Clutter Reducing Ideas | Household Hacks, Organization
Living with clutter can be stressful. If you are constantly surrounded by piles of mail, overflowing shelves, and crowded countertops, you may find yourself having a hard time relaxing and enjoying your home. One of the easiest ways to find peace in your space again is to clear some of the clutter and create clean spaces again. It can be hard to know where to begin, especially if the clutter has been building up for a while. It can be helpful to take this project one step at a time.
It’s important to start small. If you try to do too much all at once, you may get discouraged. Instead, focus on one area of your home and keep at it until that area is clear. For example, you may want to start with one closet or cupboard. Remove everything from the area and separate the items into three piles: keep, throw away, donate/sell. Having containers or garbage bags nearby is very helpful for this step. Once you have everything separated into those three categories, focus on the things you want to keep. Now is the time to organize those items. Use storage containers, hooks, hangers, and bins to keep things neat and tidy. If you have lots of cords for electronic devices, use cord clips to keep them out of the way and out of sight. The more organized your items are, the more you can fit in a small space and the neater it will appear. After you put away the items you want to keep, discard the trash and set aside your items to donate.
If you find yourself overwhelmed by a very messy house, do not despair. There are many organizations and companies that are available to help with large projects. If you can not hire one of these companies, enlist the help of family members or friends to help you. Then, just like with any other project, start small and have patience. Aim to clear one room per week or even one per month. Clutter that has been building up for years may take a long time to clear. Keep your end goal of a clean, peaceful, comfortable home in your mind and keep going.
For a quick declutter, give yourself a full day. Aim to simply get rid of things that are broken or expired first because throwing them away is quicker and easier than organizing. Once you have damaged or useless items out of the way, it is easier to see what is leftover and where you can put it. Start with the most visible projects first. These may be countertops or kitchen tables full of clutter and mail, or entryways packed with shoes and piles of mail. Get your electronic device cords organized and out of sight. Clear up what you can easily see before moving on to hidden clutter that may be building up out of sight. Closets, cupboards, and kitchen cabinets are a great place to focus on next. Leave larger spaces like basements and attics for another day when you can focus on the large amounts of items that may have accumulated. A quick decluttering can make your home feel instantly fresher and even larger.
It can be hard to see all the clutter that has been building up and the task of getting rid of it can seem too big and overwhelming. However, by giving yourself small, reasonable goals, you set yourself up for decluttering success. Aim small-clear one countertop or one closet, or just organize your electronic device cords. When you see the difference even a little bit of decluttering can make, you may get a burst of energy to tackle another small area of your house. Focus on how good it will feel to open that closet and not have an avalanche of shoes or boxes. Think of inviting someone over and knowing your home is ready for guests. Keep these thoughts in your mind when you start to feel overwhelmed by your clutter and take breaks when you need to. Remind yourself that you deserve to live in a clean, organized home.
Creating spaces for your items and clearing clutter is possible. Consider using different storage containers and systems, including cord clips.
Originally published at https://www.bluekeyworld.com on January 12, 2021.
