Jennifer Sheahan: I live in a tiny home. This is how I declutter

'A January clearout is not a ruthless drive for minimalism but a necessity -- my tiny home has storage limitations' 

Jennifer Sheahan will review her 'maybe' pile in a few months' time.

Between presents, hosting supplies, decorations, and treating ourselves during the sales, most of our homes start the year feeling just a little too full. This is where a good January clearout comes in. Not out of a ruthless drive for minimalism, but out of necessity — my tiny home has storage limitations that require a thoughtful reshuffling of the items I no longer need. And it’s best to do it now, before these things get put away, taking up space they don’t deserve, never to be seen again.

The first step towards any clearout is to claim “oh, but I couldn’t throw that away, it’s too good” or “so and so gave it to me” or what have you. Listen to me — if you’re not using it, someone else will. Having it lying around your house is what’s wasteful. Get it out into the world and give it a second life, let it fulfil its destiny. Someone will be grateful you did. Here’s how to do it.