​The right (and easy) way to de-clutter your life

Johannes van Graan Johannes van Graan
House in Hammersmith, GK Architects Ltd GK Architects Ltd Dapur Modern
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Understand this: interior beauty has nothing to do with clutter. Interior designers and decorators are what you seek to style up your home; to rid your house of clutter, you need a positive attitude and a devotion to regular de-cluttering. 

But how does a cluttered lifestyle come about? Excessive clutter (and we don’t mean a single sock that was dropped in an otherwise immaculate living room) is often a symptom and a cause of stress. It can distract you, influence your mood, and invite chaos into every facet of your life. 

The problem is that, the worse that clutter gets, the more of an impossible task it seems to banish it out of your life. But here on homify, nothing is impossible, including a clutter-free lifestyle. 

So, let’s see how you can de-clutter your life and home one small step/space at a time so that you can reap the benefits of a neat home and a peaceful life…

1. De-clutter your life: Make your bed

Turns out your mum was right all these years – you must make your bed every single morning before starting the day. 

But why? As the focal point of your bedroom, the bed is usually the first thing anyone sees when walking into the room. In addition, the bed is also a big indicator of how the rest of your room looks. If it starts getting messy, the whole room could dissolve into disarray.

2. De-clutter your life: Tackle one-minute tasks right away

In general, clutter is the result of procrastination – decisions put off or small jobs that are left unfinished. So, it just makes sense that to avoid clutter, those small tasks need to be accomplished as soon as possible, right? 

Therefore, tackle any small project that can be completed in mere minutes and get it out of the way. Don’t wait until tomorrow morning to toss those clothes into the laundry hamper – do it before you go to bed each night. Put back the TV’s remote control on the coffee table (or in the console drawer, or wherever it’s stored), take that empty cup back to the kitchen after finishing your tea, etc.    It’s so much easier to clean tiny bits at a time than to wait until it all builds up.

3. De-clutter your life: Never set things on the table

Flat surfaces in your home (like counters, tables, dressers and, yes, even the floor) are magnets for clutter. Stop the mess before it takes over your house and your life!

Find a permanent storing spot for that certain something instead of just placing it randomly on a table. Keep your eyes peeled for things like toiletries, kitchen appliances, car keys, children’s toys and other items that you or your family forgot to put away and act as needed to get them back to their appropriate places.

4. De-clutter your life: Weed out the junk mail

Study homify Ruang Studi/Kantor Modern

Continuing on from number 3 is junk mail – the last place you should be dropping those unwanted envelopes, flyers, take-away menus and goodness-knows-what-else is a countertop or table. 

Head straight for the recycling bin, as junk mail is one of the culprits that contribute to clutter in any home. 

homify hint: De-clutter your computer for a digital clean up. Get rid of files and programs that you don’t need.  Get rid of most or all of the icons on your desktop (nothing’s worse than a busy and visually cluttered desktop, which slows down your computer as well).

5. De-clutter your life: Keep dishes out of your kitchen sink

Know what immediately brings a good-looking kitchen down? A big stack of dirty dishes piling up in the sink. 

Be sure to put plates and silverware straight in the dishwasher when you’re done using them, even if you’re hosting a fancy dinner party (your guests won’t miss you for the two minutes it’ll take to save your sink of clutter).

6. De-clutter your life: Eliminate the garbage

Trash day is not only so you can get rid of the trash that piled up in the bin in your kitchen/bathroom; use it as a reminder to hunt through your house for anything that can be dumped. 

Take stock of your fridge, go through old files in the study, organise your junk drawer, etc.

7. De-clutter your life: Recycle magazines and newspapers

SS16 Style Guide - Coastal Elegance - Home Office/Study LuxDeco Ruang Studi/Kantor Gaya Country office,study,home office

Want to save that one article in a magazine or newspaper? Then why hang on to the entire publication? 

Clip those pages and give them a home (recipes go in your recipe box, saved reads on your bedside table or a file in the study drawer, etc.), then toss the rest so you don’t end up with huge stacks of magazines.

8. De-clutter your life: No clothes on the floor

homify Kamar Tidur Minimalis

Yes, we know there’s something elegant about taking off clothes at the end of a long day and letting them drop on the floor, but don’t do it. Put them where they belong!

Dirty items should go in the hamper, and clean clothes belong back on the hanger in your closet/wardrobe.

9. De-clutter your life: Make space for coats

WALK-IN - Wardrobe Shelving System homify Ruang Ganti Gaya Industrial wardrobe,walk-in wardrobe,dressing room

The real reason why coats, boots and other outerwear usually end up scattered throughout your home? It’s because your coat closet is so full that it’s a hassle to put things away and retrieve them quickly. 

So, what does that mean for you? Clean out your closet and wardrobe so there’s space on the floor for your shoes and open hangers where you can find jackets without pulling everything out.

10. De-clutter your life: Scan the house every night

Take a few minutes every night to scan your entire home before retiring to bed. The aim is to sweep every room of clutter, which shouldn’t take too long if you abide by rules one to nine. 

But let the rest of your household help! Tell the kiddies to put their toys away, and let you and your partner place your bags, keys, wallets and everything else where they belong.

To help you enjoy a clutter-free life, we have these Small home storage ideas with smart solutions – take a look!

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