3 Decisions Every Pro Organizer Makes Before They Start Decluttering

How do you decide what you need to get that totally organized space? My sister-in-law’s been watching The Home Edit’s show but still has no idea how they go from taking everything out of a space to knowing exactly what to buy. The truth is, you have to do some planning before you can start decluttering a space. There are three decisions to make before you start decluttering.

These are decisions you can make, no matter what kind of house you live in or what kind of space you have. I made all these same decisions when I designed my home office space in my average sized home. And these are the same decisions I have my clients make when I start on a Home Organizing Action Plan.

Before you start decluttering any space, these are the 3 decisions you need to make:

1) what is the purpose/function of the space?,

2) what are the qualifications for what you can keep?,

3) where and when will you remove the discards?

What is the purpose/function of the space?

This is one of the questions in the Pre-Work Assessment all my clients receive before we start working together. We go over 5 spaces and I ask them to establish the purpose of the room. It’s not enough to “just want an organized space.” We need to know what kinds of activities happen there so we know what can or can’t be stored there.

When I worked on my home office, the main goal was to create an inspiring space to work. But it also needed to function as a place to store learning materials for my preschool age daughter, office supplies, paperwork, gift wrapping, and memory items. 

Anything that wasn’t one of those things needed to have specific qualifications.

What are the qualifications for what you can keep?

If you can decide ahead of time about the types of things you’ll be keeping, it makes decluttering way easier. 

In my office, I decided not to keep tons of extra office supplies or gift wrap supplies, or old textbooks. I also wanted to replace storage items, so I didn’t hang on to standard looking office storage supplies like plastic magazine holders.

Another example of guidelines is from this post on organizing and storing kids clothes. I laid out the parameters so that when it came time to declutter, half the decisions were already made. It also made it go faster.

Where and when will you remove the discards?

I admit I struggle with this one too! This is another piece included in the Pre-Work Assessment for my clients because it is so important!

If you’re doing all the hard work to remove the things that don’t add value, let’s really be rid of them! The best way to do it is to take your donations right after you finish decluttering, or the next day. Or if you have enough stuff, you can schedule a pickup directly from your house (my favorite).

Here’s a post about where to donate your gently used items.

I know it doesn’t feel like you’re getting closer to organizing like The Home Edit but I promise you that making these decisions will help you to get there. You have to start with the end in mind …the end being how you will live in that space. Establish the purpose of the space, guidelines and parameters for what can stay, and how you will remove anything that’s leaving.

Use this daily organizing checklist to keep your home organized after you declutter.