The Core 4 Declutter Method Will Revolutionize Your Organization

Your cluttered and messy home could have a major impact on your day-to-day beyond just making it more difficult to track down items. Not only does your clutter detract from the positivity you should feel in your home, but it has also been shown to increase cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone, and consistently high levels could lead to negative side effects like weakened muscles, increased blood pressure, weight gain, and a suppressed immune system. These alone should be enough to motivate most of us to organize our homes, and fortunately, there are plenty of ways to do so, including the Core 4 Declutter Method, originally developed by Kayleen Kelly. This method has four steps: clear out, categorize, cut out, and contain. Rather than splitting decluttering and organizing into separate focuses, it's about combining them to create the most livable space.

The first step in the Core 4 Declutter Method is to empty out the space you're working on. Tackle your home one room at a time, no matter how many rooms are cluttered, as taking on everything at once can be overwhelming. If you want to resolve your cluttered closet chaos or make a dresser feel less crammed, pull everything out so you can start fresh. If you're working on an entire room, you may not have another place to move bulky items like furniture, but you'll want to make the most of the space and move everything into your designated sorting area. Once you have a cleared canvas, you can proceed with the following steps.

Clearing out the space was just the first step; now you'll need to start working on categorizing the items you pulled from the room. You're going to do this even before you determine what you're going to get rid of, whether it's trash, recyclables, or something you can donate. The categories you come up with are up to you, and what space you're decluttering will help you determine them. For a living room space, you may have throw pillows and blankets, shelf decor, books, and tech products, for example. If there are items that belong in other rooms, categorize them by room. Once that's done, you'll cut out the stuff that no longer belongs — this is where you will toss your trash, pack up your donatables, and move those items that belong in other spaces around the house to their designated rooms.

Finally, it's time to put items back where they belong without making the room cluttered again. You want intentional organization. If there are items you're keeping that don't have a specific space in the room you're moving them back into, it's time to find them a home. Put extra throw blankets for the living room in storage ottomans so they are out of sight when not in use, and use the ottomans as footstools or seats. Organize your craft room supplies in clear plastic containers or labeled storage containers. Keep health and beauty products in containers that allow them to be both categorized and easily accessible. Once you're done, work on developing habits that will keep your space tidy and organized to ensure your hard work doesn't go to waste.