When your parents have lived in the same home for many years, a lot of things can build up. Furniture, books, kitchen items, photos, and boxes of memories may take up more space than you realise.
If your parents are considering moving to a smaller home – or simply want more space and fewer things around them – it may therefore be a good idea to help them declutter.
But where do you start? Here are 5 tips to make decluttering more manageable.
- Declutter at their pace
- Make a plan – and tackle one area at a time
- Start with the easy items
- Store the things you are not ready to part with
- Create more space – without saying goodbye to all the memories
5 tips to help your parents declutter
When your parents have lived in the same home for many years, a lot of things can build up. Furniture, books, kitchen items, photos, and boxes of memories may take up more space than you realise.
If your parents are considering moving to a smaller home – or simply want more space and fewer things around them – it may therefore be a good idea to help them declutter.
But where do you start? Here are 5 tips to make decluttering more manageable.
1. Declutter at their pace
It can be tempting to simply get started, but remember that many items may have great sentimental value. What looks like an old chair or a box of papers to you may be tied to many years of memories.
Therefore, talk together about what the goal of the decluttering is. Is it simply to create more space, or is the decluttering part of the preparations for moving to a smaller home?
When you agree on the goal, it is often easier to get started.
2. Make a plan – and tackle one area at a time
Instead of trying to clear out the entire house in one weekend, you can break the task down into smaller parts.
For example, start with the kitchen, a cupboard, or a single room. Sort the items into categories:
- Keep
- Pass on or sell
- Throw away or recycle
- Store for later
That way, the task becomes more manageable, and you do not have to decide on everything at once.
3. Start with the easy items
Start with items that do not have much emotional significance. This could be extra kitchen equipment, towels, old magazines, or things that have not been used for years.
Save photos, letters, heirlooms, and other personal keepsakes for later.
Once you have sorted out some of the easy items, it is often easier to continue with the rest.
4. Store the things you are not ready to part with
It does not always have to be a choice between keeping and throwing away.
If your parents want more space at home but are not ready to part with certain furniture, heirlooms, or keepsakes, a storage unit can be a good middle ground.
Here, the items can be kept safe while the home becomes more manageable. It can also be practical if your parents are moving to a smaller home and you do not yet know which items to take with you.
Pack the items in sturdy moving boxes, protect fragile items, and clearly label the boxes with what they contain. That way, it is easy to find the items again.
5. Create more space – without saying goodbye to all the memories
Decluttering is not necessarily about owning as little as possible. It is about creating a home that suits the everyday life you have now.
Some items can be passed on to children or grandchildren, others can be sold or donated, and the items you still want to keep can be stored.
That way, your parents can have more space and a more manageable home, without having to say goodbye to all the things that matter to them.
Do you need extra space while decluttering?
At Pelican, you can rent a storage unit if there are items that need to be kept but no longer need to be in the home.
It can be a practical solution during a major clear-out, when moving to a smaller home, or simply when you need a little more space in everyday life.