As I started embracing decluttering and minimalism more, I happened to realize where I had been failing in my endeavour to achieving a clutter-free home prior to that. The fact that I have always looked at my home as a storage space and not as a living space led me to leave it cluttered all the time. I kept buying new stuff during my schooling years because I thought I had a home to keep it in.
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The realization that my home was a place to relax in and not a storage bin was truly a game-changer for me. While earlier, my focus was on filling the cupboards with new clothes and books, it soon shifted to making my home more inhabitable. I wanted to own back the control of my living space and uncomplicate the process of cleaning and maintaining it. It took me quite a while to accept the fact that I needed to cut the clutter rather than bringing in new storage solutions to put all the clutter in.
You’ll be amazed at how clean your home can look merely by getting rid of the excess clutter. But cutting down on clutter doesn’t mean that you should stop buying stuff or get rid of everything you own. Your kids can still buy new toys every now and then, and you can still bring in clothes and accessories that truly make you happy. The idea is to start treating your home as the place where you can spend your best time with the people you love, and not as a cabinet where you can hoard everything that looks appealing to your eyes.
If you are looking to cut the clutter in your home easily, quickly and painlessly, I’ve compiled a list of tips that can help you do it without feeling overwhelmed:
1. Drop Duplicates
The easiest way to cut the clutter is dumping the duplicates. Look around your house and find anything that has a copy of it. Do you have more than two ladles, spatulas, lemon squeezers, measuring cups and spoons? Is there a duplicate kitchen appliance that hasn’t seen the light of the day for ages?
Apart from getting rid of the duplicates that are already existing in your home, you also need to be mindful about buying new duplicates. If you are planning to buy a new refrigerator or a mixer juicer, plan in advance what you are going to do with the one you already have. Are you looking to donate it or drop it at a charity organization? Or do you plan to give it away to a close friend or family? You can also make some money by selling off some of the duplicates at a garage sale or a thrift store.
2. Shop Less Often
Decluttering doesn’t stop once you’ve gotten rid of the already existing items. You also need to be mindful about your future purchases, else all your efforts will go in vain. You cannot replace clutter with clutter, and you certainly didn’t dump those unloved items of clothing only to fill your closet again with newly shopped items.
Control your urge to buy something every time you are passing by a store. Don’t let people on social media influence you into buying anything you don’t need. And most of all, try not to place your identity in material things if you want to stay in control of your emotions.
3. Own Less Stuff
Owning less stuff shouldn’t mean that you turn yourself into a minimalist overnight. You just have to purge your home of every item that doesn’t have a purpose or hasn’t been used in over a year.
Do you really see yourself wearing your prom dress in future? Or your school uniform?
Are there any items in your home with their packaging still unopened? Do you have clothes with their tags still intact?
Do you plan to use any of the bakeware, appliances and accessories that you haven’t used in the last one year?
If you can answer the above questions honestly, it would become easier for you to let go of what’s not needed.
4. Stop Buying Storage
More the clutter, greater is the need for storage. I know that it can be tempting to run to the store and pile up on those pretty bins and baskets to organize your ever-rising pile of stuff. But if you are planning to cut down on clutter, you must recognize the need to put a full-stop on buying new storage. Though this step doesn’t directly help you cut the clutter, it can certainly help you ensure that the pile of clutter doesn’t rise further.
When you know that there isn’t enough storage space for the dress or heels you have been eyeing for the last few days, you will be able to control the urge to buy it. And if it’s an urgent buy, the limited storage space will force you to get rid of an already existing item to accommodate the new one.
5. Find A Place For Every Item
If you want your home to be clutter-free, every single stuff in your home needs to have a designated space of its own. While it’s okay to have a few catch-all spots or junk drawers for misplaced items, you shouldn’t have more than a couple of them. If you look at an item and don’t find it worthy enough to have a home of its own, throw it away.
Ideally, items should be stored in the room where they get used as it would be easier for you to return them to their rightful homes immediately. For instance, the keys should be hung on the key holder and the reading glasses should sit someplace where you read (like in the nightstand drawer or the home office drawer).
So, there it is! Now this may not be all that you need to do to cut clutter in your home, but it will surely help you get started. By implementing these simple tips to cut the clutter in your home, you’ll be halfway towards achieving a home that is tidy-looking and clean.