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While one of my least favorite things in the world is a cluttered home, I have to admit that I’m not perfect in the organization aspect of my life. While creating organization systems has become a staple in every place I’ve called home, life gets in the way and I go through waves of not being able to keep up with untidy mess.
Whether it’s organizing a collection of items on a bookshelf, table, or countertop, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. No matter how many spaces you have yet to tackle, let this be a sign that you can do it and your home and mind will feel at peace again.
Today we’re sharing 8 easy ways to eliminate clutter throughout your home. Keep reading to find out the simple tips and tricks.
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8 Easy Ways to Eliminate Clutter Throughout Your Home
1. Make a List of Spaces You Want to Declutter
Whether you’re wanting to declutter one space or ten, writing down the areas you wish to tidy up is the first step in the process. There’s something about physically writing down a list of spaces and items that makes you more motivated to check it off the list. In my opinion, there’s nothing more satisfying than completing all the items on your to-do list.
2. Declutter a Space a Day
Once you have a list of spaces, it may help to declutter one or two spaces a day. It can feel overwhelming to try and do it all in a day — especially when you’re trying to tidy up your whole home.
To elevate some of the stress and not get burnt out, make a plan to purge and organize a space at a time. Trust me, once you start the first closet, pantry or bookshelf, there’s no going back.
3. Clean Out Your Pantry
One of the spaces that often get’s neglected in the organization department is our pantry. While we have implemented storage systems with labeled bins, spice racks and back stock baskets, it’s certainly harder to maintain with how much we frequent the space. However, every time I walk into my newly decluttered pantry, it makes cooking so much more fun.
Hear me out on this one…clearing out your pantry of items and making it a neat space again will instantly boost serotonin.
Here’s a list of items to eliminate from your pantry:
- Expired Spices
- Expired canned goods
- Expired packaged food
- Seasonal food
- Catch-all junk
- Appliances you don’t use anymore
- Cookbooks that you don’t want anymore
- Useless organization items
Pantry Organization Essentials
OXO Plastic Food Storage Containers
Woven Pantry Baskets
Essential Spice Jar Riser
8-Pack Food Storage Bins
4. Organize a Closet
In my opinion, one of the most daunting spaces to organize are my closest, however, once I start, there’s no stopping me. I almost always follow this method to clean out unwanted items and optimize the space for clothing storage.
My fool proof organization method:
- Purge the Items in Your Closet — take out all the items in your closet and ask yourself if you want to keep the item.
- Organize Your “Keep” Items — Narrow the categories to the type of item, because this will help you easily assemble and organize the items when they are ready to be placed back in the closet.
- Organize Your Clothes and Accessories — This is by far the easiest step when organizing your small closet. You have all the baskets, hangers and shoe racks you need, it’s time to organize.
Closet Organization Essentials
Velvet Hangers
Woven Storage Baskets
Shoe Organizer Rack
Acrylic Shelf Dividers
5. Simplify Decoration on Bookshelves
Bookshelves can often be a source of clutter, so a simple solution to clearing out some of the items on your shelves is to simplify your decoration. Take a look at the items on your bookshelf — whether it’s books, tchotchkes or other decoration — and whether the item serves a decorative or useful purpose.
If the item could have a home in a different space, then store it where it belongs. Otherwise, decided if you would like to keep the item on the shelf or get rid of it. You’ll be surprised at how much you can eliminate from a space when you take time to go through every detail.
6. Find Storage Solutions That Fit Your Lifestyle and Aesthetic
Smart storage solutions make organizing so much more attainable for the long haul. Once you invest in these items, you’ll likely not replace them for many years.
When choosing organization items for a space think about what’s going in the space and how it’s being used. Do you need more durable materials for the items? Can you purchase more aesthetic bins — like whicker or woven baskets? How big do the containers need to be? How many containers or bins can fit into the space?
All these questions are valid and should be asked before investing in these items. You can always return or exchange the storage bins you don’t need.
7. Use Items That Are Multipurpose
Life hack: use items that can be used as an organization solution and be aesthetic to your home. These items are multipurpose and can help you achieve the look and feel you want in a space. Some examples of decorative organization could be:
- Utilize decorative trays and baskets
- Decorative kitchen containers
- Decorative bathroom containers
- Color coordination of bins and storage items
- Decorative Organization Essentials
Mackenzie Childs Canisters
Glass Bathroom Canisters
8. Tidy Up Daily and Don’t Take the Shortcut!
When I pass by a space I need to tidy, whether it’s putting up my clean clothes pile or decluttering my kitchen counter and think, “it’s okay, I’ll do it tomorrow”, I immediately stop myself and reframe the thought to “But I’ll be so much happier and at peace in my space if I take 5 minutes to do this.”
My encouragement to you is: do not take the shortcut!
When it comes decluttering your space a moment at a time, you’ll be so much happier you spent the extra few minutes to maintain and tidy the space. Your mind will be more clear and cluttered too.
