Declutter Your Living Spaces

August 14, 2024
Man and Woman decluttering their living space using the 5-bin approach.

As summer winds down and the back-to-school season approaches, it’s the perfect time to rethink and refresh your living spaces. Did you know the average person spends about 3,680 hours—equivalent to 153 days—searching for misplaced items? (Source: The Daily Mail). Instead of waiting for a move or a major life change to prompt you to declutter, seize this time with a simple five-bin approach to make your space more organized and efficient.

The 5-Bin Approach –

Decluttering the home can be overwhelming. However, applying the 5-bin approach to organizing and discarding items may help you feel less anxious and more in control of the process.

  • Bin 1: Items that need to be put away.
    • Place items that belong somewhere else in the home in this bin. Eventually, you’ll put them away; the intention is to put them somewhere while you’re clearing the room.
  • Bin 2: Items to be fixed.
    • Place items that you plan to fix or that need to be washed or cleaned in this bin, such as toys, dirty clothes or scuffed shoes
  • Bin 3: Items to donate.
    • Items in this bin are in good condition, but you no longer need or use them. They can be given to friends or family, sold online or donated to a local charity.
  • Bin 4: Items to be recycled.
    • This is where you’ll place items made of paper, plastic or glass that you don’t want to keep. Add all empty drink bottles, food containers, and magazines or newspapers.
  • Bin 5: Items to discard.
    • Place expendable items in this bin that you can’t recycle or donate.

What about sentimental items? –

Many of us have items we can’t bear to part with because there’s a memory or other sentimental feeling attached. Here are a few tips for handling sentimental items that may start to create clutter.

Decide if it’s worth keeping. If you use or enjoy the item, hang onto it. However, you may not need to retain every piece of artwork your children created. It can be helpful to ask a relative or friend when deciding which to keep.

Choose a few items that remind you of a loved one. If you’ve inherited many heirlooms, see if other members of your family would like some, too. Donate the rest.

Keep in mind; you can get rid of an item without getting rid of the memory. Take a photo of the item to place in a journal or scrapbook and write why it means so much to you.

Organization tips for each room of the house –

Kitchen –

The kitchen is the hub of the home, and it tends to collect the most clutter from other parts of the house. Start clearing one area of the kitchen at a time, beginning with storage spaces, including the pantry, cupboards, and drawers.

  • In the pantry: throw away stale or expired items and donate canned goods that you know will go uneaten but are still edible.
  • In the cupboards: remove chipped dishware, as well as utensils, pots, pans and bakeware that are damaged beyond repair.
  • Keep the kitchen clutter-free: put the items where they belong and leave a small bin to collect items that don’t belong there.
Living Room –

Too much clutter makes it difficult to relax. The mantra for this room is, “A place for everything; everything in its place”.

  • Create easily accessible, permanent storage space for items you use most often, such as the remote control.
  • Fold throws and place in a decorative basket within reach of the sofa.
  • Sort through your electronics to determine what works and if you still use it. Store your frequently used electronics where you tend to use them.
  • Recycle back issues of magazines or newspapers you’ve already read. Donate books you don’t want to keep and categorize the others in your library.
Bathroom –

Create more space in your cabinets, linen closet and on the counter.

  • Clean out the medicine cabinet and discard outdated medications, skincare and makeup.
  • Organize the drawers and shelves so the items you use the most are readily available.
Bedrooms –

In the bedroom, clutter seems to center around storage areas, such as closets, drawers and nightstands.

  • Clear out dressers, wardrobes and closets by removing non-seasonal clothing you haven’t worn in more than six months and items that no longer fit. Sell or donate pieces that are still in good condition.
    • Organize your drawers by function: undergarments, activewear, t-shirts, etc
    • Separate anything that should go to the cleaner or a tailor.
  • Depending on your bedroom, purchase a hanging storage unit or floor shelf for shoes.
  • Remove everything from the nightstand and place items that belong elsewhere in Bin #1.
Mudroom/Foyer –

This is where we tend to drop things when we get home.

  • Clear items off of the entry tables and decide what to put away, recycle or toss.
  • Place keys in a pretty bowl or on hooks so you don’t have to waste time searching for them.
  • Remove coats, shoes and boots that are out of season, don’t fit or need to be repaired.

By following these tips and utilizing the five-bin approach, you’ll create a more organized, efficient, and stress-free living environment. Embrace the end-of-summer energy to tackle clutter and enjoy the benefits of a refreshed home.