There’s an elephant in the room.
It’s name is Clutter.
And everyone is dealing with this elephant.
No one really likes Clutter, but they have a hard time figuring out what to do with it!
Now, the goal with “getting organized” is not to have a pristine space inside and out.
Rather, I’m talking about getting rid of the uneasiness that clutter gives us -whether we realize it consciously or not.
Clutter takes up so much more than physical space. It takes up mental space too.
So should we all just throw up our hands and embrace clutter like the entertainment world has embraced the Kardashians?
No, we are better than that! Re-runs of Doogie Howser M.D. are more entertaining than that overrated clan.
Oof.
That wasn’t as funny as it sounded in my head. Back to what I am good at. Telling people what to do.
I mean, helping people get rid of clutter.
So without delay, here are 3 ways to keep your home clutter free!
Go Home
Find a home for every item. This is a much repeated strategy. Because it will really eviscerate clutter.
All of the little odds and ends hanging out in your home should have a permanent place to go.
And don’t think that giving it a home on a counter, corner or floor counts – it doesn’t!
Of course, the permanent home doesn’t have to be in your home.
Give it away to family, friends, or a donation center.
The point is: Just do something with it.
If you don’t have a home for an item, consider why that is. Is it even something you need or want?
Often, I find that sometimes gifts can be clutter.
My clients don’t know what to do with these sorts of things at all.
They tend to keep them out of obligation, or not knowing what to do with it. So it sits, in their way.
But once we walk through whether or not they really want to keep the items (Do they need the item? Do they want the item? Do they want to dust the item?), they usually end up putting it into the donation pile.
Don’t Counter
Keep surfaces clear.
My favorite organizer is Peter Walsh.
In his books, he talks about keeping all surfaces free and clear of clutter.
And I usually liken counters and surfaces to party rooms waiting to happen.
Once a little bit of clutter comes to the counter, a whole lot of other clutter comes for a party.
So put a kibosh on the clutter by keeping counters and surfaces clear, and thus, clutter free.
Put up a fence
Stop the clutter from coming into your home in the first place.
Before you buy anything or bring anything into your home, think about whether it’s something you need and have space for.
If not, you’d be better off not buying the item and keeping something you don’t have room for out of your home.
Watch this YouTube video for details of this strategy!
The Perfect Clutter Solution
If your home is cluttered and you’re unsure of where to start, give this daily decluttering and organizing calendar a shot.
Each day has a single action to take.
Because it’s just one action, it’s totally doable- even on your busiest days!
Over to you!
There you have it! What’s your favorite strategy for keeping your home clutter free?
Is it one of mine or do you have another?
Let’s chat in the comments, below.