Ridding a home of clutter can often feel like a battle that you can’t win. Everywhere you look, there’s a piece of clutter that doesn’t seem to have a rightful place. Sometimes, you may get around to putting all the clutter away, but then a few days go by, and it looks like a bomb went off in your house again.
This time around, stop simply putting clutter away and start living a clutter-free lifestyle. How can you achieve such a dream? Here are some tips for living by:
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Invest in new storage
Sometimes, it’s not about having too much stuff; it’s about not having enough places to put it in. If you don’t have an excessive amount of belongings but still manage to end up with a cluttered home, you may need to up your storage game. Invest in dressers, shelves, cabinets, and other forms of storage that can fit all of the items that don’t have a rightful place in your home yet–however, keep in mind that this is not an excuse to buy more stuff.
If you are a homeowner, it is highly recommended to avail of the cabinet manufacturing services that can create a custom-made storage solution for you. On the other hand, if you are a renter, invest in storage furniture that does not take up too much space, nor is it too difficult to move around when you relocate. Shelves, standalone wardrobes, and stackable drawers are some of the best options for renters.
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Stop impulse buying
One of the most common reasons people end up with so much clutter in their homes is that they buy things they don’t need. If you’re guilty of this habit, changing your mindset about shopping is one of the first things you need to do to achieve a clutter-free life.
Avoid buying things out of impulse. Yes, delayed gratification may be hard to do at first, but you will eventually get the hang of it. Think twice or even thrice before buying something that you don’t really need. First, think about if you can really afford it or if you should spend the money on something more important. Second, determine if you have enough storage space for the item that you want to buy. If the answer is no to both of these questions, you may be better off passing on that purchase.
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Purge frequently
Purging frequently is essential to living a clutter-free lifestyle. Even if you live within your means and rarely buy new items, stuff can still accumulate over time. To avoid clutter from taking over your space again, make it a point to purge unwanted stuff two or more times a year, be it through selling, donating, or trashing.
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Eliminate duplicates
Do you really need two can openers? Or six mugs when you live alone? Or those ten dinner plates that you never use? Having duplicates when you only really need one or two is a common problem in a cluttered home. Unless you see yourself using these duplicates in the near future, they belong in the purge box or storage.
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Adopt the CLAYGO rule
The “Clean As You Go” rule is imperative to maintaining an organized home, especially if you live with other people. This rule states that whenever you use something, put it back in its rightful place. And whenever you make a mess, clean it up immediately. It can be challenging not to leave tasks for later like so many of us are used to, but making this into a habit can be the life-changer you need for a clutter-free home.
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Designate a clutter zone
Making your home completely clutter-free is often impossible—and maybe even miserable—so having a few clutter zones can be a great help. For example, designate a junk drawer for all your miscellaneous items that don’t really belong anywhere else. You could also have a junk table where you can put frequently used items that you don’t really feel like putting away every time you use them. Just make sure that these clutter zones don’t get too crowded—or else you may find yourself back to square one.
These are just a few simple ideas that you can try and explore to have a more clutter-free lifestyle, but they may already be enough to make a significant change in your home. So if the clutter in your house is already getting overwhelming, adopting these changes can be just what you need to free yourself from the curse.
