Clutter is anything you’re not using that gets in the way of enjoying your home to the fullest. It’s not necessarily trash, but items that take up space when they shouldn’t.
Research shows that clutter in your home can affect your mental health. When your brain has to process many things that don’t go together, it ups your stress levels and can cause or increase anxiety and depression symptoms.
Your home is your haven, but it can quickly become cluttered. Even if everything is in place, visual clutter adds undue stress and prevents you from enjoying your home. This includes overwhelming decor options, ill-fitting furnishings or distracting colors.
You might not think about these items that cause visual clutter in homes, but they can easily overwhelm your space.
1. Artwork
Wall-to-wall art can be overwhelming, and the individual pieces you choose can also lead to a cluttered appearance.
Small pieces are hard to process and quickly create distracting visual clutter. The same goes for oversized artwork placed on a small wall or that doesn’t coordinate with the colors and patterns around it.
This also extends to curtains or drapes. Dark colors can be distracting and heavy curtains or blinds can seem bulky. Lighter, airier window treatments work well to open up a room, adding natural light and giving the illusion of more space.
Choose larger, color-coordinated vases, statues and other decor instead of smaller things. Simple but attractive pieces can add to your aesthetic without stressing you or your guests.
Always measure your space before choosing your artwork to ensure it properly fits the area you want it in.
2. Papers
Fewer people keep file folders or cabinets since many things are typed and sent electronically. However, you might still collect different papers that quickly scatter around your home.
Even one sheet of paper can cause visual clutter in a room. Stands, tables and couch arms with a bill, newspaper or flier are distractions from an otherwise clean or organized space. It’s easy to put stray papers in a drawer to sort later, but that can cause other problems.
While you can hide them from your guests, an overstuffed drawer can stress you out, especially when you have to dig through it to access something.
Having dedicated folders for different items and immediately putting papers in the recycling bin as soon as you finish with them can help eliminate that clutter.
3. Pillows
You may love adding comfortable new pillows to your home. Unfortunately, there is such a thing as too many. Couches and beds with too many pillows create visual clutter in rooms, making your furniture bulkier. Different sayings, colors or patterns overwhelm your eyes.
If you can’t bear to part with them, consider only keeping a handful of pillows at a time and storing the rest in a hidden tote or chest. You can change them seasonally or switch things up whenever you want.
The same goes for throws and blankets. They’re nice and cozy, but you don’t need many extras at once.
4. Cords
Cords and wires are commonplace around modern homes due to routers, chargers and other electronic devices. These items are necessary, but having them hazardously laid around or strewn across the floor creates clutter.
You can resolve this by storing your unused cords in a drawer or container, allowing you to access them easily when needed. Consistently used cables could be mounted behind your devices or along the natural crevices of your walls.
5. Furniture
It may seem silly to consider furniture as clutter, but the wrong items can seem bulky or out of place. An overstuffed sofa in a small living room can overtake the space and decrease functionality and flow.
Look at your furniture to see if anything stands out. Would you have more space if you replaced a bulky couch? Does a chair’s pattern really work with the rest of the room? Answering these questions will help you make the best decisions for your home. Better options might be to select low-profile furniture or mirrors that add the illusion of more space.
Measure any new items before purchasing them so you know they can fit in your space without overwhelming it. Choosing neutral colors can help with this, as they can work with various shades and patterns, even as your style changes.
Removing Visual Clutter
Visual clutter is an often overlooked part of an organized, relaxing home. Too much can affect your comfort and stress levels, making you feel uncomfortable in the very place that should bring you joy. Focusing on what doesn’t belong creates more space where you and your family can rest, rejuvenate and spend time together.
Cora’s passion is to inspire others to live a happy, healthful, and mindful life through her words on Revivalist – wholeheartedly convincing them that everyday moments are worth celebrating. Cora has spent 5+ years writing for numerous lifestyle sites – hence her sincere love for both life and the beauty of style in all things. Keep up with Cora on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.
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