Getting rid of obvious clutter is usually easy, but deciding what to do with perfectly good belongings can be much harder. You might have spent a lot of money on something, saved it for a future project, or kept it for so long that letting it go feels wasteful.
A few simple questions can make those choices less stressful and help you stop going back and forth over every item. These nine rules can help you decide what deserves space in your home and what you’re keeping out of habit, guilt, or wishful thinking.
Ask If You Would Buy It Again Today
Picture finding the same item in a store today and having to pay for it all over again. If you wouldn’t buy it now, ask yourself whether there’s a good reason to keep storing it at home.
Related: 15 Things Every Woman Over 40 Should Declutter From Her Home
Think About the Last Time You Used It
Something can seem handy but never make it into your daily routine. If you can’t remember the last time you used it, consider whether you still need it or are simply attached to owning it.
Related: 20 Things You Can Toss Today to Instantly Declutter Your Home
Decide Whether It Fits Your Life Right Now
Closets and cabinets often hold belongings from old hobbies, past jobs, or activities you haven’t done in years. Keep what suits your life today, and think twice about storing items for a future that may never arrive.
Related: 17 Effective Ways to Organize Your Home and Declutter Your Life
Notice How You Feel When You Find It
Pay attention to your first reaction when you pull an item out of a drawer, closet, or storage box. If your immediate thought is that you’ll have to find somewhere to put it away again, that may be a sign it’s time to let it go.
Related: 13 Items People Regret Throwing Away During Decluttering
Put the “Maybe” Items Aside
When you’re stuck on a decision, place uncertain belongings in a separate box so you can keep going with the rest of the room. Set a date to review the box, and if you haven’t needed or thought about those items by then, consider letting them go.
Shop Your Own Stuff
Think of your belongings as merchandise on store shelves and ask which ones you’d genuinely choose to bring home today. Items you wouldn’t select again may be taking up space simply because you already own them.
Stop Letting the Purchase Price Make the Decision
Keeping something you don’t use won’t bring back the money you spent. If an item has been sitting untouched for years, holding on to it for another five years won’t make the original purchase any less costly.
Look for Duplicates
Kitchens, closets, bathrooms, and junk drawers can fill up with multiple versions of the same thing. Keep the ones you reach for most often or that work best, and pass along the extras if you don’t need them.
Give Yourself a Space Limit
Decide how much room you’re willing to set aside for a category, whether it’s one drawer for kitchen gadgets or a single bin for holiday decorations. If everything won’t fit without cramming it in, keep the items you use most or care about most rather than finding another container.
