Inside: Want a more minimal, clutter-free home that requires less cleaning? Check out these decluttering tips to discover what items contribute to your home’s clutter.
These practical decluttering tips make your home look less cluttered and give you a sense of control over your space.
By decluttering these items, you’re taking charge of your home, making it easier to maintain a clutter-free and tidy living environment.
This is why decluttering your home is not just essential, but also a rewarding experience.
14 things making your home cluttered
- Bulky furniture
Most of us have one or more bulky furniture pieces in our homes, especially older items.
While I’m not advising you to remove all your bulky furniture at once, I recommend decluttering those pieces you do not use or can do without.
These bulky furniture items include a dresser, coffee tables, or a desk.
Removing bulky furniture will make your space look and feel less cluttered and create a more spacious and airy environment.
- Oversized furniture
Having oversized furniture in a compact area can make your home feel cluttered.
For instance, a king-size bed in a small bedroom leaves minimal walking space and crams everything else closer together. The same applies to a sofa set; acquiring a complete set for a small living room can create a crowded appearance.
To prevent this, always measure your area before making a purchase. This simple step can help you avoid clutter and create a more organized look.
Remember, you don’t have to buy the entire set. Opting for a loveseat instead of a three-seat sofa, accompanied by two accent chairs, will occupy less space and result in a more organized look.
- Wall decorations
When every wall in your home is filled with wall decorations, it may lead to a cluttered look. Remove some wall decorations and consider leaving some walls bare.
Choose wall art that fits the wall’s dimensions. Moreover, having fewer decorations means less dusting.
- Knick-knacks
Over time, you may have gathered numerous knick-knacks around your home, leading to a cluttered look. Consider removing at least seventy-five percent of these items to reduce clutter.
This will help create a more open atmosphere. Additionally, knick-knacks accumulate dust quickly, diverting your attention from more important activities.
- Unused furniture
Examine your surroundings to identify any furniture you no longer use or need.
This could include dressers, coffee tables, side tables, office desks, or exercise equipment. Keeping unused furniture consumes valuable space in your home.
You can instantly free up space in your living area by decluttering these unused items.
- Appliances
Keeping appliances visible on kitchen counters can make your home appear cluttered. While having these items within easy reach might seem convenient, consider how frequently and for how long you use them.
For instance, if a blender is left out and used for just five minutes daily to make a smoothie, it would be better to store it in a kitchen cabinet.
The same applies to toaster ovens, juicers, or slow cookers.
Remove any unused appliances from the counters and store the ones you use in cabinets to maintain a tidy appearance.
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- Throw pillows and throw blankets
Throw pillows and blankets can enhance the coziness of any room, but an excess can lead to a cluttered appearance.
Consider removing some of your less favored pillows and using an appropriate number for the space.
Additionally, if you have seasonal throw pillows tucked away in a closet, think about decluttering those as well. Next time you buy throw pillows, opt for pillow inserts instead; they are washable and more convenient to store.
The same goes for throw blankets. Declutter a few blankets and keep maybe two per family member.
- Duplicate items
Retaining duplicate or multiple items in your home can create a cluttered appearance. Dedicate time to eliminate any duplicates that you do not use or need.
This includes spatulas, ice cream scoops, can openers, and knives. Be honest with yourself about what to retain.
There’s no need to have ten spatulas or three ice cream scoops.
Keep only what is essential and get rid of the rest.
- Picture frames
A few scattered picture frames can enhance a home’s coziness, but excess pictures can lead to a cluttered appearance.
Opt to display only more recent photos and avoid older ones.
Using the same picture frame style for all photos creates a cohesive look.
Consider updating the images with newer selections every few years to keep your space feeling fresh.
- DVDs
In the past, DVDs were a great option for watching home movies. With various streaming services, you can easily watch films at home without buying or renting DVDs.
It’s time to declutter your DVDs at home, especially if they are out on display.
- Too many cleaning products
Numerous cleaning product options are available, making it easy to be drawn to ones that catch your eye.
You might think a particular product could simplify your cleaning tasks, or perhaps you love its fragrance.
Before you know it, you could have an extensive collection to start your cleaning service. I doubt that is what you want.
Begin by checking for expired products or least favorite and declutter them. See if you can combine similar products.
This will help reduce the number of items you own. Ultimately, keep only the products you enjoy using and dispose of the others.
Avoid buying new cleaning supplies until you have finished using what you already have.
Additionally, consider using a multi-purpose cleaner to help save space and, more importantly, money.
- Items on flat surfaces
Having many items on flat surfaces can create a cluttered appearance in your space.
Excessive kitchen counter appliances, skincare, oral care products in the bathroom, and items left on the dining table contribute to this disorganization.
To improve this, keep flat surfaces clear of clutter.
For instance, I only keep my coffee maker and glass containers filled with coffee and sugar on my kitchen counter.
On the side, I have a banana holder, hand sanitizer, and a tissue box. Maintaining clutter-free surfaces makes my cleaning routine simpler.
In the bathroom, ensure you store your skincare and oral care items away after each use to maintain clear surfaces.
- Seasonal decorations
Having too many decorations and seasonal decorations can make your home feel cluttered. Fall is my favorite season, and Halloween is my top choice for decorating.
However, I have downsized my decorations, opting for just a few scattered pieces.
I truly appreciate the simplicity of my minimal decor and how little time it takes to set up and put away these items.
The next time you decorate, consider decluttering some of your items and keeping only your favorites.
- Drop zones
It happens to all of us; we always end up with a drop zone in our home.
These drop zones end up on the dining table, an accent chair, or unused exercise equipment. These drop zones instantly make our home look cluttered.
I had a second dining table in our second dining room, and we only used that table a few times each year.
That dining table turned out to be a drop zone. I decided to declutter the second dining table and remove that drop zone.
Of course, if you only have one dining table, you can’t declutter it. But you must avoid leaving items on the dining table or any drop zone.
Instead, take the time to put the item where it belongs.
Need more decluttering tips? Check out the related posts below.
10 Easy Steps to Downsize and Simplify Your Life
10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Started Decluttering
How to Become a Minimalist in 30 Days and Embrace Simplicity
I highly recommend The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker to guide you on decluttering your home.
Final thoughts
You’ll create a more inviting and cozy atmosphere by decluttering your home and retaining only the items you use and cherish.
This transformation allows you to enjoy your space immediately upon entry.
Follow these decluttering tips and eliminate the unnecessary items, and you’ll quickly notice a positive change in your environment.
Comment below, let me know when you plan to declutter your space, and share your experience.