Decluttering vs. Organizing

Decluttering vs. Organizing: Is there a difference?

If you’re struggling and feeling overwhelmed by stuff being everywhere, not being able to put your hand on what you need, and overbuying because you don’t know what you have you should probably invest in some professional expertise to help you.

But what do you need? Decluttering? Organizing? Both? 

What may surprise people is that you need both because they are not the same thing. Decluttering is a necessary part of organizing but one that can be a lot harder than most people anticipate.

Decluttering is the very necessary first step of all organizing projects. You do not want excess or unwanted items included in the system of organization you design. You have to eliminate the extraneous first.

The first step can also be the hardest and most complicated step which is why It is offered as a separate service. 

Decluttering is primarily about deciding what to keep and what to let go of. It's the process of evaluating your belongings, identifying items that no longer serve you, and removing them from your space. This might involve selling, donating, recycling, or discarding items. Because we attach a lot of emotion to objects, especially those from family, this can be a difficult process.

But the benefits are more than worth it:

• Reducing volume: Less stuff equals less clutter

• Emotional release: Letting go of items tied to the past or future "what ifs"

• Prioritizing: Actively deciding what's important and what's not

You Might Need Help with Decluttering:

• When you’ve moved and still have boxes left to go through 

• When you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff in a space like your closet or basement

• When your children have gone to college and you’re not sure what to do with their stuff

• When you’ve inherited items you’ve put off evaluating because it’s been too emotional

• When you’re moving to a smaller home

We all have seasons of disorganization and it doesn’t have to be permanent. You just have to declutter and make those emotional evaluations before you can move to the next step.

But how does “organizing” fit into this equation?

Organizing is creating systems and structure of the items you have within your space. You can not create order until you’ve eliminated the excess.

Organizing is making your space work better for your needs so that you can function more efficiently and find what you need when you need it.

Organizing involves evaluating your space and your needs in order to increase:

• Functionality: Maximizing your space to work better for you

• Efficiency: Streamlining daily tasks by knowing where things are

• Sustainability: Setting up systems that are easy to maintain

When You Might Need Help with Organizing:

• Having trouble staying organized even when you don't have a lot of stuff.

• Wanting to maximize space in your home.

• Needing to create specific systems, like a newly renovated kitchen setup or craft room organization.

• You’ve recently moved and want everything in place from the start.

• Having trouble maintaining organization in specific areas of your home.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a space that brings you peace and supports your lifestyle. Fortunately, you’re in the right place if you need help with decluttering and/or organizing.