Jan
06 2025

Decluttering Your Home Room by Room for the New Year - Self Storage can help

Posted under Home Organizing

A new year often brings resolutions to create a fresh start. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by decluttering your home. However, dealing with a house full of belongings can feel overwhelming. A great strategy is to break the process down by tackling one room at a time. This approach makes the task more manageable and allows you to see progress as you go.

Using a self-storage unit can be an invaluable tool during this process. As you sort through each room, consider setting aside items you rarely use but want to keep, such as seasonal decor, memorabilia, or bulky equipment. These items can be stored in a secure self-storage unit, giving you extra space to create a clutter-free living environment at home.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you declutter each space, with practical tips, self-storage strategies, and online resources to inspire your journey.

 

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Decluttering Your Garage

The garage often becomes a catch-all for everything that doesn’t fit elsewhere. Over time, it can accumulate old tools, broken furniture, sports equipment, and seasonal items. Start by categorizing everything: items to keep, donate, sell, or throw away. If you haven’t used something in the last year, consider letting it go. Organize what’s left into labeled bins or shelves. Having a system for your garage will make it easier to find things when you need them.

If your garage has become a storage space for various items, set up zones—one for tools, one for seasonal decor, and one for sports gear. This will ensure that everything has a designated place.

Tips:

• Use wall-mounted shelves and pegboards to maximize vertical space.

• Store similar items together in labeled bins for easy access.

• Transfer infrequently used items, like holiday decorations or oversized tools, to a self-storage unit to keep your garage functional.

Online Resource: Public Storage’s Guide to Organizing Your Garage
 

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Decluttering Your Attic

The attic is another area where forgotten treasures, old furniture, and holiday decorations are stashed away. Begin by taking inventory of everything stored in the attic. It’s easy for things to pile up over time, so it’s essential to check each item. Make sure what you keep is in good condition and relevant to your life today. Old holiday decorations can often be sorted out—consider donating those you no longer use or upgrading to newer, more fitting decor.

Consider sorting your attic contents into large, clear bins and labeling each box by category. Avoid storing things in cardboard boxes, as they break down over time.

Tips:

• Go through boxes and only keep sentimental or functional items.

• Invest in clear storage bins so you can easily see what’s inside.

• Consider transferring items you rarely need, such as old memorabilia, to a self-storage unit to create more usable attic space.

Online Resource: Good Housekeeping - How to Organize Your Attic
 

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Decluttering Your Basement

Your basement might be home to items you no longer need or use, including old appliances, furniture, or keepsakes. Start by clearing everything out into groups. Be ruthless—if you haven’t used something in the last 6 months to a year, let it go. Items that are damaged or broken should not be stored indefinitely. For the things you do want to keep, consider using shelving or large bins to store them out of the way.

If your basement doubles as a living space or playroom, focus on items that belong to each family member and sort through them, organizing them in a way that makes the space more livable.

Tips:

• Remove duplicates and broken items that you’ve forgotten about.

• Create zones for storage, such as holiday decorations, tools, or extra furniture.

• Transfer oversized or seasonal items to a climate-controlled self-storage unit to protect them from damp conditions.

Online Resource: HGTV - Basement Storage and Organization Tips
 

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Decluttering Your Master Bedroom

The master bedroom should be a sanctuary, but too often it becomes cluttered with clothes, random paperwork, and forgotten items. Start by focusing on your closet and nightstands. Clear out any clothing you haven’t worn in the past year and donate or dispose of it. Sort through your nightstand drawers and discard any expired medications, unnecessary paperwork, or miscellaneous items.

Next, focus on your bed. Declutter the area around your bed, such as extra furniture or piles of clothes. Keeping the space around the bed free of clutter will create a calming, peaceful environment for rest.

Tips:

• Remove items that don’t belong, like paperwork or gym equipment.

• Keep surfaces like nightstands and dressers clear, limiting decor to a few meaningful items.

• Rotate seasonal clothes and store off-season items in a self-storage unit to keep your closet uncluttered.

Online Resource: Real Simple - Decluttering Your Bedroom

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Decluttering Your Master Closet

The closet is often a room where clutter accumulates quickly, especially if you’ve outgrown items or bought things impulsively. Begin by removing everything from the closet and sorting through it. Start with your clothing: what fits, what’s in good condition, and what you actually wear. Donate items that no longer serve you. For shoes, bags, and accessories, ensure that they’re in good condition and that they’re items you love and use.

Once you’ve pared down your belongings, consider installing storage systems like hooks, bins, or shelves to help keep your closet organized going forward. Utilize every inch of space efficiently by hanging or folding items neatly.

Tips:

• Use the "one-year rule" – if you haven’t worn it in a year, donate it.

• Invest in slim, matching hangers to save space and create a cohesive look.

• Store out-of-season clothing and accessories in a self-storage unit to make room for items you use regularly.

Online Resource: Extra Space Storage’s Closet Organization Guide
 

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Decluttering Your Other Bedrooms

For the guest bedroom or children's rooms, the goal is to eliminate clutter without sacrificing the cozy or functional feel of the space. For kids’ rooms, go through their toys and books, donating or passing on those that no longer fit. For guest rooms, get rid of old linens or furniture that’s no longer used. Clear out seasonal items that are taking up valuable closet or storage space. Keep only the essentials in these rooms, and utilize multi-functional furniture for storage if possible.

In all rooms, remember that less is more. A cluttered space is overwhelming, but a clean, minimalist room feels peaceful and inviting.

Tips:

• In guest rooms, remove non-essential items to create a welcoming space.

• For kids' rooms, involve them in the process by sorting toys and clothes they no longer use.

• Use under-bed storage for frequently used items and transfer rarely used keepsakes to a self-storage unit.

Online Resource: The Spruce - How to Declutter Your Kid's Room
 

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Decluttering Your Kitchen

The kitchen can be one of the trickiest spaces to declutter because of the many gadgets, tools, and appliances that accumulate. Start by clearing out your pantry. Expired food, duplicates, and items you never use should be tossed or donated. Next, take stock of your kitchenware—are there any duplicate tools? Are there gadgets that take up space but don’t get used? Only keep what’s essential and used regularly.

Organize your cabinets and drawers by grouping similar items together, and make sure everything has a designated place. It’s much easier to keep your kitchen tidy when everything is organized, and you’re not overwhelmed by unnecessary clutter.

Tips:

• Purge expired pantry items and duplicate utensils.

• Organize cabinets by category, such as baking supplies, spices, and cookware.

• Transfer less frequently used appliances or seasonal cookware to a self-storage unit to maximize kitchen space.

Online Resource: Martha Stewart - How to Declutter Your Kitchen
 

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Decluttering Your Living Room

The living room should be a welcoming space, free from piles of mail or stray items. Start by clearing off surfaces like coffee tables and side tables. Go through your bookshelf, and donate books or magazines you no longer read. Consider furniture with hidden storage, like ottomans or tables with drawers, to keep everyday items out of sight.

Organize your electronics—cables, remote controls, and devices—into baskets or drawers to reduce the visual clutter. Keeping things tidy in the living room creates a relaxing environment where you can unwind.

Tips:

• Keep decor and furniture streamlined; avoid overfilling the space.

• Store remotes, magazines, and small items in decorative bins or baskets.

• Transfer extra furniture or seldom-used decor to a self-storage unit to open up the room.

Online Resource: Apartment Therapy - How to Declutter Your Living Room
 

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Decluttering Your Bathrooms

Decluttering bathrooms ensures hygiene and functionality. A clean, organized bathroom is not only more inviting but also easier to maintain. Start by sorting through all items stored in cabinets, drawers, and shelves. Check expiration dates on medications, skincare, and beauty products, and dispose of anything that’s expired or no longer used.

Tips:

• Dispose of expired medications and beauty products.

• Use clear containers to group similar items, such as skincare or haircare products.

• Consider moving bulk purchases or extra towels to a self-storage unit to free up cabinet space.

Online Resource: Real Simple’s Bathroom Decluttering Guide
 

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Decluttering Your Home Office

Whether you work from home or just use the space for personal projects, the home office can quickly become cluttered with paperwork, pens, and office supplies. Start by sorting through the paper piles—discard any outdated documents, receipts, or flyers. Digitize important papers that don’t need to take up physical space. Keep only the essential office supplies in your drawers and on your desk.

Invest in filing systems or desk organizers to ensure everything stays in its place. An organized office will help you focus and be more productive.

Tips:

• Sort papers into keep, shred, and recycle piles.

• Use cable organizers to manage cords and chargers.

• Transfer archived documents or unused office equipment to a self-storage unit to maintain a tidy workspace.

Online Resource: Forbes’ Tips for Organizing Your Home Office
 

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Final Tips for Successful Decluttering:

1. Start Small: Begin with one room or even one drawer to avoid overwhelm.

2. Set Goals: Determine what you want to accomplish in each space.

3. Use the Three-Box Method: Have boxes for keep, donate, and discard items.

4. Maintain Regularly: Dedicate time every month to ensure clutter doesn’t creep back.

By following this room-by-room guide and incorporating self-storage solutions where needed, you’ll create a home that’s organized, serene, and ready to embrace the opportunities of the new year.
 

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By: Lee Preston
Lee is the Director of Marketing and Promotion for EZstorit.com. When she is not working with our storage facilities partners, she is writing about topics that affect our daily lives.