Looking for an achievable New Year’s resolution? The Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services team is ringing in 2024 by exploring the wonders of decluttering! Organizing your home is a simple goal that every senior can tackle this year. It provides a host of benefits as well. For example, a tidy living space offers a lasting sense of comfort and serenity, while also improving safety and promoting independence.
Here at Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services, we’ve compiled a list of our top home organization tips. Keep reading to learn how you or your senior loved one can usher in the New Year with a clutter-free, organized home!
1. Start Small
Purging your entire house can seem like a daunting task. Ease into it by focusing on one area at a time. Begin by selecting a room in your home and concentrate on organizing the entire space. Still too much? Start even smaller by decluttering a specific location, such as a junk drawer.
2. Create a System
Experimenting with different sorting methods can help you discover the most effective way to arrange your belongings. Bins and baskets are a great option for keeping things in their proper place. To take your organization to the next level, consider using color-coded labels to make it easier to quickly identify the contents.
3. Make Task-Specific Stations
Tidy up your home by designating specific areas for items that tend to cause clutter. Examples include using an organizer for incoming and outgoing mail and adding shoe storage near your front door to avoid a pileup. Not sure where to start? A Seniors Helping Seniors® caregiver can offer an extra set of eyes in identifying the most clutter-prone spots.
4. Consolidate Belongings
You may have duplicates of everyday household items taking up unnecessary space. Remove empty bottles and combine products you don’t need multiples of like cleaning supplies, toiletries, makeup, and kitchen items.
5. Try the “One-In, One-Out” Rule
Another useful decluttering technique involves disposing of an old item every time you make a new purchase. For instance, when you buy new clothes, take some time to sort through your wardrobe and eliminate a few items you no longer wear. Embracing this approach prevents clutter from accumulating to begin with.
6. Downsize with Purpose
Parting with sentimental belongings can be a difficult task, but you can simplify the process by asking yourself if the item serves a purpose or brings you joy. This job is often easier with a friend by your side, so seek support from a Seniors Helping Seniors® companion. Not only can they provide an objective outlook in deciding which objects to keep and which to donate, but you’ll also have fun sharing stories and memories along the way!
7. Fill Up a Donation Box
Consider keeping a designated donation box in your home that you can access whenever you feel the urge to declutter. To start, go through each room and add items that you no longer need or use to the box. Once the box is full, take it to a local charity or donation center!
8. Invest in Multipurpose Furniture
When buying new furniture, look for pieces that come with built-in storage. For instance, many couches have compartments underneath the cushions, which are perfect for keeping extra blankets and other items. Similarly, some coffee tables have tops that lift to reveal additional storage space inside. With these innovative furniture pieces, you can take advantage of otherwise wasted space, keeping your home more organized and clutter-free.
9. Improve Accessibility
Installing pull-out shelves, lazy Susans, or drawer organizers in your cabinets can make it easier to reach items that are otherwise tough to access. You can also use grabber or extended reach tools to retrieve items from higher shelves without straining yourself.
10. Stick to a Routine
It can be difficult to control clutter when it starts to pile up. Avoid this by creating an organization routine that fits your lifestyle. This might involve spending just five minutes at the end of each day putting things in their proper places or setting aside a specific time each month to tackle a bigger decluttering project. Work with a Seniors Helping Seniors® caregiver to create a plan that works for you!
We hope these Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services home organization tips empower our clients to work toward a more functional, clutter-free home. With this guide, and a little help from a caregiver, you or your special senior can experience the liberating benefits of decluttering throughout the New Year!