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Clutter can really make any space feel and look disorganized, stressful, and confusing. It may also make it hard for you to keep your house clean. This is why it is important to know how to reduce clutter properly, so your house will be more manageable, organized better, and feel cleaner.
Whether you want to simplify your life or it’s part of your downsizing effort, reducing clutter in your house isn’t a small job. In fact, you might get overwhelmed, defeated, and anxious around the thought of getting rid of some of your personal belongings. Well, it is normal, especially if you are used to being surrounded by lots of things. However, once you have decluttered your house right, you will thank yourself for doing it.
Below are some of the ways on how to reduce clutter and organize your home:
Know the Point of Origin of the Clutter in Your House
Do you have an idea of what causes clutter in your home? If your answer is no, these usually include piles of clean or dirty laundry, old photographs, faulty appliances, and other miscellaneous household items. Determining the source of clutter can help you formulate a solution. For instance, if piles of paperwork are your problem, the best solution is to have a filing system.
Get Rid of Old Music and Movies
If you rely on streaming services to watch videos and listen to music, you might want to sell your used DVDs for cash. With today’s advancement of technology, you don’t have to use DVDs to watch your favorite movie or listen to your all-time favorite tracks. Unless the used DVDs are sentimental, you can donate or sell them to reduce clutter in your house.
Consider Using 4-Box Method
As its name implies, this method requires you to have a total of 4 boxes with labels including give away, trash, re-locate or keep. You can place these boxes in every room you want to organize.
When using this method, make sure not to skip any items regardless of how insignificant they are. This may take months, weeks or days, but it will help you see the number of items you own and you will know what to do with every item. In addition to that, using a 4-box method is also beneficial if you want to keep your home neat and organized with kids.
In with the New and Out with the Old
Every time you bring some new items, consider getting rid of the similar older ones. For instance, if you purchase a new mop or broom, throw away the old one. This can help you reduce the clutter in your home and get rid of the items you don’t use anymore.
Have a Mudroom
If you and your family members take various items out of the house, such items don’t have to come past your front door. Coats, shoes, sports gear, shopping bags, purses, and more should be in a particular place like a mudroom. Although you can have coat closets, these do not hold much. Mudrooms can help you stop the mess easily.
Try to Limit Your Personal Artifacts
Most people have their own memorabilia that reminds of the good times gone by. However, as years passed by, your collection may grow bigger and it may become a burden. This is particularly true if you want to keep everything organized. The best solution for this is to have a designated place for your personal treasures and try limiting them to one tote or box.
Create Your Own Declutter Schedule and Stick to It
Several spaces in your home like the kitchen counters require regular decluttering while others may be done monthly or weekly. Once that time comes, you should be systematic. Take all your items in defined areas like cabinet and desk drawer. Then, consider spreading them out so you can see what you are facing. For instance, if you are decluttering a drawer where you keep all your kitchen utensils, spread them on your counter and sort them to two piles. Separate the utensils you’re using regularly from the ones that you do not use.
Just remember to be patient because it takes time for you to be effective in decluttering. Oftentimes, some people tend to underestimate the time it takes to declutter. If you think the clutter in your home is a 1-hour job, expect to finish it after 3 hours. But, it doesn’t mean that it is such a waste of time because the rewards of decluttering your house are amazing and can also have a positive impact on your life.
Stop Yourself from Buying Useless Stuff
If you keep purchasing useless stuff, your house will never run out of clutter. So, give yourself and your house a favor and stop buying useless items. If possible, think twice before you buy anything. Ask yourself if such items will benefit you or not. If the item does not serve any particular purpose, why waste your money purchasing that? This will not only help you avoid bringing clutter in your house but also it can help you avoid impulse buying.
Have a Hidden Storage
Having areas with hidden storage can benefit you most when decluttering and organizing your house. Furniture with built-in storage space or attics and basements can be useful areas when hiding items you do not want to see in your living room or any living space in your house.
However, it is important to take note that such spaces may become a haven for junks. There is no point decluttering your house only to move your things to a new space, so you should be mindful of what you keep in such places. See to it that the only items you store are the ones you use irregularly and not the items you don’t use. Suitcases, spare bedding, and some sports equipment are all the best candidates for any hidden storage.
Consider Putting Shelves
Having wall units and shelving can offer you a stylish solution, especially if your house doesn’t have space. Not only shelves let you display your treasured items, but also they can be of great help when it comes to storing and organizing your items.
No matter what your budget is for your preferred shelves, choose the ones that add interest to your beautiful walls. You can hire professionals to help you achieve the best shelving for your house, but if you’re a DIY lover, you can consider it as your next DIY project. Just use quality items and match your shelves with your home décor.
Use Multi-Functional Pieces
With today’s advances in design, there are lots of homeware pieces available in the market that are multi-functional. These items can make organization and storage in smaller areas a breeze. If you don’t know the best multi-functional pieces to use, you can try a chair that also serves as a storage area. It is a practical option for those who want to save space.
If you have many personal items for your skin or beauty routine, you may purchase a mirror with an organizer inside. It’s a perfect item for those who want their beauty items accessible.
Keep Similar Things Together
If you want to be successful in organizing your home, categorizing things may come in handy. As a matter of fact, keeping similar things together forces you to organize your house. It can make your life much easier and store items closer to where you’ll use them. With this, you won’t only know where your items are whenever you need them, but also you are also reducing clutter at the same time.
Keep All of Your Things Accessible
If you frequently use particular items, you should place them in areas that are accessible. For the items that you don’t use often, you can store them in higher spots. If you have some deep cupboards, you may put in a slider to make the items more accessible.
You can also consider tiered shelving so all items in the back will be visible. Take note to try and store things as close as possible to places that you’ll be using them. If you have kids, make sure that their items are stored in spots that are easy to reach.
Use Labels
When it comes to reducing clutter and making your home organized, labels are useful, especially if there are multiple persons using the same placer. Take note that even if you know where it goes, it does not mean that the rest of your family members will. In addition to that, labels can be helpful when accessing storage in areas that are difficult to reach. It can also help you keep surfaces clutter-free.
If something is labeled, you will know where to go rather than pulling out any random boxes to find what you’re looking for. You can use vinyl lettering, chalkboard labels, and more for labeling. This will not only help you with organizing but also can improve your home’s aesthetic appeal.
Conclusion
Although you don’t have to be embarrassed with your clutter, it is still essential to take note that organizing your home is much better than being surrounded by messy things. With an organized home, it’s much more relaxing to look at and you don’t have to be stressed out every time you enter your house. Just remember that when reducing clutter, consistency is the key. Doing it regularly will ensure that your house will stay organized.