Easy Ways to Declutter Your Space Before Summer

Now that we're all stuck indoors, it's a perfect time to declutter and organize. Before you bust out the mops and brooms, it's essential to take stock of your space. After all, do you need those thrifted antique teacups or that old sweater from 1980? Probably not, especially since they collect so much dust.

Here are a few ways to rearrange your home and toss out those useless objects.

1. Assess Each Room

Before you start to work, make sure that you assess each space. It's necessary to formulate a plan, even if you don't intend to throw away or donate too many items. Try to come up with a system that works best for your needs. For instance, you could start with large furniture and work toward smaller knickknacks as you finish. If you want to tackle clothes, dedicate time to those first. It's up to you. Then, create a checklist that aligns with your goals and system. You can even use an organization app to keep track. Evernote, which works with Apple and Android gadgets, allows you to create to-do lists, set up a calendar and save notes. With Asana, you can sync your email accounts, create and share tasks and much more.

2. Create Separate Piles

Once you've decided which rooms to address, you should create piles for each. Let's say that you want to look through your bathroom. After you remove items from your cabinets and shower, put away whatever you want to keep. Then, form different collections. One should include recyclables, while the other addresses trash. If you want to donate an object, like furniture, use a sticky note to label it. When you work through areas like bedrooms and basements, you can also set aside items that you want to think about for a little longer.

3. Rethink Every Area

As you declutter, you may want to think about a new purpose for each room. Could you turn a section of your family room into an office? Most spaces don't align with a specific concept, so you can remodel as you please. If you don't want to take on a massive project, you could move furniture around instead. Maybe your couch would look better by a window rather than the fireplace. In any case, now's an easy opportunity to rearrange some aspects throughout your house.

4. Expand Storage Space

After you finish, you may notice that there's a lot of stuff leftover – and that's okay! You don't need to toss every object, especially when they're important to you and your family. You should recognize that some items aren't necessary, as that's what declutter means! That said, if you want to hold onto a few trinkets, try to expand your storage space. You can build a few shelves or drawer dividers to put together a more organized system. In bedrooms, try racks and containers to create space for clothes, shoes and other objects that take up room. This way, you'll be able to accommodate old and new items at the same time.

5. Hide Unattractive Cords

Everyone's connected these days, so that means that cord and cables have taken over our homes! These wires aren't the most attractive items, especially when you want your house to feel zen and relaxed. If you can't mount your TV to a wall, there are many other tips and tricks that you can try. For example, you could wrap cords together with felt ties or even run them behind the wall. This simple fix can make your space look much more put together.

Try These Ideas for Simple Organizing

If you have some time on your hands, try these quick ideas for a coordinated house.