junk to pitch, consider renting a dumpster or calling a junk removal company to get the job done.

[BONUS TIP] Clean everything before packing it!

OMG, your future self will def thank you. As you’re purging and packing, make sure to give everything a good wipe down. And we mean everything. When was the last time your books had a bath? There’s no better time than now!

An Important Note for Sellers

This purge-and-pack process will help you with staging! Staging is when you prepare your home for a potential buyer by redecorating, rearranging, cleaning (and recleaning) to present your home in the best light possible. This helps people visualize living in your home. It’s hard to do when you’ve got your family portraits on the walls! By addressing your stuff, you’re in the best position possible to begin staging, showing, and selling your home!

Need help visualizing?

We know it’s hard to see exactly how your old stuff will fit in a new space. That’s why we want to give you this guide—Will my furniture fit in this room? It gives you the standard dimensions of common furniture items of every size so you can start furnishing your new home ASAP. Download it here!