Keeping our spaces clutter-free is vital to our mental and physical well-being. Don’t believe me? Check out this good read from livestrong.com for some ways decluttering can benefit your health.
Let’s face it though, having to declutter your space can be daunting. But, there are certain things you can do to make the process more pleasant, less of a hassle, and more easily maintained. Implementing these tips to help reduce clutter in your home will keep your space clutter-free all year-round. Bring on the tips!
7 Ways to Reduce Clutter in Your Home
# 1 – Establish routines
Establishing a cleaning or organizing routine, such as sweeping your floors daily, vacuuming weekly, organizing your pantry monthly, etc., can help maintain a clutter-free space. Routines also make the decluttering process less stressful and overwhelming. Regularly cleaning and organizing your space keeps the clutter down to a minimum, which means less effort for you and a task completed easily and quickly.
# 2 – Out with the old before the new / regularly donate
Wanting to get a new coat? Donate one of your old ones first! This system helps keep from accumulating too much stuff. Donating regularly helps you stay aware of the things you have, get rid of what you’re no longer using, remain clutter-free, while also giving back to someone in need. Make a positive difference in your life and someone else’s by doing this simple act regularly – donate, donate, donate!
Related: 6 Simple Tips For Organizing Your Closet
# 3 – Mindful buying / less is more
Feeling like you need that handbag? Do you really? Getting into the habit of putting more thought into what you’re purchasing can help ensure you’re only buying what is essential – this means reducing your chances of accumulating clutter. Making a shopping list is a helpful way to stick to a plan, buy what you need, and stay on budget too.
And do you really need 20 pairs of shoes? Or handbags? Or pens? The truth is, you really don’t. Get more use out of each item you buy, and more bang for your buck, by limiting the amount of what you have, and only replacing items when you require them.
# 4 – Returning items to their place after use
There are a couple of reasons why this keeps things from cluttering:
- When things are in their place, you can access them quicker. You can easily see what items you already have, and which ones you’re out of, leaving you only to buy more of what you actually need.
- Doing this helps you maintain a clutter-free space, so you’re not stuck having to complete a large and daunting task of decluttering once or twice a year.
# 5 – Stick with smart storage
When I say smart storage, I mean multi-functional. A coffee table that also offers storage or a bench that also serves as storage – these are smart purchases. Not only because you’ll get tons of use out of them, but also because they’re fantastic at helping to keep your space clutter-free.
Storage is a great way to keep your space clear and organized. It’s simple: a piece of furniture that also provides storage = no need to buy separate storage = LESS stuff! 🙂
# 6 – Regularly organize your problem areas
I’m referring to your commonly cluttered areas, such as your closets, drawers, pantry, etc. It’s easy to keep adding to these areas without being aware of how much stuff you’ve accumulated.
Organizing these spaces regularly – like every few months, rather than once a year or two – can help you maintain a clutter-free area. This prevents these spaces from ever getting too cluttered. And you know what that means?? No big and scary decluttering tasks for you!
# 7 – Even the junk drawer needs some love
The famous junk drawer – is it okay to have one? Absolutely! With our busy lives, we sometimes just need a place to put things without having to give it much thought. Having a junk drawer also means your items are out of the way, leaving the rest of your space clutter-free.
Having said all that, don’t forget that these handy little drawers need some love too! Every now and then, have a look through it and get rid of what you don’t need. You want your junk drawer to stay functional, and when you’re unable to fit anything else in it, it loses its function!
The Takeaway
Keeping your space clutter-free will maintain both your mental and physical health. And, it doesn’t have to be a difficult process.
To easily keep your space clutter-free all year round try:
- Establishing a cleaning and organizing routine
- Getting rid of the old before getting the new and donating regularly
- Buying mindfully and remembering that less really is more
- Returning items to their place after use
- Sticking with smart storage
- Regularly organizing your problem areas
- And showing your junk drawer some love once in a while
Happy de-cluttering, my friends! Thanks so much for stopping by <3
