Unlock the secrets to a clutter-free home with these 7 expert tips for organized living. Say goodbye to chaos and hello to peace of mind!
Clutter doesn’t only make your house look like a tornado struck it. It also affects your psyche, jangling your brain cells every time you look around, like a nagging boss who follows you home from the office. You need expert ways to reduce clutter and minimize messes — and stress.
Cleaning it up can seem overwhelming, but the right approach helps. Try these seven expert ways to reduce your clutter at home and say “aah” instead of “ugh” each time you walk in your front door.
1. Digitize It
There’s an app for everything these days — including organizing photographs, tax time receipts and even those in-depth articles you mean to read someday. There’s no need for stacks of boxes. You might not even need a file cabinet any longer unless you’re an accountant.
Simply uploading everything to your drive leaves you with yet another thing to organize. Instead, take a systematic approach. For example, you might create a folder structure that organizes your digital files by:
- Name
- Date
- Project
Many folks succeed with a combination approach. For example, they’ll create one file for photographs and another for financial documents, then arrange the files within them in order of date or importance. What matters most is planning how you want to organize your files before scanning and uploading.
Although it may seem like the easiest step, tackle your digital files first. Why? It will streamline your remaining organizational tasks. For example, you might create digital files for important assets. When it’s time to declutter your home office, you can quickly snap photos for insurance purposes and upload them directly to a safe e-home.
2. Capsule It
Now it’s time to dig into the tough stuff, and few things rival closet cleaning for causing decluttering headaches. You invariably encounter several just-in-case moments, stumbling across items you never wear — but might need someday. Ask yourself if you have something else you could wear if such an occasion arises. It’s okay to keep one evening gown instead of three.
For items you wear daily, take a capsule wardrobe approach, choosing to keep those pieces that mix and match with several others, creating variety through creative combinations. Get mindful as you declutter, writing down questions to facilitate decluttering and keep the mess down by avoiding future impulse purchases you later regret. For example:
- How do I really feel when I wear this? Am I comfortable mentally and physically?
- Would someone else find more joy in wearing this than me?
- Am I holding on to this item for a negative reason, such as shame or guilt, like those unrealistic size-2 skinny jeans?
- What does this item say about my personal style?
3. Embrace Minimalist Principles
Minimalist principles entail living with intention and finding ways to live with purpose while prioritizing your well-being. It requires mindfulness, the opposite of conspicuous consumption or trying to fill a psychic hole with material stuff.
One way to embrace minimalist principles is to practice one-in, one-out living. Before you purchase anything — other than food or toilet paper — donate, sell or repurpose one other item. For example, before buying a new shirt, tackle that closet and take existing versions that don’t fit into your capsule to the thrift shop.
Another minimalist principle entails opting for quality over quantity whenever possible. Sometimes, economic factors admittedly intervene — you need a computer to start your new contract job tomorrow, not after you get your first bonus. However, if it’s time for your old washer and dryer to go to the scrapyard for parts as they lack energy efficiency, balance your need for Energy Star against a few more loads that let you save for the most sustainable model.
4. Opt for Multifunctionality
Take a tip from the tiny home folks and seek furniture that serves multiple functions. For example:
- Storage ottomans
- Using the space beneath stairs for a pantry or drawers
- Entertainment centers that double as bookcases and plant stands
- A table and chairs that transform into a spare bed for houseguests
Furthermore, make the best use of your existing furniture. For example, if you have a tall bed frame, use the space beneath for storage.
5. Do Look Up
Walls aren’t only for artwork. The right shelves provide ample storage space for those sentimental objects you can’t part with, like your wedding and baby shower photographs. Utilize unused space inside closets, too. For example, many closets have considerable vertical space above the door — there’s plenty of room for a hat or purse rack.
6. Rent, Borrow, Share
Do you really need an industrial carpet cleaning machine if you shampoo your rugs once per year? Chances are you can rent one that does an even better job from your local hardware store. The same goes for many power tools unless you work as a carpenter.
Don’t overlook your local library as a resource to rent or borrow items — often for free. Many have board games, movie projectors and even video game consoles you can check out for the night. Why buy what you don’t use daily?
7. Engage in Daily Decluttering
Once you declutter your pad, the challenge becomes keeping it tidy. The best method is a daily approach. Set aside five to ten minutes to go through your house each day, picking up out-of-place items and returning them to their proper place. As a bonus, giving every item you own a “home” saves oodles of stress. Misplaced car keys no longer trigger panicked rage when you know they hang on the hook by the door — every single time.
Expert Ways to Reduce Your Home’s Clutter
A cluttered home doesn’t only look messy — it affects your mental state. Take back control with a systematic approach.
The above expert ways to reduce your home’s clutter will help you achieve the inner peace that comes from a well-organized pad. It’s challenging to create order from chaos, but the payoff is worth it.
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.
Want to stay in the know? I’d really love that! (((HUGS))) |
Like … on Facebook | Follow … on Pinterest | Follow … on Instagram | |
Leave a Reply