How to Declutter Your Country Home

How to Declutter Your Country Home Without The Guilt

This time of year is all about out with the old and in with the new and decluttering your home is the perfect place to start. Country homes are generally filled with farmhouse finds and antiques that we just have to have.  However, there comes a time when we need to let go of ‘things’ in our homes, especially if they tend to clutter up our spaces. Decluttering a house filled with treasures, or inherited antiques can be a monumental challenge. Sweet Country Style has a few tips we wanted to share to hopefully help with the decluttering process of your country home.   

Objects must ‘spark joy’

One of the reasons that people often attempt to declutter and fail is that books and websites assume we can easily ditch a lifetime of memories and possessions between walking the dog and breakfast. They don’t think about the fact that if you live in a house filled with cherished inherited and acquired objects, it’s an incredible daunting task. It’s easy to ditch a chain store chest of drawers, yet not so easy to get rid of the antique cabinet you inherited from your great grandmother but deep down hate. You know the one….you just smiled and said “sure, I’ll take that” and now have no idea where to put it.

People get paralysed by the thought of decluttering and don’t know where to start.  I love decluttering. It gives me a clean slate and makes me feel energized for a day or so until well you know, life happens and I remember we actually live there and it’s not a house built for a magazine.  Well the 'feel good feeling' of an organized home was good while it lasted. Well enough about me, if you do find that you need to declutter there are three questions you need to ask yourself: Do I need it? Will I use it? Do I love it? After asking those questions you can form three piles Keep, Toss and Donate. This will help you to keep your sanity a bit during the organized chaos.  

’Own your own space

According to experts, throwing away things that are tied in with your memories of people is absolutely fine. It’s really important to own your own space and not have other people’s stuff invading it. Things have memories vested in them, but if they’re not actually giving you pleasure, then let them go.  I always say decorate your home with your own personal taste in mind and you will always be happy in your space. If you are struggling with how to go about getting rid of family pieces that inspire more guilt than love, the first step should be to offer it to other members of the family. You look generous and it helps you let go of the guilt. If no one else wants it then that’s saying a lot, isn’t it?’

Top tips for tidying

• Start small, with a drawer, a cupboard or a heap of photographs. Each small success is incredibly motivating.
• Eliminate all thoughts of perfectionism. It’s crippling and holds you back. Do what you can. Keep going.
• Declutter first, shop second. Tempting as it is to dash out and buy boxes, baskets and containers or organizers
• Don’t wait until you can get everyone in your house on board. If necessary, allow the permanently messy (um, that would be me) a limited area in which to express themselves. Creative people don’t have a mess, they have creative ideas lying around everywhere.  That’s what I like to tell myself anyway.
• Also, keep in mind you can get rid of wedding presents and still remain married in the eyes of the law. So go ahead and get rid of things you haven’t used in a while or maybe have never used. It will be ok, I promise.

I get it, decluttering is a huge undertaking but you can do it and you will feel much better once everything has a place, even if that means no longer having a 'place' in your home. You can either love it, leave it or let it go - it’s up to you!!