Perhaps you feel motivated to declutter your home – and you’re wondering where to start.
Perhaps you read my secret to letting things go and decluttering and feel liberated to take action.
You can start wherever you like! If you feel drawn to tackle your closet, or the medicine cabinet, or that secret cache in the basement – godspeed my chic little one.
But if you’re looking for guidance, then I’ll help you. I’m going to tell you exactly what to get rid of to declutter your home. In fact, I’m going to tell you 50 items to declutter today from your home and life.
Got a nice big box or bag? Tres bien, let’s begin.
NOTE: if you disagree about any of these items, that’s fine. You are a chic adult and can make your own decisions. These are suggestions and ideas.
Got a nice big box or bag? Tres bien, let’s begin.
Declutter Your Home: 50 Things To Declutter
Step 1: 25 Items to declutter your home – and discard
- Bedding that has become tatty or stained
- Magazines over 6 months old
- Kids’ artwork (curate a few pieces into a memory box, let the rest go)
- Decrepit undergarments
- Expired medicines
- Expired condiments
- Expired food
- Deceased plants
- Paperwork you need not keep – because it’s online or has passed statutory requirements (shred if sensitive)
- Clothes so old it would be cruel to donate them
- Tatty footwear
- Broken appliances (rarely economical to repair)
- Stained or tatty tablecloths, napery, tea towels, etc
- Broken toys
- Binders from courses you did years ago and never look at
- Chipped knickknacks
- Old games and games consoles
- Old phones and chargers
- Old computers and printers
- Cords and accessories for defunct tech
- Computer manuals (no, I’m not laughing, promise)
- Cheap or tacky makeup – only keep the best
- Excess hair ties, pins, accessories – keep only the best
- ‘Projects’ you think you should complete but don’t want to (HINT: if they inspire excitement: KEEP; they inspire dread: DISCARD)
- ‘Treat’ foods that don’t give you pleasure (only buy treats that do)
With kids’ artwork, curate a few pieces into a memory box and let the rest go.
Next steps:
Look into environmental disposal options in your area. Decide when you’ll drop off your items and put the task in your schedule. Done!
Step 2: 25 Items to declutter your home – and donate
- Clothes that have not fitted you for ages (if your size changes buy new clothes that are more current)
- Clothes that are uncomfortable and need constant adjustment
- Clothes in colours or shapes that are frumpy or don’t suit you
- Clothes you don’t like but keep because they were expensive
- Clothes that make you feel un-chic
- Footwear you don’t love
- Footwear that is horrendously uncomfortable
- Footwear that needs repair (Be honest: if you haven’t repaired them yet is it likely you will? Why not let someone else have them?)
- Toys the kids have outgrown
- Clothes the kids have outgrown
- Excess sets of towels – keep the best
- Excess crockery – keep the best set that can be replaced piece by piece (for breakages)
- Excess glassware – keep the best
- Excess bed linen – keep the two best sets for each bed
- Excess cutlery – keep the best
- Table linen you don’t use because it’s too fancy or not your style
- Books you won’t re-read or don’t enjoy having
- Knickknacks, frames, tchotchkes, that don’t represent your chic style of decor
- Artworks that don’t match your chic taste
- Cords and accessories for tech you no longer use
- Excess stationery – only keep the best
- Appliances you haven’t used in 12 months
- Cookware, pots and pans you haven’t used in 12 months
- Multiples of things like vases, teapots, mugs – only keep your favourites
- Tatty cushions and throws
If you haven’t repaired things yet, is it likely you will? Why not let someone else have them?
Next steps:
Decide where you’d like to donate your items, when you’ll do it, and put the task in your schedule.
Step 3: Celebrate!
Congratulations! You’ve started to declutter your home and live a more chic life.
Perhaps a celebratory cocktail is in order, non?
Your Chic Life Assignment For Week 5
- Over this week, declutter at least 25 items to discard. Use the ideas in Step 1 as a guide.
- Over this week, declutter at least 25 items to donate. Use the ideas in Step 1 as a guide.
This post is part of my 12-Week Series: 12 Ways To Live A Chic Life.
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