EXCLUSIVE Decluttering expert shares common mistakes people make with organizing... and how to avoid them

Daily Mail​

9 hours ago

Between dresser drawers that can barely shut, overflowing closets, and boxes filled with who-knows-what, people have become accustomed to living with mess in their homes.
But according to decluttering expert Lesley Spellman, the accumulation of excess stuff may come down to a few common organization mistakes that are actually pretty easy to combat once you realize that you're guilty of them.
Lesley explained during a recent chat with the Daily Mail that recognizing the 'everyday habits' that are 'quietly sabotaging' your 'efforts to get organized' will help you eliminate the chaos from your home once and for all.
'Whether it's underestimating how long the job will take, flitting between rooms without finishing anything, or letting "stuff" take center stage instead of addressing the emotions behind it, these are the behaviors that keep clutter coming back,' shared the expert.
'But don't worry - recognizing the problem is the first step. With practical, realistic advice from professional organizers who've seen it all, you can turn those common stumbles into lasting wins.
'If you've ever felt embarrassed by your own clutter chaos, you're not alone - and it's never too late to start over.'
Thankfully, she broke down the top mistakes people make while attempting to get organized, and revealed how you can stop yourself from falling into the same traps.
Failing to properly prepare
Lesley, who is the co-founder of The Declutter Hub and co-author of the new book Reset Your Home: Unpack Your Emotions and Your Clutter, Step by Step with Ingrid Jansen, explained that the first mistake you can make while trying to get rid of clutter is failing to properly prepare.
She stressed the importance of coming up with a plan before you attempt to tackle a mess, or you may start to feel overwhelmed and quit before finishing.
'All good projects need a plan. [Ask yourself], what equipment do you need? How much time do you have? How much energy do you have?' she explained.
'Do you have someone to help with logistics, someone to lift heavy things, someone to do a charity shop run?
'All these things need to be thought about. Fail to plan, plan to fail as they say and it has never been truer when it comes to a decluttering project.'
Buying storage bins before you start
Many people get excited when they decide to take on the project of decluttering and rush to the store to buy some storage bins.
But according to Lesley, being too ambitious and purchasing things prematurely is a big no-no.
She recommended waiting to see what you really need before getting anything new.
'Most of the time we have more than enough storage in our homes, we just have too much stuff,' she dished.
'You need to declutter first, work out where you want to have something and then decide on what box to buy to either containerize, make it pretty, or both.
'Use empty shoe boxes, jewelry, present boxes, iPhone boxes, and temporary solutions and then shop for the right product at the right time.'
Trying to tackle the worst room first
Another mistake people make, according to the expert, is attempting to tackle the worst room first.
'When we think about the decluttering projects that need to be done in our homes, our minds always go to the hardest things,' Lesley said.
'We think about our garage, our loft, our spare room that's become a dumping ground, or our books or craft items.'
Instead, she suggested focusing on the smaller things and easing into the rooms that will be a big ordeal and take hours.
'We don't think about the excess shampoo we have, the medication that's out of date, the magazines that have been hanging around unread for decades,' she continued.
'We need to build up our decluttering muscle by tackling easy things first. Then the tough rooms can happen further into the process.'
Starting with sentimental stuff
In addition, Lesley said it's vital not to start with stuff that may have sentimental value, since those are the hardest to get rid of.
While she noted that you'll 'undoubtedly come across' sentimental items in any room you work on, she suggested putting them aside until you're ready.
'The decluttering muscle needs to be strong by the time you are into your sentimental items,' she dished.
'As you go from room to room gather these together and tackle them together towards the end of your project.'
Moving from room to room
Lesley explained that when it comes to decluttering, there's something called 'fitting,' that almost everyone is guilty of.
That's when you find an item that doesn't belong in one area, but instead of getting rid of it, you try to find a new home for it, only to get distracted trying to make room in that new area.
'It's so important to think about what room, what area, what drawer you are tackling and stick to it,' she said.
'We see so many people get waylaid by finding something in a room that doesn't belong and immediately taking it to its new home, only to find something else that needs attention.
'This is called flitting and means that decluttering projects end up being half finished.
'Having something that's half finished means you don't see the results of all your efforts. If you don't see results you won't be motivated to continue your journey.'
Underestimating the time it will take
Many people underestimate how long decluttering will actually take, and start to get discouraged when they don't see the results they expected quick enough.
Lesley said it's important to be realistic about how much time the project will eat-up from the get-go if you want to be successful.
'Decluttering takes a while if you are going to do it effectively. Never underestimate the time it takes to carry out a task as it can become soul destroying to realize you are only 10 percent into a job that you had hoped to get finished in an afternoon,' she explained.
'Break down the task into manageable chunks and then you'll always get to the finish and enjoy stage.'
Allowing stuff to be the focus
Lesley said it's vital to focus on the emotional ties to your stuff rather than the item itself when it comes to decluttering.
'For long term success, you need to focus on emotions and habits and not stuff. Once you have understood the emotions holding you back the stuff will follow,' she said.
If you're guilty of making any of these mistakes, Lesley said it's important not to get demotivated or be too hard on yourself.
'Decluttering can be a tough job for many of us but don't become demotivated by making the same mistakes over and over,' she concluded.
'If you recognize some of these behaviors, make a concerted effort to avoid them, and you won't go far wrong. Good luck!'