The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to start fresh. At Real T Simplistic, we believe there’s no better time to declutter and organize your home. After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, your space might feel a bit overwhelmed with gifts and items in need of a place. Why not take this chance to refresh your home and start the year off, right?
Decluttering: Out with the Old, In with the New
The holidays often leave us with thoughtful gifts that, while appreciated, may not always have a practical place in our homes. Whether it’s another coffee mug, a cozy throw blanket, or a charming new Christmas ornament, finding space for these items can feel overwhelming.
How to Declutter in Two Simple Steps
Here’s a simple strategy to keep the clutter to a minimum:
One In, One Out: For every new item you receive or purchase, donate or discard one similar item. Got a new coffee mug? Let go of an old one. Received a new holiday ornament? Donate one from your collection. If you are in need of places to donate belongings in your area, check out this website with a list of great resources in the metro Detroit area.Â
Declutter More Aggressively: Want to declutter even more effectively? For every new item, let go of two or three. It’s a quick way to create space and keep your home feeling organized and serene.
Decluttering Tips for Each Room
Decluttering and organizing go hand in hand. Once you’ve cleared out the items you no longer need, it’s the perfect opportunity to organize what you’re keeping. Start by organizing room by room.
Kitchen
Start with the cabinets.
Organize spices and dispose of anything expired.
Arrange items logically based on use.
Store dishes and utensils near the dishwasher or stove.
Keep coffee cups close to the coffee maker.
Place infrequently used items, like waffle makers or blenders, in the pantry or less accessible storage spaces.
Bathroom
Medications: Double-check all medications for expiration dates. It’s easy to forget how long ago something was purchased.
Use storage bins: Sort items such as medications, grooming tools, cleaning supplies, and dental products.
Towels: If storage is tight, limit yourself to one towel per person, plus an extra set for washing.
Bedroom
Dresser drawers: Use organizers for smaller, loose items.
Closet: Arrange clothes by season and color for easy access. Apply the same method to organize shoes.
Accessories: Store purses and wallets where they’re visible to avoid forgetting what you own, which can lead to unnecessary purchases.
Basement
Organize basement storage areas like the main floor – by room. Use shelving, bins, and totes to group items logically.
Store extra kitchen supplies and appliances together.
Organize decorations by holiday or season.
Keep additional cleaning supplies in one area.
Which space in your home do you dread organizing the most?
Bathroom
Kitchen
Bedroom
Basement
By decluttering and organizing your space, you will feel lighter and calmer, creating a positive atmosphere that sets the tone for a fabulous year ahead. Here’s to an amazing 2025!
Kristyn Drury is the Co-Founder of Real T Simplistic, an Associate Broker, a Certified Senior Move Manager, and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. Kristyn loves working with senior clients and their families to help them transition and meet their relocation goals.
Nicole Hyman is the Co-Founder of Real T Simplistic, a Realtor, a NASMM Certified Senior Move Manager, and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. Nicole enjoys working closely with seniors and their families to create a stress-free transition whether moving, downsizing or just decluttering.
Real T Simplistic Senior Move Managers is a team of experts helping seniors and their families to make "Thoughtful Moves." because moving a lifetime is always more than just a move. Real T assists with every aspect of senior transitions, from decluttering and rearranging to age in place, to downsizing or relocating to a smaller home or assisted living community.
Real T prepares a personal moving plan for each client, their home and their possessions. Real T is also uniquely able to help with selling the family home, and buying or leasing a new place -- taking care of marketing the home, locating the best new home and all of the paperwork details in between. Relax. You're in the right place. We've got this.
Comments