Along the southeastern coast of Florida sits the small coastal town of Jupiter, an affluent community that offers miles of unspoiled beaches, world-class golf courses, upscale shopping and dining, and unlimited access to outdoor activities.
With so much to enjoy in this little piece of paradise, sometimes it can be a struggle to stay indoors. While an active lifestyle can be rewarding, over time, you may start feeling overwhelmed by a house that has become cluttered and unorganized.
Here are a few tips for maximizing your space and decluttering your Jupiter home.
1. Keep it simple
We have all watched home improvement television shows where nothing is out of place, and the living environment looks pristine and inviting. Maybe you have fantasized about a kitchen pantry that would make Martha Stewart proud, stocked with labeled mason jars of your favorite dry goods. But, for most of us, that is not real life!
If you have a pantry overflowing with half-eaten bags of chips, empty cereal boxes, and expired can goods, don't despair. You can take several simple steps to declutter your home and improve your overall sense of well-being.
While your house doesn't have to look TV-ready, you can create comfortable, stress-free surroundings. Removing some of the "stuff" from your home can be both exhilarating and uplifting, helping you make the most of the living space in your Jupiter home.
First things first
Assess what rooms in your home need decluttering and make a list to give you a better idea of what you want to tackle first. Jot down a few notes about each of the following spaces, indicating the problem areas and what, if anything, bothers you most about these rooms:
- Kitchen.
- Main bedroom.
- Kids’ and guest bedrooms.
- Living room.
- Den/office/library.
- Children's playroom.
- Garage/shed/storage.
2. Tackle one room at a time
Focus on clearing out one room at a time. Start with the room that causes you the most frustration or the area you and your family spend the most time in. Trying to organize the whole house at once can be discouraging, causing you to give up before you even start.
You can set a realistic schedule and choose a cabinet, drawer, or other space to conquer. Seeing your accomplishments and utilizing the well-organized area will inspire you to keep going.
The kitchen can accumulate clutter quickly
Kitchen counters stacked with books, receipts, unopened mail, and school supplies are a great place to start. Organize drawers and cabinets to make the contents easily accessible for meal preparation. Throw out any outdated items you no longer use and make a list of things you would like to replace. Get rid of unused items; for example, if you have 24 juice glasses, five baking sheets, and two stand-up hand mixers, some of it has to go. And, of course, clean out the pantry and organize it in a way that works best for you and your family, but don't worry, Martha Stewart won't be judging you.
Spruce up your bedrooms
Tackle one bedroom at a time, again, not overdoing it and trying to do everything in one day. You may want to remove bulky furniture to maximize space and eliminate any items that are no longer valuable. Whether you want to update the linens, go through an old record collection, or sort through your kid's clothes closet, there are plenty of areas for decluttering in the master, guest, and children's bedrooms.
Create a play area
If you don't have a separate playroom, designate a specific area in your home to keep toys. Help your children understand this is where toys belong, and create a daily routine that encourages them to participate in the clean-up process.
Donate any toys your child has outgrown to a charity, and at least once a month, dispose of any broken toys, missing pieces, or misplaced items. Label bins that are easy for your kids to access, giving them a clear indication of where their toys belong when they are not using them.
3. Clean out your closets
Everyone has a favorite pair of shoes or a dress that makes them look great or reminds them of a memorable event. Hold onto the items that make you feel good about yourself, but start getting rid of anything that no longer serves a purpose. Cleaning out a closet, especially one filled to the brim, can be overwhelming. Fortunately, several organizational rules can make it easier.
- The two-year rule: Donate or discard any clothes you have not worn in the past two years. Anything you have been saving for a "special occasion," still has tags, or no longer fits needs to go.
- The 20/20 rule: Get rid of anything you can easily replace at a store less than 20 minutes from your home or for less than $20.
- The 12/12 challenge: Select 12 items from your closet that are outdated and ready to be thrown out, and then select another 12 that are in good shape but you are willing to donate to charity.
4. Follow the Marie Kondo method
Known for helping people worldwide clean up their cluttered spaces, tidying expert Marie Kondo recommends holding each item and saying, "Does this spark joy?" If the answer is yes, then, by all means, keep it. If the answer is no, let it go. She suggests this is the most accurate way to judge which items to eliminate.
Kondo says it is easier to discard items that you don't have an emotional attachment to, recommending you start with clothes and then tackle other areas in the following sequence:
- Books
- Papers
- Miscellaneous items
- Mementos
5. Organize important documents
Paperwork can get out of hand quickly. Tax returns, receipts, mail, medical records, and school papers should get sorted regularly. Use a shredder to destroy anything with financial or sensitive information, and store anything you need to save in a filing cabinet for easy retrieval. Put important documents, such as passports, life insurance policies, and birth certificates, in a fireproof lockbox. If you work from home, keep personal and business papers separate.
Developing a decluttering system can be highly satisfying, providing a sense of accomplishment and peace of mind.
Perform a digital purge
Another area that many people need to declutter is their computers and phones. Deleting old voice messages, files, and photos can prove rewarding and free up memory. Use a hard drive or the cloud to back up copies of things you want to keep and remove the 100 pictures you took of the sunset.
Benefits of decluttering your Jupiter, Florida home
Remember that you are decluttering your home for you and your family, not for how others perceive you, so don't strive for perfection. By getting rid of the clutter, you can reap the following benefits:
- Reduced stress.
- Improved focus and concentration.
- Enhanced self-esteem from a feeling of accomplishment.
- Improved mood.
- Better relationships.
- Decreased risk of asthma and allergy triggers caused by pests, mold, mildew, and dust that can occur in a house filled with clutter.
- Improved lifestyle and well-being.
- Better sleep habits because of an uncluttered bedroom
Create a comfortable, stress-free living space by decluttering your Jupiter, Fla., home
Jesse Phillips & Katie Broom are collaborative partners in life and business, and they both have a vast knowledge of the Palm Beach County real estate market. They support their clients every step of the way, taking the time to learn about their specific needs while challenging clients to think beyond their expectations.
Whether you are interested in buying, investing, or selling in Jupiter, Florida, this team of experienced professionals can help make your real estate goals a reality. Call today to learn more about the exceptional services they provide.
*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock
