Quick and Easy Steps to a Clutter-free Home
Decluttering a whole house can be daunting. The trick is not to think big, but to start small – with a single cupboard…
Julie Butterworth
30 July 2018
Houzz Contributor and homes, architecture and property journalist. I work on a range of homes websites and edit commercial and editorial digital content at the Royal Institute of British Architects Journal. I have managed subbing departments at magazines Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home and web content teams for Time Inc UK’s Homes Network.
Houzz Contributor and homes, architecture and property journalist. I work on a range... More
Every journey, so the saying goes, starts with a single step. So don’t think about tidying, clearing up and streamlining the entire contents of your home. Pick one single job, set a small and gentle goal and stick to it.
Once you’ve done one, you’ll gain the momentum to tackle another. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll have done the whole house.
Once you’ve done one, you’ll gain the momentum to tackle another. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll have done the whole house.
Look down
Start with the least appealing job you can think of first. That way, things can only get better. Nothing scares the declutterer quite like under-sink kitchen storage. Be brave and plunge in.
Remove everything and do a stock take. Dispose of anything you no longer need (always check product labelling for instructions on disposal). Give your cupboard or drawer a wipe down and do the same for the contents.
Replace and reorganise so that frequently used items are easy to access.
You could take it a step further and separate items into plastic or wire baskets, as they’ve done here, to make it easier to keep everything under control.
Start with the least appealing job you can think of first. That way, things can only get better. Nothing scares the declutterer quite like under-sink kitchen storage. Be brave and plunge in.
Remove everything and do a stock take. Dispose of anything you no longer need (always check product labelling for instructions on disposal). Give your cupboard or drawer a wipe down and do the same for the contents.
Replace and reorganise so that frequently used items are easy to access.
You could take it a step further and separate items into plastic or wire baskets, as they’ve done here, to make it easier to keep everything under control.
Purge a coffee table
Coffee tables are not only magnets for all manner of living room detritus, they also sit in the middle of the room displaying their disorganisation for all to see.
Take back control with a swift sort-out. Remove everything and scrutinise items on a case-by-case basis. Do you really need this? When was the last time you looked at or used it? Does it need to be here, or could it be stored away elsewhere?
Display small items, such as remote controls, eye glasses, candles, notepads and books, on a shallow tray. Rediscover the tabletop and clear space for coffee cups or even a fruit bowl.
If your coffee table has a lower shelf, use it to store a neat pile of magazines and books.
Coffee tables are not only magnets for all manner of living room detritus, they also sit in the middle of the room displaying their disorganisation for all to see.
Take back control with a swift sort-out. Remove everything and scrutinise items on a case-by-case basis. Do you really need this? When was the last time you looked at or used it? Does it need to be here, or could it be stored away elsewhere?
Display small items, such as remote controls, eye glasses, candles, notepads and books, on a shallow tray. Rediscover the tabletop and clear space for coffee cups or even a fruit bowl.
If your coffee table has a lower shelf, use it to store a neat pile of magazines and books.
Edit your mug storage
Whether you keep your mugs in a drawer or cupboard, or hang them on a mug tree or a nifty wall hanger like this one, they can accumulate.
Decide how many you really need and recycle any that are chipped or damaged. Then choose a selection of the others you really want to keep.
Consider putting together an assortment of designs, rather than having a matching set, so it doesn’t matter if pieces get lost along the way. For some sense of order, perhaps pick a colour that coordinates with your kitchen and select plain and patterned mugs accordingly.
Need some professional help? Find home storage designers and professional organisers in your area
Whether you keep your mugs in a drawer or cupboard, or hang them on a mug tree or a nifty wall hanger like this one, they can accumulate.
Decide how many you really need and recycle any that are chipped or damaged. Then choose a selection of the others you really want to keep.
Consider putting together an assortment of designs, rather than having a matching set, so it doesn’t matter if pieces get lost along the way. For some sense of order, perhaps pick a colour that coordinates with your kitchen and select plain and patterned mugs accordingly.
Need some professional help? Find home storage designers and professional organisers in your area
Bring in baskets
Who doesn’t love a basket? They not only look good, but can be used to keep less attractive items out of sight.
A matching set of baskets can be the perfect solution for the open shelves in a utility room, where cleaning and laundry products can be stashed away while still being easily accessible. Sort all your products, from detergent to cleaning cloths, into groups and pop each into a dedicated basket.
By keeping everything together like this, you’ll also find it easier to dust the shelves, as you won’t have to move individual bottles and jars.
Who doesn’t love a basket? They not only look good, but can be used to keep less attractive items out of sight.
A matching set of baskets can be the perfect solution for the open shelves in a utility room, where cleaning and laundry products can be stashed away while still being easily accessible. Sort all your products, from detergent to cleaning cloths, into groups and pop each into a dedicated basket.
By keeping everything together like this, you’ll also find it easier to dust the shelves, as you won’t have to move individual bottles and jars.
Streamline school stuff
If you have children, pick a task that will make school mornings easier – it will be well worth the effort. Set up allocated school bag hanging spaces and footwear storage in the hall for easy transitions from indoors to out.
As well as giving each child their own coat hook, you could also allocate individual baskets for storing gloves and scarves, or hats and suncream. Get the kids used to returning everything to its place when they come home after school.
If you have children, pick a task that will make school mornings easier – it will be well worth the effort. Set up allocated school bag hanging spaces and footwear storage in the hall for easy transitions from indoors to out.
As well as giving each child their own coat hook, you could also allocate individual baskets for storing gloves and scarves, or hats and suncream. Get the kids used to returning everything to its place when they come home after school.
Single out a wardrobe
Begin a bedroom clear-out with a wardrobe. Look through your clothes collection and be brave. If you haven’t worn something for 12 months, set it aside for the charity bag or recycle it. Add a cover to any favourites you can’t bear to part with to keep them protected.
If you find you’re still cramming hangers on the rail, consider packing away unseasonal clothes into suitcases to free up hanging space. Fitting a second rail like this one is another option, as it makes it easier to see and store the clothes you’re left with.
Begin a bedroom clear-out with a wardrobe. Look through your clothes collection and be brave. If you haven’t worn something for 12 months, set it aside for the charity bag or recycle it. Add a cover to any favourites you can’t bear to part with to keep them protected.
If you find you’re still cramming hangers on the rail, consider packing away unseasonal clothes into suitcases to free up hanging space. Fitting a second rail like this one is another option, as it makes it easier to see and store the clothes you’re left with.
Simplify mornings
Organising your dental bits and bobs in the bathroom will pay you back every time you brush your teeth.
Do you have a cupboard or drawer you could dedicate for the purpose? Being able to stash this stuff away is certainly more attractive than staring into a toothbrush mug on the windowsill every morning…
This handy storage features compartments for toothpaste, brushes, floss and more. Allocate a section for each member of the family or sort by type, as here.
Organising your dental bits and bobs in the bathroom will pay you back every time you brush your teeth.
Do you have a cupboard or drawer you could dedicate for the purpose? Being able to stash this stuff away is certainly more attractive than staring into a toothbrush mug on the windowsill every morning…
This handy storage features compartments for toothpaste, brushes, floss and more. Allocate a section for each member of the family or sort by type, as here.
Get yourself a system
Children’s rooms that tidy themselves? Well, almost. Personalise clothes drawers to make it easy to find and store away items.
Consider applying blackboard paint to a storage unit so you can chalk the contents on the front of each drawer. The best bit about this idea is that you can simply rub off the chalk to re-label. Or try removable stickers instead.
Keep on top of clothing clutter by recycling an older item from the same drawer every time you buy something new.
Children’s rooms that tidy themselves? Well, almost. Personalise clothes drawers to make it easy to find and store away items.
Consider applying blackboard paint to a storage unit so you can chalk the contents on the front of each drawer. The best bit about this idea is that you can simply rub off the chalk to re-label. Or try removable stickers instead.
Keep on top of clothing clutter by recycling an older item from the same drawer every time you buy something new.
Corral your stationery
Begin an office sort-out with a stationery tidy. Allocate a single, out-of-view location for all the items, such as bull-dog clips, staples, drawing pins, paperclips and so on. This will also make it much easier to find a home for stray bits and bobs in the future.
There are few more splendid sights than a beautifully organised stationery drawer. Once done, it should spur you on to tackle office shelving and document storage.
Tell us…
Do you have any clutter-busting tips? Share them in the Comments section.
Begin an office sort-out with a stationery tidy. Allocate a single, out-of-view location for all the items, such as bull-dog clips, staples, drawing pins, paperclips and so on. This will also make it much easier to find a home for stray bits and bobs in the future.
There are few more splendid sights than a beautifully organised stationery drawer. Once done, it should spur you on to tackle office shelving and document storage.
Tell us…
Do you have any clutter-busting tips? Share them in the Comments section.
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Yes, Carol... It can be difficult for those who find it easy keeping on top of things/being organised, to understand that for others it can be a nightmare. Starting small is key, like Julie says, just with a drawer in the kitchen or bedroom... and then remember not to be daunted by the task ahead but rather keep reminding yourself what you've achieved. 'Every journey starts with taking that first step.'
When I lived in the tropics I didn't need to change clothes for the seasons, just keep shawls for the cooler evenings. Now living in the Alps there are not only seasons but also all the clothes related to seasonal sports to contend with. Vacuum packing has been my friend.
De-cluttering can be a problem for some but start small and after a while you will find you want to do it more and more, it's very cathartic.