Spring has arrived and between being stuck inside during the pandemic and what felt like an endless winter, I know we are all ready to open the windows and get outdoors, but let’s not forget about our home that’s been so good to us.
Spring is the season of fresh starts, reawakening, and growth. Each year when spring hits is a great time to consider how you can honor yourself and your home by doing some “spring cleaning.” Here is a breakdown of how I think about spring cleaning in an easy-to-follow process consisting of three phases.
The Clean Out Phase:
As we start the seasonal swap by shedding our winter wear and pulling out the picnic blankets, it’s a great opportunity to take a closer look and shed the things in your home that no longer serve you. Throughout the year, we’re always acquiring things that seem to find a way to take up valuable space in our homes. This may include clothes you no longer wear, toys the kids have grown out of, and general clutter that has accumulated. Now is the time to decide what we need vs what is simply taking up precious space that we could give a new life to.
The Donate/ Upcycle Phase:
As we remove items we no longer need from our homes, we have the opportunity to not only free up space for growth but also give those items a fresh start by recycling and/or donating them to serve someone who will give those items purpose. In NY, I realize that it’s a lot harder to find places to donate items than it should be, and this often prohibits getting rid of those items. Please visit my website, Stylishspacesny.com, for a guide to donating and upcycling items you no longer need in NYC.
Refresh Phase:
Now that you’ve cleaned out the clutter, it’s time to redefine the purpose of each space by sorting items and deciding where they belong. Contain items in bins/ baskets if necessary. Then start with the items that you are using daily and make sure those are placed in prime real estate locations. These things should be easy to access and, just as important, easy to put back where they belong (by the whole family). Items used less frequently can fill in the additional spaces as appropriate.
Tip: When containing items, choose organizational products that fit the space/shelves fully to use all space available. Try to use uniform or matching bins/containers to minimize the look of clutter and allow those storage products to be interchangeable throughout the house as your needs change.
Once spring cleaning is complete and your home is organized, you will find yourself spending less time looking for things, cleaning up, and shuffling things around in your home and have more time to spend on all the things in your life that are important to you—one of which may be getting outside to enjoy the spring weather.
And if all else fails or you simply can’t wait to get out of the house, simply hire a home organizing professional like my Stylish Spaces team and we’ll handle all the phases for you. Visit Stylishspacesny.com for a free consultation.
Happy spring cleaning!