Having a messy and cluttered house is every homeowner’s nightmare. But then again, no one really likes dealing with the mess either. There are some special people out there who like cleaning up and organizing. But for most people, it’s as exciting as watching paint dry. But still, everyone deserves a home where they can be at peace without a big mess haunting them. So, what can be done to achieve that clean, tidy, and organized space?
It can be overwhelming to start, especially if you’ve read all those books and articles about elaborate and complex methods. The truth is you don’t need to be an expert to start this seemingly big project.
Today, we’ve gathered some of the best tips you can follow to help you get rid of the clutter in your home. If you’re ready for less mess, then read ahead.
Rent a Storage Unit If your home is small but your family is large, odds are you’re storing a lot more stuff than your house can hold. You might find that your storage closets are full of seasonal items that you don’t use on a daily basis, whether it’s holiday decorations, winter jackets, or even camping gear. These things can take up a lot of space in your home, and most days of the year, they’re just lying there unused.
It would be impractical to get rid of everything because it’s not like you don’t use or need these things. You just don’t need them all the time. For these items, renting a self storage unit would be a great solution. They come in many sizes to accommodate your needs and help free up more space at home.
1. Use Storage Solutions
Do you hate seeing all your stuff sprawled across your house? Having all your items on display can make your house look cluttered and disorganized. To keep things out of sight and out of mind, investing in some in-house storage solutions would be a wonderful idea. This means installing cupboards and shelves and using storage containers and baskets.
This helps create some order and gives a designated place for everything. If you’re open to a bigger remodel, you could integrate storage compartments into your walls. This provides a subtle storage solution that is easy on the eyes, giving an illusion of a minimalistic, clutter-free home.
2. Get Rid of Stuff
Even though it’s easier said than done, it’s still important to get rid of things you don’t need anymore – especially all the extra stuff. We all tend to hoard things, even though we might already have enough. For example, if you have multiple pairs of the same old blue jeans that you only wear once in a while, it may be time to get rid of a couple. Now, use the same principle for everything else you have lying in the house you have duplicates of and things you never use anyway.
This doesn’t mean you must live in extreme minimalism, isolating yourself to a single pair of socks or just one set of bedsheets. But getting rid of a few things that you already have enough of will clear some space in your home.
3. Donate or Sell
When your house is messy and crowded, you might start to feel a little suffocated. Feeling uncomfortable in your own home is one of the worst things imaginable. If this is the case, you need to stop and assess what’s causing this discomfort. As mentioned earlier, you might have belongings lying around or stored in corners that are no longer useful to you or your family. This could be pieces of furniture, pieces of art that are gathering dust in a corner, or toys and clothes your children grew out of.
Of course, getting rid of these things isn’t as easy as it sounds since a lot of your belongings might have sentimental value. Moreover, some of this stuff might be expensive or in excellent condition, and throwing it out would be a waste. This is where you can do some good and donate the stuff to an underprivileged family, or if these are luxury items, you can even consider selling them and adding a few bucks to your savings.
4. Be Smart with Furniture
Your furniture pieces are arguably the bulkiest and most space-consuming belongings in your house. If improperly placed or unthoughtfully picked out, they can make your house feel crowded and cluttered. If you live in tighter quarters, a trick that significantly helps is having fewer but multifunctional furniture pieces instead of many pieces with only single purposes.
For example, if you have a large trunk, you can use it as a coffee table in your living room but also use it to store your extra blankets or board games for family game nights. If you feel like your bedrooms are cluttered, get beds with built-in drawers underneath for storage. You could even get a sofa bed for when an overnight guest comes over instead of storing extra mattresses.
5. Say Goodbye to Paper Clutter
If you have lots of paper lying in your house, it’s time to say goodbye. In the modern world, everything is digital. From books to magazines to important documents – everything is online and can be stored on the cloud. Get rid of any unnecessary paper clutter first; whether it’s the old newspaper or your junk mail, toss it in the recycling bin.
Now, onto your documents and other important or sentimental papers. You might not want to get rid of these, but the good news is it’s extremely easy to scan everything and store it digitally. Family photos can also be scanned and uploaded as an online album, and you can share your precious memories with more people and never fear losing those moments.
Conclusion
To sum it up, creating a clutter-free home isn’t just something you can achieve overnight. Sure, a deep clean once a year might keep your house looking less messy for a couple of weeks, but if you fall into the same habits again, it’ll be back to square one. What’s more helpful is to take small but consistent steps.
Remember, the best way to keep your house clean is to prevent it from getting messy to begin with. That means thinking twice before you buy something you don’t need. With a little consistency and self-control, you’ll make your house a home that’s easier to breathe in.
