Whether you’re preparing your existing home for a more organized living environment or you’re preparing to put it on the market so you can rightsize into your new home in Southern 
Indiana, the new year is the ideal time to turbocharge your decluttering efforts and transform your home! Knowing the decluttering project can be a bit overwhelming, Southern Indiana home builder Infinity Homes wants to help inspire you to clear the clutter for good! We recently ran across a great decluttering plan from the home experts at Houzz. This easy-to-use list breaks down the decluttering process not only by project but by the month and space. We also love some of the tips included like keeping a reusable bin (we suggest a laundry basket with handles) in a closet to collect items you plan to dispose of.
January: Kitchen and pantry
Give yourself a fresh start for the new year with a clean kitchen, decluttered cabinets and a healthy pantry and fridge. Toss worn dish towels or cut them up to make rags. Sell or give away specialty small appliances and tools you seldom or never use. Recycle or toss freebie cups and Tupperware containers without lids. Toss expired food and spices. Take stock of cookware and dishes; give away or sell pieces you do not need
February: Home Office
Get a jump-start on tax time by getting your files (paper and digital) in order. Sort through random stacks of paper; file, shred or recycle everything. Streamline your files, shredding any documents you no longer need. Use one calendar to keep track of all events. Switch to paperless bills and statements if possible. Clean out computer files and back up everything, using cloud-based storage and an external drive.
March: Clothes and accessories
Sort through winter clothes before storing, and pare back spring and summer clothes as you begin to wear them. Have winter clothes laundered or dry-cleaned before storing until next year. Try on all clothes for the upcoming season and give away or sell any items that do not make you feel good.
April: Bath, beauty products and medicine cabinets
Toss expired makeup and skin-care items, as well as anything you do not use or like. Clean drawers and shelves before returning items. Store heat- and moisture-sensitive items (medications and some skin-care products) away from the bathroom.
May: Laundry room, linen closet, and cleaning supplies
Sheets, towels and other household linens do not last forever — go through them this month and make some space. Rid yourself of worn-out and stained towels, washcloths, sheets. Donate the unused bedding to charity. Clean under sinks and in any cupboards where cleaning supplies are stored. Get rid of empty containers and products you don’t like.
June: Family gathering spaces
The end of the school year is a good time to review collected artwork and school papers and choose a small number of special pieces to save in a portfolio or document box. Edit schoolwork and art from the past year. Gather a bag of DVDs, books and CDs to give away or sell. Sort through toys and games; get rid of those your family no longer enjoys, as well as anything missing key pieces.
July: Outdoor living and storage areas
This a good time to get outdoor tools and equipment in order. Get rid of broken tools and those you no longer need. Sort through gardening supplies. Toss worn-out outdoor furnishings and decor. Host a yard sale and remember to donate any items that don’t sell!
August: Houzz suggest getting your photos in order. But some of us think that after seven months of projects, you may want to take a much-needed break and plan a little getaway!
September: Mudroom, entries, and the dreaded junk drawers
Embrace the back-to-school spirit (whether or not you have kids) by getting the busiest zones of your house clutter-free this month. Put away stray items in entrances that belong elsewhere. Add extra hooks or shelves if you need them to help corral items. Sort through junk drawers, baskets, trays and any other spots that accumulate random junk. Invest in drawer organizers or a wall-mounted organizer to keep small items neat.
October: Dining room and entertaining spaces
The holidays are coming up so it’s time to get ready for entertaining friends and family. Get rid of worn-out and stained tablecloths, placemats and napkins. Count your dinnerware and serving pieces and consider whether you have enough, too much or too little for the amount you entertain. Get rid of decor, table linens and serving pieces that you don’t like or that no longer fit your lifestyle.
November: Hobbies and crafts
Get ready for holiday crafting and gift wrapping by clearing out your stash and organizing supplies this month. Clean out gift-wrapping supplies, tossing empty tape dispensers, out-of-ink pens and shreds of gift wrap and ribbon. Downsize your craft stash by donating spare fabric scraps, yarn, scrapbooking paper and other materials — many organizations (day care centers, schools, retirement centers) are happy to accept donations of craft supplies. Keep works in progress together in bags, bins or boxes.
December: Holiday decor
With so much going on around the holidays, it’s wise not to expect too much of yourself when it comes to clutter-clearing. That said, with all of the new gifts coming in, it does make sense to do some paring back to preserve balance in the house. Give away holiday ornaments and decor that you did not use this year, or that you no longer love. Toss broken ornaments and recycle strands of lights that no longer work. Exchange or give away gifts you received but know you will never use, and do not like — don’t keep things out of guilt.
It’s a new year – feel inspired and empowered to take control of your home! For more ideas on decluttering and home organization, visit Houzz.com.
About Infinity Homes: With over a decade of home building experience, Infinity Homes builds new homes in Southern Indiana and new homes in Louisville, Kentucky. Known throughout the area as “The Neighborhood Builder,” Infinity Homes builds award-winning homes for award-winning lifestyles. Offering a wide variety of home styles, price ranges (starting in the low $200s), and communities, Infinity Homes is pleased to have been selected as the 2018, 2019, and 2020 home builder for the Louisville St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. For further information, contact Infinity Homes & Development, 812-590-1270.
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