How to Clear the Clutter for Good with Reverse Decluttering
Are you ready for the decluttering method that will clear the clutter for good?!
When dealing with clutter, the first thought after I walk into the room is, what can I get rid of? Or, it used to be! The answer to that question isn’t always simple. All the tough choices that come along with trying to clear the clutter in your home can really wear a girl out! So I racked my brain for a way to ease the pain of throwing away all the things that built my home.
I started to ask myself: what if that focus was reversed? Instead of asking what to get rid of, what if I asked myself what I wanted to keep?
This is a method that I call reverse decluttering (and, yes, I did make that up!) Decluttering has become one of my daily habits, so I know exactly how hard it is to make decision after decision on what to get rid of and that’s why I set out to find a way to make those decisions just a little easier and clear the clutter without the emotional wear.
If you’d like to walk with me through the two ways to start the reverse decluttering process, check out the video below! Otherwise, keep reading for tips on how to clear the clutter in your own home!
When using the reverse decluttering method, there are two main ways of going about it.
REVERSE DECLUTTERING METHOD 1: REMOVE ITEMS
Take every item out of the space. Literally! Before you think me a madwoman, start with smaller spaces. It’s not practical to empty your entire kitchen, but it is possible to empty an entire space. Whether that’s a drawer, a closet, or a zone, physically remove all the items from the space and then invite items back into it.
A good tip here is the smaller the space, the better! Avoid taking out a ton of items from a large space because if you don’t have time to get through it all or put it back, that is going to create even more overwhelm – which is exactly what we’re trying to avoid! Work through one space at a time and remember: a little progress is still progress!
REVERSE DECLUTTERING METHOD 2: HOLD EACH ITEM
If the thought of taking items out of the space overwhelms you, you can do the same type of process by touching or holding each item. The main theme here is that you address each item one at a time, whether you’re removing it from the space and then putting it back in with intention, or just touching the item. A good starting place is to ask yourself the question “if I didn’t already have this item, would I purchase it?” Is it worth bringing back into your life? Take into account what these items are adding. I know this is a subtle mindset shift, but it can really go a long way when you’re trying to clear the clutter!
I have more questions I like to ask myself when reverse decluttering to help make those decisions even easier. Get my FREE reverse decluttering checklist and start clearing the clutter with ease!
If you’d like an even deeper look at how to reverse declutter, check out my reverse decluttering blog post here. And don’t forget to check out my top decluttering tips if you get stuck. Let me know in comments which method you try and what questions off the reverse decluttering checklist were most helpful!
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P Says
Thank you! I use a similar variation. When I declutter, I find my eye will go right to the problem items. I don’t know what to do with it. It’s not mine . . . So I play “I know where that goes.” I look for things that are easy to make decisions about. Keep for sure. Toss for sure. It already has a home and just needs to go there. It gets the ball rolling. Love your posts and videos!
Margaret Says
I found this short tidbit on reverse decluttering to be very useful and I am certainly going to be putting it into use today! Thanks for what you do. I can always count on great information from you. You’re on top of it!
Lissa Mae Says
I’ve learned quite a bit from the book for hoarders, ‘Buried in Treasures’. It’s easier for me to rehome/release an item if my husband or a friend picks it up and shows it to me. It gives me physical & emotional distance.
Physically picking up an item to hold it is just like touching a PortKey. (Harry Potter). The texture and weight and visual presentation transport me to the place and time I acquired it, or used it.
And it’s hard to predict which items can be a PortKey item.
Is it JUST a cutting board? No, it’s THE cutting board I bought thrift shopping with my dearest friend and her husband, when I was visiting them as respite from a terrible place in my life.
It’s an item I acquired and used during a moment of joy & peace, with people I love. It represents the nights he taught me the basics of cooking.
It’s a symbol of the day they opened their home and gave me a sanctuary. My own room – where I crashed and slept for 20 hours.
Getting rid of a Portkey item is almost impossible. Having someone else hold it helps so much!