20 De-cluttering Tips for your Home

This is a guest post from Marina from 1001ArtificialPlants.com

Is your home filled with clutter? Do you walk into a room in your house during the day only to wish you had a solution to the “clutter” problem that you see at hand? Being guilty of having too much stuff, can make your home feel small and closed in. De-cluttering can give you peace of mind by helping you get your home back in order and under control. Read the following tips for how you can get rid of the clutter.

• Tip #1 – Take back your space. The first step in de-cluttering is getting the mindset that you want to take back your space. Realize that a cluttered space can have a negative impact on your life. It can leave you feeling stressed and longing for a clean space. 
• Tip #2 – Realize that you can’t be a pack rat. Admit that you have a problem. Pack rats are people who feel that they need to “keep” everything. As with anything, the first step is realizing that you have a problem. 
• Tip #3 – Get rid of stuff that you do not need. If you do not NEED it, get rid of it. Too many times people feel the need to keep stuff they do not need. Part with items that you really do not want or need. 
• Tip #4- Find a storage solution. Lack of storage is one of the number one reasons why homes get cluttered. Search for storage solution. Buy binds, tubs, or cabinets that you can organize the clutter in. 
• Tip #5 – Less is more. Realize that less is more when it comes to your home. If you want your home to feel cleaner and more spacious, you need to have LESS. 
• Tip #6- Minimize the paper trail. Paper is another culprit of clutter. From mail to magazines, make an effort to minimize the paper trial. Do this by throwing paper in the garbage can. When you receive junk mail, throw it in the trash! 
• Tip #7 – Get your kids to pick up after themselves. Untidy kids can contribute greatly to clutter. Give your children daily chores that involve cleaning their own spaces. If they drag something out, make them pick it up. 
• Tip #8 – Do a quick daily “clean-up” before you go to bed. Getting rid of clutter daily will help you maintain your space. Set a time before you go to bed to do a quick clean up. Make sure things are where they should be. You will feel better when you wake up to a clutter free home in the morning. 
• Tip#9 – Fold those clothes! Are you guilty of having mountains of clothes waiting to be folded? This can contribute greatly to the clutter problem. Fold clothes as they come out of the dryer. 
• Tip #10 – Clean out the dresser drawers. Dresser drawers should be neat and clean. Once you fold the clothes, put them neatly in drawers to help minimize the mess. You will actually be able to find clothes you’ve been looking for when you do this. 
• Tip #11 – Organize your shoes. Unorganized shoes can lead to a messy closet. Make sure that your shoes are in pairs and placed neatly in a specific location. 
• Tip #12- Throw out unused medication. Medicine cabinets are often magnets for clutter. Throw away outdated medications. 
• Tip #13- Clear off the countertops. Countertops are often a great place to start the de-cluttering process. Don’t allow your countertops to be filled with “stuff” such as papers, keys, coffee cups, etc. 
• Tip #14- Parting with the knick knacks. Too many knick knacks is not only an interior design no, no, they can also lead to cluttered chaos. You want your home to look clean, not overfilled and cluttered. 
• Tip #15- Open shelves are not storage spaces. If you have visible shelves in your home, do not fill them with junk. Place a few important pieces on the shelves and allow them to be displayed. Do not allow them to be covered with junk. 
• Tip #16- Re-gifting old books. Too many books can never be a good thing. If you have already read it, consider giving it away as a gift rather than storing it on a shelf. 
• Tip #17 – If you don’t wear it, donate it. Get rid of clothes that you haven’t worn in a while. Do this often to minimize the clutter. 
• Tip #18- Organize pots and pans. Just because they are hidden, doesn’t mean they can be unorganized. Organize your pots and pans so that you know where to find them when you need them. 
• Tip #19 – Make sure toys have a home. Toys can be small and mean a lot of clutter. Toy boxes are a great solution this problem. 
• Tip #20 – Keep a positive attitude about de-cluttering. Once you have de-cluttered, maintain the space so that you don’t find yourself in the same situation twice. 

As you can see, there are countless tips that can have you space free of clutter in no time. Set a day to begin the process. You can do it! Create a space that you and your family can enjoy – without all the clutter!
Marina is on online entrepreneur and co-owner of artificial flowers and plants website located at 1001ArtificialPlants.com

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