Renovations can be so exciting! Deciding which room you are actually going to upgrade and then making the plans, and finally sealing the deal either with a contractor or just picking a start date for your own project.
Then, reality sinks in. You look around the space that is about to change and the real hard part starts. Now, you have to remove every single item from that space before the dust starts flying around!
Often people do this step in a rush! They just want to clear it all out before the start date. Once the job is done they pull out their beloved belongings and they end up cluttering the new space!
Give your future self a break by sorting through it before the hammer drops! Use this opportunity to really narrow in on the things that you love. Work hard to get rid of anything that you don’t like anymore and won’t use anymore.
Only the things you truly love get to move back in!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed getting ready for a renovation, use my pile system to help you get a handle on your pre-renovation purge!
‘Keep and pack it’ pile
These are the essentials that you want to keep. It’s best to pack them up securely and stash them somewhere out of the construction zone so they don’t get dusty or damaged by accident. Don’t forget to put a label on any boxes so that you know what to find and where once you get to setting up your new space!
‘Give it another life’ pile
This is your donate pile! Any gently used decor items, furniture, even light fixtures can all be donated to various organizations like Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Some smaller items can even be donated to shelters or thrift stores. If you have things like textiles or clothing, you can drop these items off at thrift stores, clothing banks, charities, even a local church. Some organizations even run textile drives that you can seek out and pass on many items at once.
‘Pass it on FAST’ pile
If some of your stuff is a little more loved, you could consider offering it up for free! If you live on a busy street you can put it at the bottom of your driveway with a free sign on it. Otherwise you can use online marketplaces or buy nothing groups and post your items. Things will disappear faster than you can keep up!
‘The ‘responsible’ toss’ pile
Not every piece of garbage is made equal. Look up your local waste disposal centre and see if you have anything that can be dropped off for free. Often recyclables, electronics, metals, old paint cans, batteries, even appliances can all be disposed of for free, depending on where you are. Take some time to look through your garbage before you put it in the garbage bag so that you can get rid of even more at a time!
This may feel like a lot of work in the short term as the reno date gets closer and closer. The excitement of getting started may tempt you to cut your corners, but I promise you, you will thank yourself afterwards! The goal is to have a newly renovated, tidy space that you love!
Have you ever lived through a renovation? What is one thing you wish you had cleared out before the tools came out?
Don’t let your old habits clutter up your new space!
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