It's often said that "we are a product of our environment", which is why it's so important that the home reflects the feeling that you want to surround yourself in. We can completely understand how overwhelming life can be: work, kids, socialising, then house admin - it never seems to end! But sometimes it's just the smallest of changes that can make the biggest impact and kickstart your routine to keeping home your sacred space - one that needs to be cared for and respected, just as our bodies need! For all you clutter-bugs out there, this one is for you...
The benefits of reducing clutter in your home
Less Stress: The less clutter, the less cluttered your mind will be! The main aim is to have a home that provides you with a calming environment away from all the stresses that everyday life can bring.
Less to Clean: The more items you have filling up the home, the more tedious the cleaning will be (think of all the extra bits and pieces you need to move and clean around!). Keeping extra items to a minimum will help reduce dust as well, which will also help reduce chore-time.
More Savings: We've all been there, where a spontaneous trip to a budget retailer (Kmart - we're looking at you!) can result in hundreds of dollars worth of things you probably didn't even need. Accruing extra magazines, newspapers, Tupperware - to name a few - adds up in clutter and not to mention cost! Being more mindful when purchasing will help keep unplanned costs - and clutter - down.
More Confidence: Are you hesitant in hosting your friends and family over because you're not proud to show off your home because the extra clutter is getting in the way? This is where it can negatively impact your way of life, as you and your home should be celebrated and shared! Check out some of our quick tips below and see how you can integrate them into your life - you'll be entertaining in no time!
How Do I Reduce Clutter?
Pick a partner: reach out to someone that you know can help guide you with the decluttering process: someone that can be your critical eye but without judgment, that can suggest which items to consider removing or keeping.
Tap away at it: try not to think of the whole job at hand, as this can be extremely overwhelming and halt the process! Tap away at your home one room at a time - or even one section of a room at a time. Sometimes smaller but consistent decluttering sessions are better.
Donate: decluttering can also help you give back to the community and those less fortunate. If you have items that are still in great condition that you have not used for a period of time, do a trip to your local Vinnie's, RSPCA, or Salvo's (to name a few) and know that your once-loved items will go to a good home.
Create a checklist: again, this process can be quite overwhelming, so it helps to go in prepared with a checklist so you can keep track of your priority spots and where to get started.
Give and take: we find that birthdays and Christmas can be prime clutter-makers, so perhaps take these occasions as opportunities to take away the same number of items as you're gifted. For example, if you receive three gifts at Christmas, put aside three items you no longer use to donate, regift, or throw away. This a great one to teach your kids when they're smaller too!
Ways to reduce clutter through interior design and decoration
Problem: There are certain items you use all the time and therefore you don't feel the need to store them away.
Solution: Find easy-access and discrete ways of storing or grouping the items together that is within reach. For example, some tall woven baskets layered underneath your entry console table can keep shoes at bay, but still very much in reach!
Problem: You keep finding clutter around the house, but can't get rid of it because it's all important.
Solution: Look to furniture pieces with extra storage solutions to help disguise your clutter: a storage ottoman in the living room to host blankets and throws during the hotter months; a side table with storage next to the sofa for all the remotes and extra reading material; or a gas-lift bed to store all the extra bedlinen. Just be wary - the more storage you have the more "hiding spots" you'll take advantage of, which might encourage the clutter if you're not careful.
Problem: You're working with limited space.
Solution: Take it to the ceiling! If you're struggling with the floorspace, then take advantage of the vertical space in your home. If you're planning a renovation or a new build and love extra storage, take your overhead cabinetry to the ceiling. Yes, these are often hard-to-reach, but super handy for storing seasonal items. Likewise, if you currently have overhead storage with vast space between the ceiling and cabinetry, beautiful woven storage baskets can help disguise extra items you need to store away.
Problem: You have kids and find it difficult to keep things tidy.
Solution: Plan their rooms so that any storage is easily accessible for them, which (hopefully) means they'll be more inclined to put things away and clean up. As you are probably well-aware by now we love baskets for storage solutions, and also storage bins are a fantastic and easy way for the kids to use for their toys. Places like IKEA have great options that can easily be "hacked" to make it appealing for kids to use.
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