Alaska winter is the perfect time for decluttering

Want to know a great activity that is both perfect for the long Alaska winters AND will help increase the attractiveness and value of your home? It’s time for some serious decluttering. And we’ve got all the tips to make it feel less like a chore and more like a dance party.

If you’re living in your forever home (lucky you!) you probably have “stuff” that has piled up her and there that needs to be dealt with. Kids get older, sports teams change, outdoor gear and seasonal wear gets all mixed up and you’re left feeling stressed out just looking at the mess. Decluttering can transform your living space and help you enjoy your home more than you ever have.

Then there are those who are thinking about a move in the near future, selling their home, anticipating a new job, or knowing that a military transfer to a new location is just around the corner. Decluttering not only keeps your home looking good and making great impressions, it streamlines your living conditions and gives you the freedom for quick moves if needed.

For all of the above, we’ve gathered a few easy ways to clear the clutter without getting overwhelmed.

FIRST, don’t tackle everything at once. Choose one area and designate an hour or two at the most. Turn on some fun music, stream your favorite silly show on your tablet or listen to a fun podcast while you’re working and it’ll make the sorting and hauling much more fun.

NEXT, get started with the sorting. Start by getting rid of everything that can be trashed or donated. If you haven’t looked at it, used it, or thought of it for more than a year, it needs to go. (Unless it has sentimental or financial value, then you need to store or sell it).

After you’ve made some space by getting rid of the trash, tagging and bagging donation items, and putting them in your car to be dropped off the next trip you’re out, take a breath and look at the great work you’ve done. Feels pretty good, right?

Now it’s time to start organizing. Here’s a secret – clutter doesn’t mean you’re a messy person. In fact, most of the time it’s probably that things are just in the wrong place. Look at what’s left in the space you’re working on and find the right home for everything you see. Laundry items belong in the laundry room. Sports equipment in the mud room. Coats and outdoor gear goes in a specific closet. Kids’ toys go in their rooms, hampers or baskets in play areas. Homework, paperwork, and mail in its designated location. Bathroom products and toiletries should be stored in drawers and under the sinks, not scattered over the counters.

FINALLY, here’s one last easy decluttering move you can make that will really make a different… get those cords under control! In today’s modern home almost every room has a lot of cords to deal with – charging cords for phones, tablets, gaming devices, Bluetooth headsets, wireless speakers, etc. Now add in computer cables, monitors, smart TVs, lamps, lighted mirrors, toaster ovens, under-counter lighting, etc. and the cord clutter can get out of control. Fortunately there are a lot of easy to use and inexpensive devices that help corral cords in one area or merge similar functions (like charging) into one device. Check your local home improvement store, Amazon, or Pinterest for creative and easy ideas to get your clutter under control.