Top Six Decluttering Techniques Recommended by Professionals to Eliminate Clutter from Your Space
In today's cluttered world, finding a decluttering method that suits your lifestyle is essential to maintaining a stress-free home. Here are some popular methods recommended by experts to help you organise your space and eliminate clutter.
The KonMari Method, popularised by Marie Kondo, focuses on reevaluating all possessions by category to keep only items that spark joy. Liora Seltzer, a platinum-level KonMari consultant, promotes this intentional process. However, for those struggling with sentimental attachment or scarcity mindset, the Anti-KonMari Method might be more appealing. This reversal of the traditional KonMari approach focuses on identifying negative emotions or practical issues with items to decide what to discard.
Another effective method is the 20/10 decluttering method, created by Rachel Hoffman. This method involves decluttering for 20 minutes followed by a 10-minute break, and breaking the process down into manageable increments. The simplicity and effectiveness of this method make it a favourite among many.
Diane Quintana, expert organiser and owner of DNQ Solutions, recommends the "5-second rule" for decision-making during decluttering. If it takes more than 5 seconds to decide to keep or toss an item, it can be discarded. This rule helps to reduce indecision and procrastination, making the decluttering process more efficient.
The Pile Decluttering Method involves laying out all belongings at once, creating visible piles (keep, donate, trash), allowing for faster decisions and emotional detachment. This method helps users see duplicates and forgotten items, building momentum as piles grow and progress becomes visible.
For those who prefer a gradual approach, the 1-3-5 Method might be more suitable. This method requires tackling one big task, three medium tasks, and five small decluttering tasks daily, helping manage overwhelm and build motivation through attainable daily targets.
Lastly, the Full Hands In, Full Hands Out (FHIFHO) Method aims to prevent clutter buildup by always entering and exiting rooms with your hands full of items to put away or discard. This method promotes ongoing maintenance rather than one-time purges.
In conclusion, these trending decluttering methods are widely endorsed by professional organisers for reducing stress and increasing home organisation by focusing on clarity, emotional detachment, manageable goals, and practical utility rather than perfectionism or sentimentality. So, why not try a new method and start your decluttering journey today?
[1] Brancato, K. (2021). The 20/10 decluttering method is my new favourite. [online] The Washington Post. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/the-2010-decluttering-method-is-my-new-favourite/2021/01/19/1f9c602a-66f9-11eb-9c20-24e7a7d8846d_story.html
[2] Quintana, D. (2020). The pile decluttering method. [online] The Spruce. Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/pile-decluttering-method-1412472
[3] Quintana, D. (2020). The anti-KonMari method. [online] The Spruce. Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/anti-konmari-method-1412471
[4] Quintana, D. (2020). The full hands in, full hands out method. [online] The Spruce. Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/full-hands-in-full-hands-out-method-1412470
[5] Seltzer, L. (2021). The KonMari Method. [online] KonMari Media, Inc. Available at: https://konmari.com/method/
[6] Seltzer, L. (2021). The 5-second rule. [online] KonMari Media, Inc. Available at: https://konmari.com/5-second-rule/
[7] The Minimalists. (2016). Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things. [film] Netflix.
[8] American Psychological Association. (2019). Stress in America. [online] Available at: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2019/disorganized-spaces
[9] Brancato, K. (2021). The 20/10 decluttering method is my new favourite. [online] The Washington Post. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/the-2010-decluttering-method-is-my-new-favourite/2021/01/19/1f9c602a-66f9-11eb-9c20-24e7a7d8846d_story.html
[10] Quintana, D. (2020). The 1-3-5 method. [online] The Spruce. Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/1-3-5-method-1412469
[11] Quintana, D. (2020). Use-Driven Approach. [online] The Spruce. Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/use-driven-approach-1412468
The home-and-garden lifestyle embraces various methods for maintaining a clutter-free home, such as the KonMari Method, which encourages the intentional decor of one's garden and home by keeping only items that spark joy. Additionally, the 20/10 decluttering method, a popular home-improvement technique, promotes efficiency by decluttering for 20 minutes followed by a 10-minute break, making the process manageable and effective.
