My home is relatively clutter-free which brings me a sense of calm, happy, stress-free living. (Too much clutter makes me “twitchy.”) The reasons for attaining this lifestyle are …
1. To minimize fall-related injuries. (Think of decluttering as a safety benefit!) Too many shoes at your doorway? Scatter-mats? Falls are the number one cause of household injuries and deaths.
2. Improve your mental health. De-cluttering gives your mind a place to rest. (Why are you keeping things you don’t use? Often it’s sentimental … but more often it’s because you ‘paid such and such for it.’)
3. Maintain physical health by de-cluttering. Ease your allergies and asthma. (When I worked as a Realtor, I saw clutter for what it truly is … dust mite havens and cockroach fodder.) A large collection of dolls, a bit eerie, caused a client to lose their dream job opportunity in Vegas. Their home was not-sale-able for the price they required to move.
4. Boost your home’s value! A clean, attractive home sells for more, and less days on the market. Why? A cluttered home just doesn’t look attractive. It appears to have a lack of storage space, and to be poorly maintained. Tidy up!
5. Everything in its place helps you find things easier! Less stress … better life.
How did we get all this dang clutter? Well, we simply own too much stuff! One coffee pot is great … so why have more hanging about? Donate it. Let someone else have it. You bought the latest cooking gadget … if you use it, great. Donate the one you just replaced. Easy peasy folks … it’s just owning too much stuff; a 1st world problem.
So there you have the reasons for decluttering … how do we achieve the task?
Look at your home through the eyes of your guests.
Go outside, look at your home from the street. Are there areas of clutter? How’s the entrance? Walk in your front door, stand there for 2 minutes … note areas of clutter. Really see your entry through a guest’s eyes.
Solution … Create a space for keys, hats, dog leashes, whatever your needs are. (Get rid of what’s not working for you!) An example …
A hall tree … many variations are available to suit any decor. Some Ikea hacks for back door mudrooms are impressive.
Utilizing 3M hooks … on the back of doors and cabinet doors helps to corral things you need, just out of sight.
To conceal clutter, invest in enclosed storage pieces for your living room, dining room and family room. The storage pieces will allow you to organize (and hide your clutter) so surfaces stay clean and minimal. It’s lovely to have nice display pieces staged when the clutter is gone. (Decorative baskets are a great way to store dog toys, or a sofa blanket!)
Making sure that everything has a place is very important, but creating a space that feels open, fresh and comfortable is very important too! When decluttering your home, have a look at your furniture arrangement. Most of us have just too much furniture in a room. Make space for 3 feet of walking space between dressers and beds, coffee tables and sofas,
to promote a relaxed and easily accessible layout.
Solution … Do you really need that extra chair? Perhaps your kitchen set came with six chairs but you only need four. Donate the other two. Free up space for how you really live your life.
If your home is overflowing with pillows and decorative accessories, and you really love them all, box up a few and place them in a closet. When you need a refresh for a change of season, choose items from that box to mix things up a bit.
We try to establish a “one in, one out“ rule. If we want to buy something, we have to give something up. Try to be more thoughtful and deliberate about the items that come into your home. This makes it easier to keep your home organized and will also save you money and time. ✅
Throughout each room as you declutter your home, look at the furniture flow as well. Perhaps a chair fits better elsewhere? Move things around, take your time.
Donating items and furniture feels great! You’re creating calm in your life and helping someone else!
