It’s possible to live in a clutter-free home but first, you’ll need to do some soul-searching. Professional organizer Laura Cattano asks her clients to think about how they want to feel in their space. She also asks them if the way they live is helping them get any closer to what they want in life. After honestly answering those questions, the process of decluttering can begin with practical and sustainable tips.
Below, experts share their tips for keeping your home clutter-free.
MEET THE EXPERT
- Laura Cattano is a professional organizer with 17 years of experience and an interior stylist. She is the owner of Laura Cattano Organizational Design.
- Joanna Wirick is a professional organizer and owner of Joanna Organize.
1. Get Rid of It
Cattano says that having stuff you don’t use or need sitting on a shelf or in a drawer does not make your life any better. She adds, “Get rid of anything that doesn’t help you. You buy stuff that helps you do something.” The reason you have clutter could be because you’re holding on to things just in case you need it or you got a great deal but it’s not helping you live your best life, says Cattano.
2. Be Mindful of Purchases
Though it may be uncomfortable at first, train yourself to take a close and honest look at your spending habits, says professional organizer Joanna Wirick. For example, if you buy groceries in bulk but don’t have the storage space for the items, change the habit.
This includes receiving from and buying gifts for others, says Cattano. Reducing your spending in this area will help prevent clutter in your home and other people’s spaces. If your children receive gifts, Cattano suggests prepping them to make room for the new stuff. Suggest they choose a couple of items to donate before opening their presents.
3. Look at Storage Choices
Be intentional about what you store away or keep out in the open because your choices impact how your space feels, says Cattano. She adds that deciding exactly what you want to see in a room can significantly reduce visual clutter.
Have a balance of open and closed storage space in a room, suggests Cattano. Even decorative boxes are great solutions if you don’t want to buy new furniture to hide things you’d rather not see.
4. Create Cleaning Rituals
“Implementing two simple daily rituals will help prevent clutter from taking over,” says Wirick. “Each night, tidy up common areas and in the morning finish up what you didn’t complete the night before.” Focus on the trash, dishes, laundry, putting things back in their places, folding blankets, and fluffing pillows. This tactic is a sure way to stay on top of clutter.
5. Make Your Bed
Quickly tug the sheets and comforter up and fluff your pillows in the morning as you get out of bed. Just making your bed every day will kickstart your day and encourage you to keep the rest of your bedroom neat and organized.
6. Keep Surfaces Clear
Keep all of your surfaces, from countertops and dining room tables to nightstands and coffee tables, free of piles of clutter by placing small bowls, bins, or boxes on the surfaces to capture paper and small items. That way when the container is near overflowing, you will be forced to cull through the items.
7. Clear Any Paperwork
Managing paperwork is key to a clutter-free home. Take time to set up a system for organizing important documents. Keep a recycling box or bin near the entryway so you’ll automatically dispose of your junk mail.
8. Always Put Things Back
Once you’ve decluttered, you’ll likely have a place for everything in your home. If you don’t have a place for something, create one so you know where to find it and where to put it back as soon as you’ve used it. This way you won’t misplace anything or buy duplicates that will re-clutter your space.
