Housekeeping: 9 Ways to Deal With Clutter in Your Home
Be smart with storage and make the most of your space with these helpful ideas for keeping clutter at bay
There’s a lot of psychology involved in what we consider to be clutter and how we deal with it. For some, a pile of books on the floor doesn’t even count as clutter, whereas for others it’s the most annoying thing imaginable. Many gain comfort from their belongings and we often want to hold onto things even if there’s no space to do so. To be able to do this, and keep our sanity, we have to be clever with storage and disciplined about returning things to their place. If something new comes up, for example inheriting some family furniture or even just dealing with Christmas, it can be difficult to stay on top of it all. Check out these ideas to keep your possessions at bay.
Go for ample storage
Often spaces under stairs are too awkward to fit regular furniture, but a lot of storage can be gained by building in units to fit the space. It’s always a good idea to create more space than you think you need. For instance, count how many pairs of shoes you intend to keep here and then add half again!
If your hallway is really tiny, remember that shoe storage only needs to be the depth of one of your shoes, that is, one shoe’s width, say 15cm. Build as many shelves as you can along and up the walls then cover them attractively with sliding doors or a piece of fabric.
Often spaces under stairs are too awkward to fit regular furniture, but a lot of storage can be gained by building in units to fit the space. It’s always a good idea to create more space than you think you need. For instance, count how many pairs of shoes you intend to keep here and then add half again!
If your hallway is really tiny, remember that shoe storage only needs to be the depth of one of your shoes, that is, one shoe’s width, say 15cm. Build as many shelves as you can along and up the walls then cover them attractively with sliding doors or a piece of fabric.
Display your accessories
If your handbags and shoes are all stashed away at the back of a wardrobe somewhere, consider bringing them out and displaying them where you can see them. After all, if they’re not organised or to hand, you can’t really enjoy them. Half the fun of owning these items is in the daily choosing of what goes with what, and if they rarely see the light of day, you may as well not have them.
If you have the space, build in shelves on which you can display your items. If you’re a bit more pressed, designate some hooks for your handbag collection and keep it orderly. Maintain a clean area and everything will keep crease free and in the right shape.
If your handbags and shoes are all stashed away at the back of a wardrobe somewhere, consider bringing them out and displaying them where you can see them. After all, if they’re not organised or to hand, you can’t really enjoy them. Half the fun of owning these items is in the daily choosing of what goes with what, and if they rarely see the light of day, you may as well not have them.
If you have the space, build in shelves on which you can display your items. If you’re a bit more pressed, designate some hooks for your handbag collection and keep it orderly. Maintain a clean area and everything will keep crease free and in the right shape.
Double-up for hanging
This bespoke wardrobe solution makes the most of an awkward space and cleverly stacks shirts and trousers in an area where we might ordinarily see only one hanging rail. Go for slimline clothes hangers to maximise every inch of space.
Double decker hanging is an extremely efficient way to maximise your wardrobe space, although it does depend on the type of clothes you wear – if your wardrobe is full of long dresses, this may not be for you.
Use tray-type containers in high level storage areas so you can pull out the whole tray to find what you want. It saves stuffing things in and never knowing what’s at the back.
Check out ingenious ways to incorporate storage in a bedroom
This bespoke wardrobe solution makes the most of an awkward space and cleverly stacks shirts and trousers in an area where we might ordinarily see only one hanging rail. Go for slimline clothes hangers to maximise every inch of space.
Double decker hanging is an extremely efficient way to maximise your wardrobe space, although it does depend on the type of clothes you wear – if your wardrobe is full of long dresses, this may not be for you.
Use tray-type containers in high level storage areas so you can pull out the whole tray to find what you want. It saves stuffing things in and never knowing what’s at the back.
Check out ingenious ways to incorporate storage in a bedroom
Use shallow shelves
Bathroom cabinets often contain small bottles, jars and tubes that get lost at the back of deep shelves. Make your beauty products easy to find with shallow shelves, such as in these slimline cupboards, so you can see everything at once.
Storing your items behind closed doors helps you maintain a clean and tidy area, so you feel more in control and organised. Reduce clutter by having a place for everything – low-level storage in bathrooms is ideal for bulky items, such as toilet rolls and towels.
See how to banish bathroom clutter
Bathroom cabinets often contain small bottles, jars and tubes that get lost at the back of deep shelves. Make your beauty products easy to find with shallow shelves, such as in these slimline cupboards, so you can see everything at once.
Storing your items behind closed doors helps you maintain a clean and tidy area, so you feel more in control and organised. Reduce clutter by having a place for everything – low-level storage in bathrooms is ideal for bulky items, such as toilet rolls and towels.
See how to banish bathroom clutter
Separate out your storage space
This spice rack is a good example of how the interior of a door can be put to good use. In most kitchens, the depth of the average kitchen cupboard is 600mm. This means items at the back are often difficult to retrieve and get forgotten about. Creating a separate storage area allows easier access and keeps everything neater.
The same concept can be implemented in other areas of your home. Consider building in similar storage to hold toiletries in a bathroom or bedroom.
Investing in a good piece of carpentry, like this wooden shelf, will help keep lines clean and avoid any feelings of chaos or confusion. Remember that, with a door unit like this, the interior shelves must be set back so as not to interfere with the door closing.
This spice rack is a good example of how the interior of a door can be put to good use. In most kitchens, the depth of the average kitchen cupboard is 600mm. This means items at the back are often difficult to retrieve and get forgotten about. Creating a separate storage area allows easier access and keeps everything neater.
The same concept can be implemented in other areas of your home. Consider building in similar storage to hold toiletries in a bathroom or bedroom.
Investing in a good piece of carpentry, like this wooden shelf, will help keep lines clean and avoid any feelings of chaos or confusion. Remember that, with a door unit like this, the interior shelves must be set back so as not to interfere with the door closing.
Colour code in blocks
This small space could easily feel overwhelming, with papers and stationery stacked right to the ceiling. But the blocks of colour zone the areas, making it look as if there’s far less going on.
Colour coding a space can help you to find things quickly, but be careful not to use too many colours or it might overpower the space.
This small space could easily feel overwhelming, with papers and stationery stacked right to the ceiling. But the blocks of colour zone the areas, making it look as if there’s far less going on.
Colour coding a space can help you to find things quickly, but be careful not to use too many colours or it might overpower the space.
Keep appliances hidden
A sure way to make a space feel cleaner and more open is to keep materials continuous. While appliances are by no means clutter, they can create a cluttered feel. By hiding them behind closed doors, you give yourself a little more leeway when it comes to the rest of the room.
A sure way to make a space feel cleaner and more open is to keep materials continuous. While appliances are by no means clutter, they can create a cluttered feel. By hiding them behind closed doors, you give yourself a little more leeway when it comes to the rest of the room.
Set a date to have a clear-out
This is particularly important if you have kids. When it comes to toys, we have to remember that what seems untidy or cluttered to an adult, might well be an ocean of fun for a child. But toys can be a bit of a headache and take up a lot of space.
This can be kept under control by choosing a date each year, or each month if necessary, when you take an inventory and clear out any that haven’t been used in the previous time period. Getting your children in the habit of gifting their older toys is a good idea and will serve them well in the future.
If you don’t have children, apply the same logic to your wardrobe or kitchen cupboards.
TELL US…
How do you keep clutter at bay in your home? Please share your tips in the Comments below.
This is particularly important if you have kids. When it comes to toys, we have to remember that what seems untidy or cluttered to an adult, might well be an ocean of fun for a child. But toys can be a bit of a headache and take up a lot of space.
This can be kept under control by choosing a date each year, or each month if necessary, when you take an inventory and clear out any that haven’t been used in the previous time period. Getting your children in the habit of gifting their older toys is a good idea and will serve them well in the future.
If you don’t have children, apply the same logic to your wardrobe or kitchen cupboards.
TELL US…
How do you keep clutter at bay in your home? Please share your tips in the Comments below.
Most problems with clutter start when things get ‘dumped’ in one place and, before long, the pile is so large, it’s impossible to manage.
This commonly happens in the hallway, as there’s often little space and everyone is in a hurry when they pass through. Trying to find something within a big pile can often create stress, add pressure to a morning routine, and lead to even more disarray.
All of this can easily be avoided if you clearly define different areas of the space for each person, be it a wall or wardrobe. This helps to avoid people accidentally taking another’s belongings and means, at the very least, that any clutter is your own.