{"id":120122,"date":"2022-03-16T23:18:47","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T06:18:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=120122"},"modified":"2026-04-15T02:06:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T09:06:30","slug":"decluttering-with-heart-organize-without-giving-up-too-much","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/daily-living\/decluttering-with-heart-organize-without-giving-up-too-much\/","title":{"rendered":"Decluttering With Heart: How to Reorganize Your Home Without Giving Up the Things You Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the era of minimalism, small spaces and Marie Kondo, it\u2019s easy to say \u201cout with the old\u201d. However, following through with that mantra can prove to be quite challenging \u2014 especially if your belongings have sentimental value.<\/p>\n

Personally, I\u2019m extremely attached to my bookshelves, which are not only filled with books, but also with bookmarks, a variety of signs and a bunch of funko pops. Yes, it\u2019s a clutter and yes, it\u2019s slightly inconvenient whenever I have to dust the shelves. But, that little corner of my apartment brings me so much joy that I would never voluntarily give anything up \u2014 hence, my dilemma.<\/p>\n

So, how do you declutter and organize your place without parting ways with the things that matter to you? While something\u2019s definitely got to give in order to achieve an airy, clean space, there are a few tricks that you can use to save your beloved items.<\/p>\n

Without further ado, here are some easy tips to declutter and create enough space without giving up too much.<\/p>\n

Do it in phases<\/h1>\n

Decluttering and organizing your living space \u2014 especially when you don\u2019t do it very often \u2014 can seem quite overwhelming. And, even if you set a goal of giving up a certain number of items or clearing out half a closet, it\u2019s important to organize your efforts and do it in phases.<\/p>\n

To begin, start with a small step and do an initial triage of the things that you\u2019re certain you want to give up. If you\u2019re on the fence about an item, a piece of clothing or a book, give it a pass and save it for the second step.<\/p>\n

Next, after you\u2019ve cleared out the first batch, take on the second one with the items that you\u2019re not quite sure if you want to keep or toss. Ask yourself some basic questions, like:<\/p>\n