A snow day is a perfect opportunity to stay indoors and realize just how much clutter you've accumulated. If spending more time inside has made you eager to start spring cleaning ahead of schedule, we've put together some tips to help you make the most of the project. 

Make a Plan
We've all done it. You look at a messy room and think "Today, I'm going to organize this room." You start pulling everything off the shelves/counters and out of closets, you get distracted looking at items you haven't seen before, you take a quick break for lunch, and before you know it, it's the end of the day and you've gotten very little accomplished. Don't fall into that same trap again! Start by figuring out what spaces need to be decluttered the most. Make a list of the projects that need to be done and don't start a new one until you finish the previous one. 

Don't Get Distracted
It's easy to think "I'll just put on the TV in the background while I do this task" and get quickly sucked into a TV show or movie that you love by accident. Keep your distractions to a minimum and try not to spend too much time getting sucked into reminiscing over an item either. 

Figure Out What To Do With It
Sure, some of the things you'll declutter will go straight to the trash. But what about the items that are in good shape and just not being used?  As you find items that are still in good condition consider local places that you may be able to sell or donate your gently used items. We've put together some suggestions for you here: newleafcville.com/donate-or-toss

Move Big Items
Are you still holding on to that treadmill that hasn't been used in 3 years? Do you have a couch that no one ever sits on but you just can't seem to get rid of? Start by moving some of those bigger pieces out of the way and you'll be amazed at how much space you have.
 

Focus on Horizontal Surfaces
Shelves, counters, tables, kitchen islands, fireplace mantles, and dresser tops tend to be the catchall places where we collect most of our clutter. Start by clearing off the surface completely, then leave only the necessary items behind. We always recommend that sellers leave 75% of a surface empty to keep a house from feeling too cluttered. While that may be a bit difficult to do in everyday life, it's a helpful guideline for how much space to leave open..  


Invest in Organization Tools Wisely
It can be fun to go to the store and pick up pretty baskets and storage containers to make your space look neat and organized. But if all you're doing is creating more spaces to hide clutter (or even worse, picking baskets that don't fit the space and then become clutter on their own), you're not doing yourself any favors. Wait until you're done decluttering and organizing your space to see what things might be useful. 

Start Being Selective with What You Buy
The best way to prevent clutter from taking over is to prevent clutter from entering your house in the first place. Take a look at the things you are getting rid of and see if there are any patterns to your clutter. Do you have a lot of holiday tchotchkes that you end up regretting in a few years? Have a habit of buying new art supplies because you don't realize what you already have? Be more selective about the things you bring in and hopefully, you'll be able to maintain a clutter-free space for longer. 

Practice the One-In-One-Out Method
This method is especially useful with clothing and toys. For each item that you bring into your home, get rid of one other thing. The items do not necessarily need to be a one-for-one swap (ie: one toy for one toy), but it can be a helpful way to decide if you really need that item or if it's just a want. 

Add Decluttering Into Your Routine
Once you've done your big declutter and you find yourself in a space that feels fresh and clean, don't think the project is done. Clutter (usually) doesn't appear overnight. Schedule time each day or week to do some decluttering around the house. Even small tasks like sorting through your mail each night can help prevent the slow decline into clutter later. 

Keep a Donation Box Handy 
After the work is done and you've tossed, sold, or donated all the items from your big decluttering project, find a place where you can put items to be donated in the future. Then as you declutter regularly, you can keep all of your donations in a single spot so you aren't running to your local charity shop with a single item or two every week. 

Don't Forget Your Digital Spaces 
While you're in your decluttering mood don't forget to take a look at your digital spaces too! Clear out the screenshots that are saved on your phone, delete old versions of files that you've updated, and don't forget to back up your files to the cloud or a hard drive. 

We hope these tips help you get your home decluttered before the weather warms up. Maybe during the next snow day, you'll be able to relax with some hot chocolate and a movie instead.