It’s a simple mathematical fact: all those shopping trips, birthdays, online spending sprees and even just our daily lives, mean we bring a lot of stuff into our homes. Stuff that sits there. And sits there. And then gets shoved to the back of the closet/garage/handbag/car to make way for more stuff. And before you know it, you’re drowning in clutter.
Clutter doesn’t just take up room in your house, it fills your brain, making it difficult to concentrate and causing irritability. But freeing ourselves from clutter doesn’t have to involve clutching each item and assessing the level of happiness it brings us. Here are our top decluttering hacks you can do right now to set yourself on the path to minimalism (or at least a clearer wardrobe).
Small containers for small items.
Most of us have one drawer that contains a variety of odds and ends that rattle around whenever it is opened — yet we never seem to be able to find what we are looking for when we need it. Use small containers, pill boxes and tackle boxes with different compartments to organize small objects like batteries.
A simple shelf on the inside of the pantry door becomes an organizer for all those rolls of foil, wrap, and wax paper.
Some items ingeniously double as declutterers.
Wine racks are one of those items. They can be used to store purses and bags...
...as well as serve as a towel holder.
Every appliance, gadget, and piece of technology these days comes with a manual — which together soon form a large collection of paper. You can get rid of that pile today.
Download the digital version of the manuals you actually need and store them in the one place.
Store and organise your coupons and vouchers in an expandable file.
Stuffed in our wallets or screwed up on the bottom of our handbags, they are rarely used and soon become just another piece of rubbish.
Don't restrict pantry shelves to the pantry!
They are the perfect shape and height to create an extra shelf for shoes.
And while we're at it, don't restrict pants hangers to pants.
They are also an excellent way to store boots.
Velcro was made for those on a mission to declutter.
This hack could mean never losing a remote control again.
And making sure stuffed toys are always accessible and tidy.
Double the storage space beneath the sink.
A simple rod becomes a place to hang cleaning bottles and rags.
A hanging fruit bowl in the shower is a great way to store bath toys.
The flow of air keeps them dry and stops mold developing.
Overflowing and unmanageable utensil drawers begone!
Hang them neatly on hooks and they will always have a home.
And while we're in the kitchen, how about doubling or even tripling your storage space?
Peg boards are a versatile and easy way to add baskets and boxes where you need them.
Use paper clips to keep cords neat and untangled.
Create an anti-clutter system.
It's simple. Everyone in the house gets a basket. As stuff accumulates around the house during the day it is placed into the relevant baskets, which the owner is responsible for putting away before bed. Stick with this one and you'll never need another decluttering hack again.
